Arcadis, a leading global design and consultancy organization for natural and built assets, today announced the start of the Arcadis Pathways to Engineering Afterschool Program, a partnership with the University at Buffalo (UB). In collaboration with UB’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the program aims to provide high school students with the opportunity to make informed decisions and identify goals for their future in STEM.
The program’s objective is to equip high school students with supplemental skills and understanding to effectively pursue a STEM focused career. High school students from Burgard High School in Buffalo are currently participating in the program, which offers them a chance to engage and observe laboratory work both in the classroom and on the UB campus. Transportation for events on the UB campus is provided to ensure that all students have access to the program, as many do not have reliable transportations options available.
By hosting the program at UB, students are exposed to a different learning environment that maximizes their educational experience. The university’s engineering students assist with the program, and gain experience building soft skills through supporting program activities and technical skills that go beyond their regular curriculums. During the semester, students also have the chance to meet with professionals in the engineering field, further enhancing their understanding of the industry. Students have already had the opportunity to take part in courses such as Vehicle Safety, and Intro to Forensics and Biometics.
Brooke Bonkoski, PE, President, Resilience Environment, U.S., at Arcadis, said: “We are proud to partner with UB on this program; it is a fantastic opportunity to introduce hands-on experience in STEM to high school students. With the participation from the UB engineering students and the dedication of Arcadis, this program will help shape the future of the engineering workforce by providing high school students with valuable skills and opportunities to pursue careers in STEM.”
Vicki Baxter, Vice Principle at Burgard High School, said: “We are grateful to have UB host the Arcadis STEM program at Burgard HS. We are a career and technical education school focused on auto mechanics, welding, and machines, but we realize that STEM is the future, and this program provides those opportunities for our students. This group of students, selected by their teachers, are extremely engaged and focused on the STEM activities. We look forward to a long partnership with Arcadis and UB.”
Lisa Stone, Global Strategic DEIB Director, Resilience and the Americas at Arcadis, said: “Partnering with UB for this program underscores our commitment at Arcadis to promoting a diverse culture and cultivating a diverse talent pipeline. We are happy to partner with UB on this program that will have a lasting impact on the students in the Buffalo community.”
