BEST Workforce DOD Luncheon at 2017 X-STEM

Bevlee Watford and Jim Egenrieder participate in USA Science and Engineering Festival to advance high school Students' interest in exploring STEM careers

Dr. Bevlee Watford, Virginia Tech College of Engineering.

The Department of Defense (DOD) invited Bevlee Watford, associate dean of Academic Affairs in the College of Engineering and director of the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity, to give the keynote address at a STEM luncheon program it is sponsoring for high school students on Friday, April 28. The event took place during the USA Science and Engineering Festival and X-STEM Symposium in Washington, D.C., on Friday, April 28.

Thinkabit Lab GA Andreea Sistrunk with a student.

“This is a great opportunity to excite and encourage these students to explore engineering studies and learn about the scope of possibilities within various engineering disciplines and careers,“ said Watford. “I want to help them — many of whom are from underserved populations — understand how engineers are needed to solve today’s challenging technology problems, including issues around national infrastructure, global health, and
clean drinking water.”

Prior to Watford’s keynote address, Jim Egenrieder, director of the Thinkabit Lab in the National Capital Region, will give a presentation guiding students through a Strengths, Interests, and Values inventory. He described
how to map personal and professional goals with emerging STEM career fields, highlighting the resources of the National Capital Region Thinkabit Lab and Virginia Tech's Virginia Career View.

At the event, DoD STEM professionals served as table hosts and role models to the approximately 240 high school students from Quantico High School, Friendship Public Charter Schools, Baltimore City Public Schools, and Oxen Hill High School. Additionally, college students from Morgan State University’s National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (sponsored by the National Security Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security) participated as “near peer” role models. The students asked many questions and posed for photographs with Dr. Watford.