A group of STV employees recently visited a high school that serves low-income families in the Boston area to discuss careers the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields.

Project Administrator Tamia Burkett, Engineering Specialist Angela Truong, and Quality Assurance manager John Grieco participated in the “Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) Industry Introduction” presentation at Cristo Rey Boston High School.

Cristo Rey is part of a national network of schools who help provide tuition scholarships to students as part of a work-study program. As in-person learning starts to become the norm again, the school is bringing in outside professionals who can offer their expertise and help students understand their opportunities and potential.

STV has participated in several events in conjunction with the school. After a remote storytelling presentation last year, Burkett joined Cristo Ray’s Dean of Student Culture, Joshua Ramos, for an in-person activity this past February, and coordinated the STEM/AEC Panel in March.

“It’s great to be able to pique interest for high school students and get them thinking about the industry as a career opportunity,” Burkett said.

The STV team discussed some of the firm’s key projects in the Boston-area, before conducting a lesson on structural integrity where students were challenged to design the tallest— and most aesthetically pleasing— tower in the room, using only paper straws and marshmallows.

“This is exactly the first-hand, ‘see-it and be-it’ perspective we love to see our partners offer our students on their way to college and their careers,” said Marcin Kunicki, director of Cristo Rey’s corporate work study program.