On January 9, 2025, 11th and 12th-grade students from Garfield High School had the opportunity to engage with environmental engineering professionals during an IGNITE Panel on Stormwater Management. Hosted in AP Environmental Science teacher Geoff Bolan’s classroom, the event featured Aimee Jacobson, Account Manager at NPDESPro; Kallie Iverson, Project Engineer at McInnis Engineering; and Rebecca Dugopolski, Principal Engineer at Herrera.
The discussion covered a wide range of topics, including career paths in stormwater management, the role of green infrastructure, and how stormwater impacts ocean health. The Panelists shared their personal journeys into STEM, offering reassurance that students don’t need to be math or science experts to pursue engineering-related careers. Aimee Jacobson explained the relationship between stormwater and Puget Sound, while Kallie Iverson and Rebecca Dugopolski provided insights into the practical applications of stormwater management in urban planning.
Students asked thoughtful and engaging questions, including how to incorporate studying abroad into an engineering degree, whether strong math skills are essential for success, and the environmental impact of water use in clothing production. A key highlight was when a student, initially uninterested in stormwater management, expressed feeling deeply inspired by the panelists’ personal experiences and uncertainties about their own career paths in high school.
Educator Geoff Bolan praised the event for its strong student engagement and meaningful connections. He noted that the inclusion of high school photos in the Panelists’ presentations helped students relate to their experiences, making their career paths feel more accessible. The open Q&A session and Panelists’ willingness to stay afterward for further conversations made a lasting impact on the students.
“Today was inspiring and gave me insight into a field I’m interested in. I learned more about applied engineering and how it works in the real world.”
12th Grade IGNITE Student
“I enjoyed learning about the volunteers’ experiences in finding solutions to preserve and use water around Seattle. I also liked learning how underground pipes store and process water using different technologies.”
12th Grade IGNITE Student
“I started considering something related to engineering, similar to the volunteers’ roles. Jobs in this field now seem less intimidating and easier to pursue in college. I enjoyed hearing about their paths and how none of them really expected to be in this field. It was also interesting to hear about their daily work.”
11th Grade IGNITE Student
“It was cool to learn about jobs in this field. It made me feel more positive about environmental science. I was happy to learn about stormwater as a category. Thanks, volunteers!”
11th Grade IGNITE Student
STUDENTS SURVEYED FOLLOWING PARTICIPATION IN THIS EVENT REPORTED...
86%
INTERESTED IN STEM
82%
KNOW MORE ABOUT STEM CAREERS & THE BENEFITS OF WORKING IN STEM
79%
FEEL MORE CONFIDENT
IN PURSUING STEM
86%
GAINED PERSPECTIVE & FEEL MORE HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FUTURE
Additional Student Feedback:
“It opened my mind to stormwater and how water contamination affects our earth. I also got to meet a lot of cool people today. My favorite thing I learned was how stormwater is so important to the health of many species and our planet, and how underutilized it is.” – 12th Grade IGNITE Student
“This event inspired me to focus on an engineering career and want to study it in college. I learned about the steps you need to take to become an engineer, like being good at science and math.” – 12th Grade IGNITE Student
“I liked how their companies were flexible and able to adapt to the future with more technology. Many of them had the option to work either in an office or from home. One volunteer said she wasn’t necessarily interested in STEM or confident in math and science, but she still found a way to work in and around those subjects. I liked how she said to explore different paths until you find the right one.” – 12th Grade IGNITE Student
Thank you to our IGNITE Volunteers and Educators:
- Aimee Jacobson
- Kallie Iverson
- Rebecca Dugopolski
- Geoff Bolan
About IGNITE Worldwide:
IGNITE Worldwide is a 501(c)3 nonprofit STEM education organization that aims to change gender and racial equity in STEM permanently and systematically. We work directly with teachers during the school day to provide programming that promotes gender equity and representation in STEM academics and careers. Through our award-winning program, IGNITE provides engaging, hands-on events that connect students with STEM professionals from industry leaders from around the world. Learn more at igniteworldwide.org.