STEAM Academy

One of Hanson’s highest priorities is supporting and promoting the growth of students in our communities. Are you a college student seeking a career in engineering, a high schooler exploring your options or a middle schooler who just wants to have fun and learn more about science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM)? Students of all ages who want to share their perspectives with an organization eager to listen are welcome to explore a variety of opportunities through our STEAM Academy.

Shadow Hanson, our mentorship program for high school students; Grow Our Own and STL Next Gen, our minority participation programs; and our award-winning summer internship program make up STEAM Academy, which welcomes students to learn about STEAM and how we make a difference to our clients and communities.

We believe in creating strong leaders with innovative ideas who bring positive change to our world. Wherever you may be on your path of learning, we have a place for you.

Grow Our Own

Since 1954, we have drawn success from diversity in thought, background and experience.

As part of the Grow Our Own Minority Participation Program, we partner with the city of Springfield and Sangamon County to educate and ultimately employ minority youth in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics (STEAM) careers. The program was developed in 2013 to address a need for more participation in the Springfield Rail Improvements Project by local minority and disadvantaged business owners. Hanson and other program sponsors realized that mentoring and investing in Springfield’s minority talent would enrich the community and bolster its future.

Participants in Grow Our Own range from middle school to college students and are recruited through area schools, minority-based organizations and individual referrals. Students are invited to special company events, engineering camps and internships offered by a range of community partners.

Shadow Hanson

Some of the most meaningful learning experiences come from outside the classroom. The goal of the Shadow Hanson program is to give Springfield-area high school students the opportunity to see the wonders of engineering up close while observing interactive exhibits and listening to engineers from a variety of disciplines share their experiences on projects that have shaped our community. Civil, mechanical, electrical, structural and geotechnical engineering are included in the demonstrations held at our half-day event offered each fall.

About the program

Located at the Bank of Springfield Center in downtown Springfield, Shadow Hanson has hosted students from Lanphier, Springfield, Southeast, Lutheran, Chatham-Glenwood, Petersburg, Auburn, Pleasant Plains and Sacred Heart-Griffin high schools. In 2020, Hanson held a virtual event to enable program continuity while following coronavirus safety protocol. Four students sitting at table looking at tablet, with Hanson employee smiling in background and other students at tables also in background

Shadow Hanson exhibits have included:

drones
floodplain model
seismic shake display
environmental demonstration
traffic planning
Ameren project presentation
bridge destruction video
stormwater reuse
traffic modeling

Calling all teachers!

If you are an area high school educator with students who have a passion for math and science and are interested in learning about jobs in the engineering field through Shadow Hanson, contact Teresa Mazzini at tmazzini@hanson-inc.com. If you are a student who would like to take part, reach out to a teacher or guidance counselor for information about your school’s participation. Students must be represented by their school and accompanied by an adult chaperone. We invite students and teachers to visit the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois website for more information about engineering as a career and how different age groups can learn and get involved.

STL NextGen

Hanson’s STL Next Gen program is an initiative that introduces minority students to our St. Louis Hanson employees to encourage their interest in engineering and science careers. STL Next Gen was inspired by the success of our other mentorship programs, Shadow Hanson and the Grow Our Own Minority Participation Program, which operate from our headquarters in Springfield, Illinois. We have partnered with Vitendo4Africa to offer events and educational opportunities to participating students.

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