Photo By Jhon Parsons | Ramon Flores (left), science, technology, engineering and mathematics coordinator at...... read more read more
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In line with Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD)’s aim to inspire students to pursue naval engineering careers, several graduates of the fall Pre-Engineering Program (PEP) may intern with the command next summer.
The high school juniors and seniors who participated in the PEP session gained hands-on engineering experience, sharpened their professional skills and learned about Navy internships, which are critical to the command’s efforts to build its future workforce.
NSWC PHD has offered paid internships to several of the 34 students who graduated from the fall PEP on Dec. 10 in a ceremony at the Oxnard Union High School District (UHSD) office. Those who accept the offers will spend eight weeks over the summer expanding their knowledge and skills in the command’s Science and Engineering Apprentice Program.
Those high school interns could potentially return to the command as college students in the Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program or other internships, which can propel them to employment with NSWC PHD. For that reason, the latest PEP session spotlighted the high school internship opportunity, according to Ramon Flores, the command’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) coordinator.
“This is part of the pipeline to get students interested in STEM in general, and in working for us specifically,” Flores said.
Joining Flores in running PEP this semester was Oralia Razo, who came to NSWC PHD in July as a STEM program analyst. She previously worked with Santa Paula Unified School District (USD) students as a counselor. In that prior role, she was instrumental in promoting PEP and arranging meals and transportation for students to Fathomwerx Lab in the Port of Hueneme, which is about a 25-mile drive from Santa Paula.
Students from 12 high schools in Santa Paula USD, Oxnard UHSD and Ventura USD completed the PEP session that kicked off Sept. 24. NSWC PHD has Educational Partnership Agreements with all three of those districts.
Each Tuesday for 12 weeks, the students gathered after school at Fathomwerx to learn from engineers with NSWC PHD, Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (NAVFAC EXWC) and the Engineering Duty Officer School, all located onboard Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC).
The PEP participants studied multiple disciplines — aeronautical, electrical, environmental, mechanical, ocean and systems engineering as well as design optimization — and worked on Navy-related projects such as building drones and mock missiles.
Hands-on experience
The interactive element was a highlight for Mariana Molina, a senior at Santa Paula High School. She said the projects — including one in which she arranged a circuit to turn on a light — brought the subjects to life for her.
“It was really eye-opening, because I didn’t expect engineering to be that hands-on,” Molina said. “I expected it to use more math and equations, like I do in my classes.”
Mary Galbreath, a senior at Oxnard Middle College High School, said she also enjoyed the projects, including constructing miniature missiles out of paper towel rolls and other odds and ends.
“Through the engineering process — testing it and seeing if it failed, going back and fixing the things that were broken — we were able to make a really good one,” Galbreath said.
That project and other components of PEP prompted Galbreath to consider a different career path.
“I was really set on civil engineering, but after this, I kind of want to go into mechanical,” she said. “I really enjoyed the craftsmanship with the missiles and working with my team.”
The participants also got an introduction to computer science from Catharine Reznicek, a lecturer with California State University Channel Islands in Camarillo, who first presented at PEP during the spring session this year.
Computer science is a primary pursuit for Alexander Blomquist, a senior at Ventura High School, but he said he appreciated learning about other fields during PEP.
“It was really interesting to see a bunch of different possibilities in the engineering field,” he said. “I kind of want to combine computer science and electrical engineering, because I like signal processing, cybersecurity, networks and stuff like that.”
Another highlight for Blomquist was touring facilities onboard NBVC and talking to employees, some fresh out of college. He said he was inspired by what he saw.
“You could visualize yourself working in the labs,” he said.
In Razo’s new role with NSWC PHD, she helped the PEP participants build their confidence and communication skills. For example, she prepared them to network with professional engineers, stressing the importance of a good handshake and a brief elevator speech to introduce themselves.
“We have a lot of students who are top notch, but for many of them, this is their first time meeting all these engineers,” Razo said. “We’re giving them that confidence to get out of your comfort zone, introduce yourself to this professional and say, ‘How can I stay in contact with you?’”
The networking aspect was another perk of the program for Molina.
“It was nice building connections and talking to engineers — especially students who had recently gotten their degrees,” she said. “That could be me.”
Enduring impact
NSWC PHD has hosted PEP since 1998. Since then, more than 1,300 students have graduated from the twice-yearly program.
During the recent graduation ceremony, OUHSD Superintendent Tom McCoy described the impact of PEP that he has seen throughout the more than 25 years he has been involved with the program.
“It creates opportunities for high-need, high-wage careers here in Ventura County,” McCoy said. “Students, we really hope you take that opportunity to live and work here in Ventura County when you get done with college, and become the engineer of the future we’ll need.”
Santa Paula USD Superintendent Jeff Weinstein also shared a motivational message with the PEP graduates.
“By coming (to Fathomwerx) once a week for a couple of hours, you showed dedication, and that dedication is important,” Weinstein said. “You as students not only gained knowledge about engineering, but you’ve also started to understand that hard work can bring you your career dreams.”
Ventura USD Superintendent Antonio Castro recalled visiting Fathomwerx this year, and how impressed he was with the “level of sophistication” at the facility. That visit reinforced the value of the PEP experience for students, he said.
“There are very few programs that are as unique as what you’ve been exposed to,” Castro said. “Hopefully you see yourself differently than you did prior to participating in this program.”
NAVFAC EXWC Chief Technology Officer Cody Reese highlighted the vital demand that the PEP graduates could help fill in their future careers.
“The world needs more engineers,” Reese said. “More importantly, the world needs curious problem-solvers, and that’s one of the things you experienced through this program.”
NSWC PHD Chief of Staff Raoul Bustamante pointed to the benefits of working for the Navy.
“You can be guaranteed a great career with lots of potential growth, all while earning a high salary, establishing a stable financial future,” Bustamante said. “One day, I will see you back at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division, but I will call you teammate.”
In addition to their PEP certificates of completion, the graduates each received a letter of recommendation signed by NSWC PHD Deputy Technical Director-Technical Mike Ladner — “a big, big honor,” as Flores told the students and their parents at the ceremony.
| Date Taken: | 12.19.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 12.23.2024 11:29 |
| Story ID: | 487994 |
| Location: | PORT HUENEME, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 34 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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