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Students 'who like money' learn about STEM careers [Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah](Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Nov. 04--LAYTON -- It was almost like a scene from a movie. Entrepreneur Allen Hall stood in front of a packed house and asked the crowd, "Do you want to have significant wealth? Raise your hand. Am I clear on this -- you like money? Do you want to make lots of money?" Shouts and clapping erupted, making it clear that yes, the young men and women in the audience like money -- and they do want to make a lot of it. Then Hall told them how to make it happen. "I recently heard, just last week, that on the average a STEM graduate has a starting wage of $88,000 a year," he said, adding that there's a great deal of career satisfaction in the STEM field, where people solve problems big and small. Hall was the keynote speaker for the Northern Utah STEM College and Career Exposition, held Nov. 3 at the Davis Conference Center in Layton. The expo was a chance for high school students from Davis, Morgan, Ogden and Weber school districts to learn more about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers, and how to prepare for them. "We have 800 students here today," said Jodi Lunt, director of the Davis Education Foundation, explaining that each of 16 area schools were invited to send 50 students who had expressed an interest or aptitude in STEM. "The purpose of this is for students to network, to see what's available and what opportunities there are," said Lunt. "We're hoping if we can get these young people to see what their opportunities are, that we can increase economic development, create a better workforce, and create a richer community that we can live in." To make that happen, students need to be motivated to take more math and science classes. "If you can see what taking those math and science classes lead to, it gives you a reason," she said. So Lunt, with Hall and a team of local educators, invited local STEM businesses to send representatives to the expo. Some presented half-hour workshops full of information about job opportunities and requirements, others set up booths where they could share information and answer student questions. Jim Davis, with the Utah Geological Survey, introduced students to mining and geoscience careers, from hydrology and meteorology to mineralogy and environmental science. Davis recommended that students interested in the field earn a Masters of Science degree, but not go for a doctorate degree unless it's required for a specific job. "You never can make back those years," he said, of time spent pursuing a Ph.D. "And then when you finally do get a job, often times the salary is not a whole lot more -- or even less." Lunt said that's the kind of real-world advice students need. "That's coming from the people who are going to hire -- not coming from a program you have to go through," she said. "We wanted students to see, from a business perspective, what would make you stand out, what would give you an edge and advantage, as you go to your next step." Other workshop leaders included John Kelly, from Weber State University's automotive technology department, and Alison Sturgeon, an electrical engineer from Hill Air Force Base. Kelly talked to students about the many STEM careers involved in creating more efficient vehicles, including scientists and engineers working on reducing emissions. "Your favorite thing to do is breathe," he told students. "If you don't believe me, try stopping." Sturgeon reminded students that STEM careers include everything from chemists designing perfumes to computer experts programming high-tech toothbrushes. At Hill AFB, software engineers make new programs for F-16s, and have created a cutting edge flight simulator for pilots. "I think in the next five years, we won't even recognize the world," she said of new ideas and inventions yet to come. Goldman Sachs representatives were on hand to let students know that they need more than folks to count money. "We look for people of all different types of backgrounds, but we do focus on STEM and what they bring to the table for process improvement and critical thinking, and problem solving," said recruiter Megan Voorhies. Trina Helquist, a spokeswoman for ATK, said there is a growing need for engineers and scientists -- especially as NASA pushes to send astronauts to Mars and other deep space destinations. Amie Harmer, a student at Bonneville High School, said she thought the expo was a good idea. "I know a bunch of kids who don't really know what they're going to be, and I feel like this opened up other experiences so they can get an idea of what they want to be," she said. She may have been describing Colleen Mills, a student from Davis High School. "I have had a hard time trying to find a career that would want, because I have so many interests, so this helps because I've always loved the sciences," Mills said. Kate Hedgepeth, a student at Layton High, went into the expo with an interest in chemistry, but was impressed with a presentation about animation. "I'm just so overwhelmed," she said, after learning more about STEM careers. "At the same time, now I know where to go, to help me out." Holly Halterman, who attends Bonneville High School, is looking at working in air traffic control so she stopped at the booth manned by Marines. " I think that it would be really hard for me to go in the Marines, so I'm not sure about it, but you know it's one of those things to think about," she said, adding that she also visited a flight school booth. "It's important to understand what a pilot's going through if you're going to be in air traffic control, so it was good for me to be here to talk to them." Edward Powell, a counselor at Ogden High School, was part of the STEM expo committee. "I remember that as a young man I didn't really know what I wanted to do, so I think this sheds some light and opens some minds about career opportunities for young men and young women," he said. "It gives them a chance to see something out there besides the regular jobs." Jerry Lopez, a student from Ogden High, was able to speak with representatives from two hospitals about his interest in becoming a pediatrician. He also signed up for workshops about STEM careers in the military and in outdoor recreation. "I wanted to see everything else -- anything that might interest me," he said. "It's really running up my opportunities to talk to a lot of individuals, to see what they think and what they chose to do in their careers." Gary Mead, software development manager at Northrup Grumman, said he enjoyed the chance to give back. "I was once in the same boat that these kids are, and it's great to have some mentors and people that give you information on how to begin your career," he said. "I had nothing when I was in high school -- I just kind of stumbled my way through it, but these kids have got so many opportunities." He said the students asked good questions about STEM jobs with Northrup Grumman. "We have software engineers, mechanical engineers, a lot of electrical engineers, nuclear physicist-types, and environmental engineers," he said, noting that the company even needs healthcare professionals. "We do aircraft, we do ships satellites, fingerprinting and all kinds of diverse things, so just any discipline these kids go into, they could find a job." Contact reporter Becky Wright at 801-625-4274 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @ReporterBWright. ___ (c)2014 the Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) Visit the Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) at www.standard.net Distributed by MCT Information Services |