This month, our Wildcat AVID students participated in our first Think Big for Kids workshop of 2024.  Think Big’s mission is to help break cycles of poverty by preparing students to excel in today’s workforce. With guidance from Think Big for Kids and FCPS, partner companies introduce students to different careers, identify general interests, and begin to shape individualized career tracks. With a focus on educational preparedness - whether students are heading straight to work, attending trade school or navigating college admissions - Think Big for Kids knows that helping students learn about careers helps them discover the pathway to earn it.

Gorove Slade & Traffic Engineering

This month our students met with Gorove Slade, a Washington, DC area professional engineering and planning firm providing clients with transportation planning and traffic engineering services including traffic/transportation studies, parking studies, transportation modeling, traffic signal design, and more.  Throughout the region, Gorove Slade has worked on projects for Nats Stadium, DC United Stadium, the Reston METRO station, and American University.

During the workshop, students were immersed in hands-on activities facilitated by Gorove Slade experts, enabling them to gain practical experience in designing and managing transportation infrastructure. Armed with blueprints, our students embraced the role of engineers, tackling the challenge of planning walking paths, bike trails, and roadways in an evolving urban landscape. This interactive session not only reinforced classroom learning but also ignited a passion for the practical aspects of engineering among our students.

Engineering Options for the Future

Overwhelmingly, our Wildcats loved the opportunity to make all of their own decisions during the course of the project.  Students collaborated in small groups to plan and execute their vision; allowing them the opportunity to work with their peers, find their own solutions to problems, and compromise with each other when they had different ideas.  Students also enjoyed the opportunity to explore a different type of engineering - one that many of them did not know existed!  One student described traffic engineering as “just like coding, but in real life instead of the Internet.” The positive response from our students underscores the success of the workshop, with many eagerly anticipating future Think Big initiatives. This immersive experience not only broadened their understanding of engineering but also inspired them to pursue diverse career paths with confidence and enthusiasm.

Think Big for Kids returns to Whitman in February for another unique and engaging opportunity for our students.

Read more about new happenings in Business and Community Partnerships throughout FCPS.