Steve Jaimez, a lineman with Tucson Electric Power, demonstrates the consequences of a downed power line. “A lot of people do their jobs but they don’t love them, I’m just fortunate to love what I do and that’s that,” Jaimez said. More than 500 teenagers flocked to the University of Arizona Wednesday to learn about careers in science, technology, engineering and math.
The Metropolitan Education Commission hosted the career symposium for the 19th year.
“We don’t want kids to think ‘Oh, gosh I’m not smart enough to be an engineer, I don’t have enough money to go and get my doctorate’ and we want to dispel all of these pre-conceived ideas,” said Johanna Duffek, the event’s project coordinator.
Exhibitors included a variety of southern Arizona employers and educational institutions including the Tucson Police Department, IBM and the UA College of Engineering.
The sound of peeping chicks and the promise of touching a cow’s eyeball drew many to the Arizona Farm Bureau table.
“Farmers have to do a lot of science to get the best crops,” said Cheyenne Flores, an intern with the Farm Bureau. “Same with animals, you want to keep your animals happy and healthy to provide us with the best meats or provide us with the best milk.”
Flores studies equine business at Central Arizona College. She showed students how to cup their hands around the chicks and told them about careers in agriculture from veterinarians to crop management.
Cheyenne Flores, an intern with the Arizona Farm Bureau, told students about careers in agriculture. The rodeo queen studies equine business at Central Arizona College. “You did it!”
“High five, Judy!”
Both women came to the event with an interest in STEM careers.
Listen to Breana’s story:
At another table, spider-like robots shuffled in place and flashed rainbow colors. University of Arizona Engineering doctoral student Matt Bunting created the hexapods for a class project as an undergraduate.
“You can take classes that interest you and then develop something that you’re passionate about,” Bunting said.
University of Arizona doctoral candidate Matt Bunting created the spider-like hexapods for a robotics class as an undergraduate. "I found the right class with the right professor and it was everything I could have ever dreamed of." He recounted to students how he built the robots’ limbs with a 3-D printer, created a circuit board and coded software to animate the movement.
University High School students Avram Parra and Daniel Ventrone said it was one of their favorite exhibits.
“It’s definitely good to see all these career paths materialize in front of you,” Ventrone said.
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