In March, the North Carolina Department of Transportation plans to hold a week-long “deep dive” program for high schoolers to learn more about careers in state government and the transportation industry.
[Above photo by NCDOT]
The agency’s new Garrett A. Morgan Page Program – named after the inventor and original patent holder for the three-position traffic signal – runs from March 24-28 and is designed for high school juniors and seniors attending state Title I schools.
Title I is a federally funded program that provides financial assistance and support to schools with high numbers of students from low-income families, NCDOT noted.
The agency added that participants in this program will engage with NCDOT professionals, enjoy hands-on activities, ride a state train, and learn about transportation planning, environmental analysis, public transit and public safety.
“[We are] committed to fostering the next generation of leaders in transportation,” said Christy Dunston, director of the NCDOT’s Office of Historically Black Colleges and Universities or HBCU Outreach, in a statement.
“The Garrett A. Morgan Page Program not only honors an important figure in our history but also empowers students by providing them with valuable insights and experiences that can shape their future careers,” Dunston said.
[Editor’s note: The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials offers the AASHTO STEM Outreach Solutions program to promote an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math or STEM disciplines among middle and high school students; a program that includes the annual AASHTO Bridge Challenge competition.]
State departments of transportation are involved in a wide array of career outreach efforts to high school students.
For example, in September 2024, the Hawaii Department of Transportation held its 16th annual “Hawaii Construction Career Days” event for middle and high school students at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.
The agency said its yearly “Construction Career Days” event aims to provide students a “practical and valuable” firsthand look at career and educational opportunities available in Hawaii’s construction industry.
“Our department is happy to give back to our community,” explained Ed Sniffen, director of the Hawaii DOT, at the time. “Our young people will be able to see the wide range of jobs available in the construction field. This is a chance for us to reach out to our future leaders to keep Hawaii’s construction industry thriving and strong.”
And in August 2024, the North Dakota Department of Transportation launched a new science, technology, engineering, and math or STEM education program aimed at promoting interest in transportation careers to high school students; an initiative based on the aforementioned AASHTO STEM Outreach Solutions program.
The program’s hands-on activities introduce students to the work of transportation and civil engineering, with the aim to inspire them to consider careers in those fields, the agency said at the time.
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