We are so grateful to Jessica Tompkins and Blue Collar Open Book. The STEM Alliance is committed to leveraging hands-on STEM learning in the early years to inspire the next generation of construction leaders - engineers, project managers, project accountants, carpenters, HVAC specialists, environmental engineers and on and on and on. We look forward to building out more experiences like this with you for women and other underrepresented groups. Diverse employees creates diverse thinking and will spur success in the industry. Thanks for all that you do!
Founder of Blue Collar Open Book // Attracting the next generation to the Blue Collar Trades // Blue Collar Advocate
Over 100 children learned to safely "operate" a mini excavator last Friday. You read that number right. Not everybody was even tall enough to reach the pedal for the hydraulic thumb, but that didn't stop them. We had the very best heavy equipment instructor Kevin Tompkins patiently guiding them along the way. (Round of applause for you! 👏 👏 ) There was a long line. Some parents told us they happily waited over 30 minutes. In the dark at 9:00PM we had to deliver the disappointing news that we had to close up the activity. The line was literally never ending. These kids were PUMPED. Once they climbed up into the machine, they were laser focused on completing their task. Just look at their faces- pure focus. Their task? To move a log from one piece of plywood to the other. Sounds like a simple activity right? That's because it is. Having a simple activity meant that all ages could participate without compromising safety. (For any negative Nancys, we had our hand ready on the safety lever at all times just in case.) It was such a sight to see and hear. To see kids pulling their parents over to get in line faster. To see parents proudly record a video of their child in an excavator. Some even Facetimed other family members to show them right then and there. To see a sense of accomplishment spread across their face into a smile. To hear the loud cheers and clapping coming from the kids waiting in line as they celebrated the "operator" moving that log. You would have thought their favorite football team just scored. To hear a parent say to you, "My son just said he wants to do this when he grows up, that is awesome!" It was incredible. 👷♂️ 👷♀️ PSA to those already in our industry-Getting involved in our communities and schools is how we will engage the next generation of our workforce. I will keep proving just that. Thank you so much to STEM Alliance for such an incredible event: STEM-TASTIC 2024. Our missions truly tie together. Captivating young minds and giving them direct ways to explore different pathways. This is no easy task, but boy is it a necessary one.
-
-
-
-
-
+4
