USACE celebrates National E-Week with school outreach

Savannah District
Published Feb. 27, 2012
SAVANNAH, Ga. — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Park Ranger David Quebedeaux of the J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Lake project explains wildlife management practices to Jenkins High School students, Feb. 23, 2012.

SAVANNAH, Ga. — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Park Ranger David Quebedeaux of the J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Lake project explains wildlife management practices to Jenkins High School students, Feb. 23, 2012.

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Jason Lavecchia (left), a civil engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District explains flood damage prevention techniques with an interactive flood plain model to students here, Feb. 23, 2012.

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Jason Lavecchia (left), a civil engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District explains flood damage prevention techniques with an interactive flood plain model to students here, Feb. 23, 2012.

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Lt. Col. David London of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District talks with Jenkins High School students about careers in math and science, Feb. 23, 2012.

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Lt. Col. David London of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District talks with Jenkins High School students about careers in math and science, Feb. 23, 2012.

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District visited Jenkins High School as part of the nationally-recognized Engineer Week observance, Feb. 23, 2012.

The purpose of the visit was to inform students of the wide array of career options related to math and science, and to encourage them to pursue college educations and seek employment as engineers of the future.

Lt. Col. David London gave an enthusiastic welcome presentation to each group of students throughout the day. He gave examples of projects the Corps of Engineers is involved in---from the Savannah Harbor to military construction to cleanup of formerly-used defense sites.

The students rotated through various stations that highlighted math and science careers at the Corps--hydraulics and hydrology, geology, natural resources, master planning, sustainable building design, and electrical engineering. The team brought in a large, interactive flood-plain model from the Corps' Jacksonville District. Equipped with storm sound effects and flowing water, the model demonstrates various flood damage prevention techniques.

Students got to hold sample pieces from the Floridian Aquifer, a source of drinking water for the Savannah region, while learning about geology and the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project. They saw deer antlers, animal pelts and forest items while learning about natural resource management at the Corps' dam and lake projects. They tested their knowledge on a "checklist" of sustainable building features while learning about the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.

The National Engineer Week observance celebrates the positive contributions engineers make to society and is a catalyst for outreach across the country to kids and adults alike. Engineers Week is part of many corporate and government cultures and is celebrated on every U.S. engineering college campus.

Participating Corps team members were:
Cassie Bray, architecture co-op student
Phillip Burcal, construction division intern
Ed Krolikowski, architect
Jason Lavecchia, civil engineer
Judy Milton, architect and LEED expert
Forpu Njikam, civil engineer
David Quebedeaux, park ranger, J. Strom Thurmond Lake
Bobby Siegle, electrical engineer, Richard B. Russell Dam
Ben Skinner, landscape architect
Card Smith, geologist
Will Spence, geographer