< 1 min. read
National Engineers Week, started in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, is celebrated the week of George Washington’s birthday, as Washington is often considered the nation’s first engineer. The week is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by promoting awareness and interest in engineering and technology careers through educational programming, outreach, public relations and community partnerships.
Professional engineers are often the keystone to projects at SitelogIQ, as they have the technical expertise to take a client’s goals and vision and implement it in an efficient and cost-effective approach. From mechanical to electrical to energy, PEs are integral in the development of a project, which is why we recognize the importance of cultivating the next generation of engineers. Companywide, we dedicate time and resources to promote STEM curriculum at the local and regional levels in our community through partnerships, job shadowing, and educational outreach.
We are proud to share the importance of our industry with those interested in pursuing engineering and related careers by programs in the classroom, on the job, and in the community.
In the Classroom
At SitelogIQ, more than 80% of our work is with K-12 school districts, so we understand the importance of academics, and generating interest in science, technology, engineering and math careers. Many of our team members volunteer their time to attend career days or science fairs to share knowledge with students. Recently a SitelogIQ team member from our Midwest Division spent time in his child’s kindergarten classroom at Hopkins Public Schools in Hopkins, MN, facilitating several activities and sharing about his job and the ongoing work he gets to do at their school.
On the Job
We firmly believe our partnership with school districts goes beyond the project itself and into the classroom. We’ve developed programs to introduce the engineering, architectural, and construction industry to students at Districts where we are currently engaged with a project. Students learn about engineering and construction careers through educational presentations followed by a tour of a current project in construction.
In our West division, we’ve teamed up with a district in California to establish an Energy Savers Internship Program as a means of providing a professional, work-based environment to the high school students. The mission for this program is focused on enhancing their students’ thinking and understanding of current energy systems in place to generate and deliver energy, as well as the importance of energy management, efficiency, new technology, and careers in the field. Our team has also partnered with the district to construct lesson plans and curriculum to create project-based learning programs for each high school grade level, centered around solar PV and energy management to provide students with exposure to advanced science topics, advancements in technology, and the high volume of industry career opportunities.
In the Community
We actively seek and support programs in our communities designed to promote education, specifically related to STEM curriculum. In our East Division for example, we are proud to support WQED’s Design Lives Here, a semester-long engineering program in the Pittsburgh, PA region that equips teachers and students to participate in engineering activities within their school or afterschool program. The culmination of Design Lives Here is a day-long event where students in grades 5-8 have hands-on engineering challenges to solve as a team. The day ends with time for the students to ask questions and get to know professionals in the industry.
At SitelogIQ, we are proud to support National Engineers Week, and do our part to promote the importance of Professional Engineers in our industry. Through intentional and strategic initiatives, we are working hard to encourage our youth to explore careers in engineering and consider the impact they can make in our communities. Interested in learning more about our involvement in the community or our services? Contact us today to start a conversation.