Science, Technology Experts Talk Careers With Archbishop Students

Archbishop Williams High School (AWHS) recently hosted its fifth annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Breakfast for close to 130 seniors. The event was an opportunity for students to enjoy breakfast in small groups with professionals in the accounting, architecture, biotechnology, health care, and technology fields in order to learn more about potential career paths in these areas.

Assistant Principal Jane Funderburk addressed the students, "You may hear something today that will help you make an important decision this year. We do not know what the future holds for you, but we do know that Archbishop Williams has planted the seeds to help you grow and be very successful in your chosen career path."

"I thought it was very well done," said Brian Magri who graduated from AWHS in 1988 and currently works in the biomedical field. "I enjoy seeing the faces of the students when they learn new things. It's nice to give them a hand, some guiding advice, and enlighten them on some topics they might not have been aware of. "

More than 30 professionals, many of which are alumni of Archbishop Williams High School, volunteered their time for the event. 

"It was great experience," said senior Leah Smeloff who plans to study pre-med and met with an alumnus who's been a doctor for 42 years. "It's inspirational to hear what students who go to Archies can achieve." 

The STEM Career Breakfast was sponsored by the Math and Science Departments at AWHS in response to projected short fall of trained professionals in these fields over the next 10 years (U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration). The event was coordinated by Assistant Principal Jane Funderburk, Ray Whitehouse, Chairperson of the Science Department and Carol Skill, Chairperson of the Math Department.

"We are thrilled to have all the professionals that came today," said Skill, and "our students were so responsive to the professions that they represented." 

Dr. CM, Principal at Williams reflected: ”Our students leave the event raving about the graduates they met, and our graduates leave raving about the students they met! It just doesn’t get any better than that!"

In the spring, AWHS will sponsor its SHARE Breakfast, which features professionals in the fields of Social Service, Humanities, Art, and Education.

To view the STEM breakfast video highlights, click here. For photos, click here.