Hands-on Learning Prepares Students for Careers in the Local Energy Industry.

September 2023 Newsletter

Educator externs visiting a Roseburg Forest Products facility in Lebanon while learning about careers in forestry.

Growing, Innovating, Learning, Prospering... Together!

View the Spanish translation of our newsletter here.

From the Director's Desk

Dear colleagues, partners, and supporters-

I am delighted to share with you our new annual report for 2022-2023. From BeeBots to makerspaces, this past year has been one of tremendous growth, innovation, and fruitful partnerships working in concert to move the needle for equity in STEAM and CTE in the region.

A few highlights and key stats to elevate include:

4,349 hours of educator professional development;
6,494 students participated in Hub-supported programs;
212 industry volunteers engaged in educational programming;
54 teachers utilized classroom materials from our educator lending library;
20,082 students benefitted via educator involvement with the Hub.

To see more, take a look at the full report available here and please be sure to share it with your networks. If you'd like a printed copy, you can request one by reaching out to our marketing specialist, Kacey Montgomery, at montgok@linnbenton.edu.

The accomplishments you see featured are only possible due to the dedication and passion of our exceptional team of staff and the regional collective of supporters. Thank you all for your time and efforts. We look forward to the school year ahead!

Side note: The Oregon Department of Education is conducting a survey about educators' STEM ecosystem experiences. If you have a few minutes to help us collect some data please participate in this survey.

Thanks and be well,

Educator externs visiting the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Albany

Local Energy Companies Power Jobs

Ask your students if they turned on the lights today or traveled in a car. Remind them how important energy is to their daily lives and that it could also be part of an electrifying future career.

In Linn and Benton Counties, we have many companies offering jobs related to the study, production, and supply of energy sources. These companies may perform research, modify raw materials, make electrical products, and contribute to supplying commercial and residential energy needs. They contribute to the transportation, aerospace, consumer energy, nuclear power, and even healthcare industries.

During our summer Educator Externship Program, we toured many of these companies (ATI, Entek, National Energy Technology Laboratory, NW Natural) and learned about the career paths, jobs available, and skills they are likely to need to work at these companies.

Basic math, reading, and computer skills combined with mechanical, electrical, or construction skills, can open the door to many career opportunities in the energy sector. Many of these skills can be gained through high school career-technical education (CTE) programs, CTE certificates, and degrees at LBCC. Places like local unions (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 280) and training centers (Knife River Training Center) are also great options for people who want to learn the skills to gain knowledge and confidence to obtain hands-on careers in the energy industry. Even serious hobbyists may be able to develop the skills needed to be competitive candidates for some positions.

Of the local energy-focused companies we toured, we learned about job opportunities for all skill levels, from entry-level, to Ph.D., to management. Here's a sample of the types of STEAM-focused jobs found at these companies:

Construction Equipment Operators
CNC Machinists
Electrical Engineers
Electrical Panel Builders
Journeyman Electricians
Journeyman Machinists
Journeyman Pipefitters
Materials Scientists
Manufacturing Machine Operators
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Production
Service Technicians

Students who are interested in gaining these skills can enroll at LBCC to get a CDL, certificates in Welding and Fabrication, CNC Machining, Industrial Pipe Trades, and degrees in Mechatronics, Machine Tool Technology, Non-Destructive Testing, Industrial Pipe Trades, and an Electrician Apprenticeship.

If your student turned on the lights today, you can tell them that a journeyman or master electrician installed the electrical wires. If they've traveled in a car, you can tell them a local manufacturing company makes parts of the car’s battery. You can then tell them that there

are lots of high-wage, high-demand energy sector jobs that they can explore right here in

their own backyard.

News From the Hub

Women in STEAM Podcast Premiere

We are excited to announce the launch of Season 4 of our women in STEAM podcast, Closing the Gap! Our first guest of the year is Research Scientist and Planetary Geologist, Margaret Landis!

Listen now!

The MILL is Open for the School Year

As of September 25, the first day of the fall term at LBCC, The MILL will be open for the 2023-24 school year. Stop in, say ‘hi’ to Forrest and Austyn, and get acquainted with the updated space.

Learn more

MVSCH Reverse Engineering Project Seeks Material Donations

Calling all tech enthusiasts and curious minds!

Our Program Coordinator, Chris Singer, is gearing up for an exciting reverse engineering project, and we need your support to make it a smashing success!

Keep Reading

Partner Spotlight

Tim Roth, CFS Supervisor at NW Natural's Albany Facility giving local educator's a tour of the NW Natural Facilities.

Our partners at NW Natural are right in our backyard. They warmly invited us at the Hub, our partners at LBCC, as well as a group of educator externs to their Albany facility for lunch, a discussion about job and training opportunities through the company, and a tour of their shop.

NW Natural is all about supporting the local community, as that is where they live and who they serve. With a priority of safety and education, NW Natural not only offers internships that have the potential to lead to full-time employment, they also offer technician positions that start at $30 per hour and include an impressive benefits package.

This is hard work. Tim Roth, CFS Supervisor in Albany says “Work ethic, being reliable, and having the willingness to learn and grow” is what makes a successful technician at NW Natural. People who are interested in skilled trades careers would be good candidates for NW Natural, a company that pays you to learn the job inside and out.

Thank you NW Natural for being warm hosts and generous partners of the

Mid-Valley STEM-CTE Hub.

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