LRHS students prepare for engineering event

In a growing society and a constantly evolving world, there are some skills that will always be useful. In Greece around 400BC, the idea of a catapult was designed and brought to life. Centuries later, engineers created new buildings, materials and everything in between. A hundred years from tomorrow engineers will always find employment as they are always in search of the newest advancement. With plenty of motivation, students at LRHS are taking interest in engineering.

LRHS’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) club, along with many other intrigued students, will be attending Greater Spokane Incorporated’s Business AfterSchool engineering program this winter in order to prepare themselves for future STEM opportunities and give themselves more exposure to practical applications in engineering.

According to Greater Spokane Incorporated’s website, “Business AfterSchool is a series of industry week open house events for students, educators, parents and community organizations that provide on-site awareness of Spokane’s high demand industries highlighting new technology, research, development and innovation.”

The Business AfterSchool program has several different themed events where different businesses and fields are highlighted. Presented fields include manufacturing, Agribusiness, computer science and health care. The engineering event will take place February 24—27.

Each day of the event provides exposure to a different business. One group of LRHS students will be attending the event on the 24th, highlighting CH2M Hill (a global leader in design who takes on projects from all fields of engineering) at Spokane County Regional Water Reclamation Facility. Another group of students has yet to decide which session to attend but will chose from presentations by DCI Engineers, McKinstry, Coffman Engineers, MW Consulting Engineers, GeoEngineering, or Stantec. 14 students will be attending the trip.

Engineering is a promising aspect of STEM for students to pursue. Engineers are in increasingly high demand; according to usnews.com, civil engineers have a 22 percent job outlook increase from 2012 to 2022.

Petroleum engineers who “make sure that oil field equipment is installed, operated and maintained properly” have a 26 percent job outlook increase. Comparatively, the average job outlook increase over all fields for the same 10 year window is 11 percent.

Engineers also make a significant annual salary. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that as of May 2013 the mean annual wage for all classifications of engineers was $94,310. Some occupations, such as petroleum engineers, bring up the average with an annual salary of $130,280.

Between increased exposure to engineering and learning more about practical applications of STEM, the students are excited to attend the trip.

Emily Rosen, who will be attending the event, explains she is excited “because it would be a good future work option and engineering will open my mind to many opportunities.”

Sara Aldrich, STEM club president, said, “ learn the questions about engineering that I would never think to ask.”

Abby Gering also wants to go “for the learning experience.” She continues that she is interested in STEM club because she is looking forward to another trip the club will be taking in the spring.

The strong potential of engineering continues to create enthusiasm within the students as they prepare to increase their exposure to STEM.