During a recent interview, Pittsburgh Superintendent of Schools Anthony Hamlet told the New Pittsburgh Courier he wants every graduate prepared for college, those who choose to go to work should also be able to get that training.
Now, the district’s Westinghouse High School may be establishing itself as a hub for both paths.
On Sept. 16 engineers from the company established by the school’s namesake, gave students a look at what careers in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics entail. The event included panel discussions and presentations to 30 students by Westinghouse personnel, including an alumnus of the high school, and STEM-based activities.
The highlight of these was a race pairing groups of students with an engineer to see who could build the most structurally sound tower using only raw spaghetti noodles, marshmallows and adhesive tape.
Senior Project Engineer Walter Winn said he had a great time, despite his team’s finish.
“Well, we just finished our tower, and our team didn’t do that well,” he said. “But they were definitely engaged in the activity and that’s the idea. It’s very important for young Black students to see other minorities—engineers—doing something. We have a couple of graduates from Westinghouse that are participating as well, and its’ giving back to the community, and that’s also a plus.”
Denise Hughes, spokesperson for Westinghouse Electric, said coming to the high school to mentor and promote the skills students need to cultivate to work for firms like hers was a natural fit with their annual Day of Caring, which they do in conjunction with the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
[pullquote]“We thought it was a great opportunity to come and share some of our engineering expertise careers mentoring,” she said. “We had a lively interaction during the presentations about types of engineering, what compensation they bring, and all different disciplines the¥ require and what they should be talking about with to guidance counselors. The students were very engaged and asked a lot of questions.”[/pullquote]
Quelyn Holt, a 15-year-old sophomore, said having Westinghouse employees who look like him makes a difference, and he plans to remain engaged.
“This is very important actually—especially if we all want to go into engineering,” he said. “I want to be either an electrical or mechanical engineer when I get older.”
But even for those who do not plan to attend college and still need post-secondary technical training. The ‘House now has another unique opportunity with its Emergency Response Technology Program, which provides training to prepare students for careers as paramedics, firefighters and police officers. It officially began Sept. 14.
In addition to providing skilled career training, the program also hopes to serve as a means to increase diversity among Pittsburgh’s public safety personnel within a few years.
Approved by the school board last year, it received an initial donation from the city of a fire truck. It now also boasts an ambulance. It also received $300,000 from the American Federation of Teachers and $25,000 worth of equipment, including firefighter uniforms and breathing masks from the city and several community groups.
The program, which still has a few slots available, is open to 10th- through 12th-graders across the district and provides hands-on lessons and training in facilities used by officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians. Students also team up with mentors who are working in their areas of interest
District Career and Technical Education Executive Director Angela Mike said the inaugural class is made up, of 15 students, three of them girls.
“We want these kids to see people who look like them and are successful in the field,” she said.
(J.L. Martello contributed to this story.)
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