17736_Authority_August

18 The Authority | August 2024 M ember S potlight U pper M ontgomery J oint A uthority I ntroduces H igh S choolers to an A lternative C areer P ath in a F irst of its K ind A fter S chool P rogram By Jennifer Leister, Executive Director, Upper Montgomery Joint Authority and Madison Kaley, Senior Marketing Specialist, Spotts, Stevens and McCoy Engage, excite, and enlighten. For over 20 years, the ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) Program of Greater Philadelphia has provided local high school students with opportunities to explore careers in architecture, construction, and engineering. Experiential learning such as the ACE Program offers numerous benefits, including hands-on experience, practice with real- world program solving, and advanced career readiness upon graduation. Through the ACE Mentor Program, industry professionals mentor students, providing essential life and professional skills as well as a deep insight into the real-world application of many diverse career paths. The program aims to provide high school students with not only impactful programming, but continued support as they navigate academic and career preparation programs. During the Winter and Spring of 2024, through a collaboration between Jennifer Leister and Jason DiPietro of Upper Montgomery Joint Authority (UMJA) and Angela Traub from Upper Perkiomen High School, students engaged in an 8-week long afterschool program. The UMJA/Upper Perkiomen High School program, designed for students interested in wastewater management as well as the design and construction industries, provided programming for 25 students over a total of 20 hours. Meeting on Tuesday afternoons after school, students took a deep dive into the industry and explored various career opportunities and paths. Each week, guided by different industry professionals, students engaged in interactive activities that offered true insights into the careers they were studying. Weekly topics centered around architecture, construction, and engineering. Some of the hands-on experiences included: building mock sewer laterals based on specifications provided by a field inspector; designing unique floor plans with an architect; discovering the benefits of freshwater mussels with Drexel University’s Academy of Natural Sciences; constructing a replicated model of the UMJA Aeration Tank; and even witnessing a demonstration of how a liner is placed into a compromised pipe. Student Testimonial: “The ACE Mentorship Program allowed me to form connections with people who have already taken the path that I’m wanting to pursue later in life. Overall, this experience was incredibly valuable to my development and understanding of what I would like to pursue in college and later in life.” Beatrice - UMJA/Upper Perkiomen High School partnership participant. Continued on page 39.