LOS ANGELES - Civil Engineer Chadi Wahby is in the seed planting business.
He began sowing interest and excitement about careers in science, technology, engineering and math, as the guest speaker during a Viva Technology program at Belvedere Middle School here Feb. 9.
"I remember how one career day influenced my decision to be an engineer," said Wahby, who serves in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District. "That's why I know how important these events are for students at this age."
Ninety students participated in the full-day Viva program that included hands-on competitive and educational exercises like the Dream Invention, Rocket Science and the Catapult Launcher, designed to help them understand the connections between their math and science studies and rewarding STEM careers.
Since 2009, the Corps and its contractor, Great Minds in STEM, have partnered to deliver educational programs like Viva Technology to 20 schools in Los Angeles through the STEM Up Initiative, a DoD-funded program.