FRNP Volunteers Inspire Students to Pursue STEM Careers

Volunteers from Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership teamed up with 35 companies and organizations from across the region to interact with eighth grade students in McCracken County at the West Kentucky Launch. On Wednesday, October 26, over 800 students filled the Expo Center in Paducah to explore future career opportunities in the region during this interactive career exposition.

FRNP employees are passionate about this event and hope that the words they speak and the demonstrations they provide to students makes a lasting impact.

“This event is a great way for our team to talk to students about the work we do at the Paducah site. West Kentucky Launch helps students see a glimpse of what future opportunities they will have after high school or college,” Project Manager Michael Yarbrough said.

On November 1, several of FRNP’s female engineers and project managers, spent their evening demonstrating various aspects of the work they do at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Paducah site to over 100 young women, ages fifth through twelfth grades, at this year’s STEM for Girls event. FRNP Program Manager launched the evening’s events by sharing her own personal journey into a STEM career and encouraged young women to explore the various opportunities that would be presented to them that evening. Other volunteers gave lessons in engineering principles and groundwater remediation. Students met with presenters in a small group setting that gave them the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about careers at the Paducah site. FRNP was one of about 15 participating businesses this year.

FRNP sponsors STEM programming like the programs outlined above for a variety of age groups throughout the year. We work to inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics because we believe engaging the “next generation” of workers is vital to the ongoing success of DOE’s deactivation and remediation mission at the Paducah site.

For more information on how to volunteer at future STEM events, please contact Steve Christmas at (270) 564-3324 or email steve.christmas@pad.pppo.gov.