John Muir’s Engineering and Environmental Science Academy’s Advisory Board hosted a special evening celebrating their business partners at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The event was also presented to recruit potential new business partners and advisory board members for the academy. Annie Richardson, EESA Advisory Board member and Jet Propulsion Laboratory employee organized a reception and tour of the campus.
Amy Foell, workforce development director for the Pasadena Chamber helped recruit potential business partners for the event and presented those in attendance with information and materials to encourage them to volunteer to support the students.
The group observed the clean room where engineers are building the Mars 2020 rover and a control room where the center communicates with satellites in orbit around the Earth.
A highlight of the evening was a showcase of student work from the academy at John Muir. Students from each grade level in the academy displayed their projects and shared the benefits of having engineers and scientists involved with their program.
“Interacting with, and getting advice and support from, business partners helps the students understand the application of what they are learning in the classroom,” said Pasadena Chamber Workforce Development Director Amy Foell. “The business partners benefit by seeing their work through the perspective of a young person, being of service to our future engineers as well as providing insights to those considering an engineering career.”
