Students today.
Leaders tomorrow.
Kelli Ballard, Sr. Internal Auditor and costume stitcher
Greg Gilliam, Lineman and castle illuminator
EPB provides world-class infrastructure and innovative solutions to our community. So doesn’t it make perfect sense for EPB to get involved with the next generation of STEM leaders? Of course it does. That’s why, when Bobby Hutcherson heard Tony Donen, principal at the STEM school, speak about working with area businesses, he knew they had to get the STEM students collaborating with EPB on some kind of real life project. The annual holiday windows seemed like a natural first step towards a great collaboration.
One of the fondest traditions at EPB is our holiday windows, an annual display of holiday cheer featuring whimsical themes and of course, lots of lights! This year, in addition to getting great ideas and inspiration from students at STEM School Chattanooga, we also got access to their arsenal of tools such as a 3D printer and a CNC machine. Remember the ice castle inspired by the one in Disney’s blockbuster Frozen? Students designed it and EPB volunteers worked with them on executing and making sure all aspects of it worked. It was made up of plexiglass bricks that looked like ice, thanks to some strategic and ingenious lighting. Critical and creative problem solving was achieved. And some pretty spectacular windows too.
Our teams of three students developed theme ideas and presented them to the windows group.
But why stop there? The STEM students needed another real-life project to fulfill their spring semester requirements. So they met up with Bobby Hutcherson and applied their critical and creative thinking to wiring a new subdivision. Guided by seasoned EPB engineers, the students were given parameters they had to work within. They developed good plans and with a little coaching from their EPB mentors, some of those plans were incorporated into the actual wiring plan.
The fact is, today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders. And at EPB, we know making a difference in their lives today makes a difference in this community tomorrow. We see it as our responsibility and our legacy for generations to come.
