March 2021
Our Goal Is To Unite Public And Private Sector Entities And Individuals In The A/E/C Fields
From the Post President:
Greetings!

Welcome to our first Modern-Day NoVA Post Newsletter. We have many exciting things happening and want to consolidate that information monthly for you in a newsletter format. I’m excited to have Sophia Gull of Jacobs volunteer to be our Newsletter Editor and she’s done a great job getting us started quickly. We intend to highlight key info that just recently happened or is upcoming and will include a list of happenings in our Post, SAME National, and some surrounding SAME Posts as well, located at the end of the Newsletter. 

Most importantly, I wanted to start this one off by congratulating our 2020 SAME NoVA Post-award winners and thank them for what they do for us! Please see below for a list of awardees.

I also want to say thanks to Armando Alas, our College Outreach Director, and Julie Smiley, our Secretary, and all Panelists for helping me put on a great event on March 4th for our GMU Student Chapter…yes, it was done virtually and despite COVID challenges. More on that event later in our Newsletter.  

Thanks, and Stay Safe. We’ll see you in person soon.

Nick
 
Nick Desport, RA, LEED AP BD+C, F.SAME
Director of Business Development | Merrick & Company
Post Highlights:
Mega Mentoring Session with our GMU Student Chapter

On March 4th, the NoVA post hosted a virtual panel for our GMU Student Chapter, where students had a chance to interact with industry professionals and ask questions as they look to life and employment after graduation. We had over 120 registrants, 75 of which were students! Our panel consisted of 15 industry and government professionals who provided diverse and meaningful insight on questions previously submitted by students. Eddie Gonzalez, Program Manager at SAME National, also spoke to students about the various opportunities available to them as SAME student members. To watch the recorded event please click here! Thank you again to Armando Alas, our College Outreach Director, Julie Smiley, our Secretary, and all Panelists for helping with this event! We look forward to future events with our student chapters!
The Great American Outdoors Act

On February 4th, the Nova Post hosted a virtual webinar focusing on The Great American Outdoors Act. We had the pleasure of hosting a multitude of speakers: Senator Mark Warner and his Chief of Staff, Bo Machayo, Susan Wong of the National Park Service, and Allison Colman and Jennifer Cox of the National Parks and Recreation Association. Thank you to all those who attended as well as our guest speakers! If you weren't able to attend the live event please click here for a recording of the presentation!
Keep Scrolling for Information on Next Month's Event!
Camp and Scholarship Applications Due Soon!
2021 Camp Season is Open for Applicants
Information & Application link: https://www.same.org/stemcamps
  • Deadline to apply is March 15, 2021
  • Questions? Contact Russ Weeks.    
  • Camps & Dates - At this time, all camps except NAVY are planned as in-person. However, our ability to host these camps will depend on the state of COVID going into the summer.
2021 High School and College Scholarship Applications are Available
Information and Application Link: https://samejax.org/Scholarships
  • Deadline to apply is March 17, 2021 for high schools and April 30, 2021 for colleges
  • Questions? Contact David Dudley, David.F.Dudley@gmail.com 
Proof of Our Impact
Sophia Gull, a current NoVA Post young member, is a stellar example of the meaningful impact our scholarships and camps can have. In 2012, Sophia attended her first SAME meeting where she was recognized for her eighth-grade science fair project. At this meeting she connected with one of our members, who is still a source of inspiration and mentor to her, 9 years later. In 2014, she attended our Army Engineering and Construction Camp in Vicksburg, Mississippi. She then received a post scholarship to attend The Ohio State University and graduated last year with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Sophia spent her college summers interning with Jacobs in Arlington, VA and has now returned as a full-time employee with their Civil Site Department. Now that she has returned to the Northern Virginia area, Sophia is getting more involved as a young member and has taken on the role of producing this monthly newsletter for the NoVA Post. Sophia's story is just one example of the impact our post can have on the growth of young aspiring engineers, so please take the time to spread the word about our camps and scholarships!
Mark your Calendars!
NoVA Post Events:
April 01, 2021, Virtual Session
Arlington National Cemetery
Guest Speakers: Ms. Karen Durham-Aguilera and
COL Thomas Austin

June 3rd, 2021,
F2F Session (if permitted)
MWAA - IAD/DCA
Guest Speakers:
Roger Natsuhara
Senior VP

July 16, 2021
Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament
Heritage Hunt Course
Haymarket, VA
9 A.M. Shotgun!

Click here for the full NOVA Post Calendar!
National Events:
March 22-26
2021 Virtual Capital Week

May 17-21, 2021
Virtual JETC
Local Events:
Chesapeake & Baltimore Posts:
June 3, 2021
Annual Presidential Open
Rocky Point Golf Course - Essex, MD
Hampton Roads Post:
June 9, 2021:
SAME Mid-Atlantic Small Business Outreach + Industry Day
Local Post Calendars
Did you know?
The Northern Virginia Post began as the Ft Belvoir Post with our original Charter signed on December 10, 1948.
To submit content to be included in next month's newsletter, please email sophia_gull@outlook.com. Content must be submitted by the second Tuesday of the month to be included.

Thanks in advance!

-Sophia Gull (Nova Post Newsletter Editor)