Over the summer, Hargrove had the opportunity to take part in two programs designed to stimulate children’s interest in math and sciences. In early June, Hargrove participated in a Mobile Area Education Foundation program called “Vital Link”. Underwritten by AT&T, the program gives students first-hand knowledge of the connection between skills learned in class and those needed for success in the workplace. Hargrove hosted ten gifted 7th Graders from Clark School of Math and Sciences for 4 days and provided them a glimpse of the “Engineering Experience”. Hargrove team members from each discipline worked with the students to show them what engineers do by giving hands-on demonstrations of tools and software, playing games and leading competitions.

Campers from another summer program, Engaging Youth in Engineering (EYE), also visited the Hargrove Mobile campus for three consecutive Thursdays in July. The Mobile Area Education Foundation sponsors EYE in collaboration with the J. L. Bedsole Foundation, the Mobile County Public School System, and the University of South Alabama along with area businesses. This pilot program is intended to motivate participating 4th and 5th graders to get excited about math and science and focus on these fields in school curriculum and extracurricular activities. This year’s theme was “EYE Gets Wired!” Students explored how electricity is made, how it moves and how it is used in industry and at home. Members of the Hargrove Electrical and Instrumentation group got together to design a special circuit board just for the campers. With it, Hargrove engineers gave hands on demonstrations of many of the lessons that the students had learned throughout the week, including an experiment to use the circuit board to blow up a balloon.

Hargrove teammates enjoyed being able to participate in both the Vital Link and the Engaging Youth in Engineering programs this summer. “I was impressed by how many questions the kids asked,” said Hargrove teammate Eric Johnson, PE. “They really seemed to understand what we were demonstrating and wanted to learn more.”