Uniondale, NY - October 19, 2017 - An exciting educational partnership between PSEG Long Island and a Far Rockaway high school kicked off on Monday, one that may offer real benefits to both students and the utility.
PSEG Long Island President and Chief Operating Officer Dan Eichhorn visited the Queens High School for Information, Research and Technology (QIRT) on Monday, Oct. 16, to meet the first class of students to take a full year of a STEM curriculum developed through a partnership between the school and the utility.
From Oct. 17 through the end of the school year, PSEG Long Island employees will visit the school roughly twice a week to teach the students everything from the fundamentals of electrical theory to the leadership skills they will need to excel in college and the workplace.
While the students gain access to a network of professionals they might not otherwise have had in their community, PSEG Long Island hopes to find its next generation of engineers and line workers by offering field trips, providing support during college application season, and offering college internships to qualified candidates.
“This all springs from PSEG Long Island’s commitment to community involvement,” Eichhorn said. “We are working to strengthen the electrical infrastructure, but also to contribute to the places where our customers live and work. This partnership with QIRT was a perfect fit. We are excited to help these young people achieve their goals and I hope that someday I see some of these same faces as I walk through the halls of our offices. ”
Located in Far Rockaway, QIRT has made significant strides in improving the graduation rate of its student body.
“QIRT strives to prepare its students for success in college and beyond through technology, community and parent partnerships, and enrichment activities,” said QIRT principal Carl Manalo. “I believe that many students don’t truly know what they want to do until they actually hear someone talk about it. And for students growing up in underserved communities, this may be the first time they get that kind of firsthand exposure to the engineering profession.”
PSEG Long Island was pleased to have City Council Member Donovan Richards in attendance for the Oct. 16 event to show support for this collaboration and to encourage students to pursue careers in engineering and play a role in the ongoing development of the Rockaways.
“Over the years, too many students in the Rockaways have graduated and entered the real world without the necessary skills to find good-paying, stable jobs,” said Council Member Richards. “Now, with a full year of STEM, today’s students at QIRT will have the tools to be our future engineers. I’d like to thank PSEG Long Island for their dedication and commitment to the youth in our communities.”
To learn more about PSEG Long Island’s commitment to community, please visit www.psegliny.com/community.