Fueling futures: Schoo students explore career paths during Black Hills Energy tour

November 26, 2024

Schoo Middle School students inspected lasers, carbon monoxide detectors and pieces of gas main pipes during a trip to one of the largest utilities providers in the Midwest.
 
Two dozen eighth graders traveled to Black Hills Energy’s Lincoln Operations Center this fall for a job shadowing experience. Students in the Business, Marketing and Risk Management course at Schoo are studying financial topics such as budgeting, careers and personal finance. The trip to Black Hills Energy gave them a chance to explore a business that features careers ranging from accounting to utility line repair.
 
Yanitza and Namat both said they enjoyed their morning at the operations center. They took part in hands-on activities, listened to a panel of professionals talk about their jobs and toured the office and warehouse portions of the building.
 
“I didn’t know what to expect from it, but it was pretty interesting learning about natural gas and what goes on with it,” Namat said. “It was fun.”
 
“I kind of came here with low expectations, because I had never heard of this before,” Yanitza said. “But they were showing us how to put together pipes and work with lasers. It was all really cool and a nice experience to have.”
 
Black Hills Energy employees Jess Mead, Fernando Izaguirre and Mark Husmann spoke to students in the warehouse about their careers. The operations technicians displayed samples of different sizes of gas pipes that provide heat to homes and businesses. They showed them the tools they use to mold the pipes and explained how they air-test each piece for quality assurance.
 
All three said they were happy to visit with the eighth graders. They said it was important to describe details of their jobs and explain how they deliver natural gas to people. The company supplies natural gas to 300,000 customers in eight states.
 
“It’s been a really good opportunity to talk to the kids,” Husmann said. “There are a lot of jobs here that they might not be aware of, so it’s good to show them that.”
 
At the same time, Nathan Lobb was giving students a chance to control a laser device in the building’s conference room. The equipment analyzes the amount of natural gas that is present in the atmosphere, which helps employees safely find, assess and fix leaks. Several students pointed the laser at the wall and others directed it at a device that Lobb held in the air.
 
Elena Madsen and Amy Chittenden both said the visit would pay many dividends. Chittenden teaches business and computer science classes at Schoo, and Madsen works as programs coordinator for the Lincoln chapter of Junior Achievement. Lincoln Public Schools has worked with Junior Achievement for many years to provide job shadowing opportunities for students.
 
“There are all sorts of career possibilities,” Madsen said. “I think it opens their eyes a little bit about what they’re able to do with their careers. We’ve had good feedback from them as well about that.”
 
“With guidance from the Junior Achievement curriculum, students have had the opportunity to explore their interests, values and abilities, creating a personal profile with an eye toward their futures,” Chittenden said. “With this information, they can better plan and select those courses in high school that will help them actualize where they may see themselves upon graduation and beyond.”
 
Junior Achievement provides lessons about financial literacy, entrepreneurship and career readiness to students. The Lincoln chapter reaches approximately 31,000 people each year with curriculum materials and activities such the Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge.
 
Namat said she has enjoyed learning more about financial topics through the Junior Achievement lens. She now understands what it means when her parents pay bills every month, and it has taught her why it is important to begin exploring careers that might interest her.
 
“It gives us a better view and understanding of what happens in our parents’ lives, and when we get older what we’re going to be doing too,” Namat said.
 
Namat would like to become a lawyer and Yanitza is planning on becoming a psychiatrist. Both said they picked up additional job ideas during the visit.
 
“I already have my career chosen, but I think this might be a Plan B, because it does look like a lot of fun,” Yanitza said. “It does look like you can make a lot of friends and have good experiences here.”
 
Madsen said activities like this fall’s field trip will put Schoo students on a positive pathway toward their futures.
 
“In high school, I think they start to think seriously about it, but middle school is when they start to dream,” Madsen said. “This is where they can really start to see possibilities, and then in high school they can start to put that into action.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

---