Terex Talks Electrical Safety and STEM Careers with Students

Terex Utilities team members recently took the company’s Safety Town and Build-a-Boom Workshop to two different groups of students. The purpose was to demonstrate concepts in electrical safety and to offer career exploration. 

In February, about 70 3rd through 5th graders in the Florence School District, Florence, S.D., saw a live demonstration of how electricity travels path to ground with the Safety Town kit, learned about the role Terex equipment plays in utility operations, and then designed their own aerial device model in the Build-a-Boom Workshop. 

Safety Town shows what happens when two characters in the town, Neon Leon and Lightnin’ Liz, come in contact with live voltage. 

Terex Utilities Team Members demonstrate how electricity travels path to ground.

“We describe how birds can sit on one wire, but if a bird touches another bird on a different wire, they would be electrocuted. We teach students the steps for exiting a vehicle if they are in a situation where an energized line has fallen on it. We also cook a hot dog using electricity to represent what happens to our bodies when exposed to electrical shock,” explained Marci Lewno, Manufacturing Engineer and member of the Terex Utilities Community Engagement committee.

“My favorite moment of the assembly was when one student finished building her boom very quickly and started helping other kids with theirs. She was excited to show off her ‘engineering’ skills and did a great job,” said Jesse Haagensen, Sales Application Technician for Terex Utilities.

“Any opportunity to give students real world experience is a plus,” said Mitch Reed, Superintendent of the Florence School District. “Students have a variety of learning styles, and giving them the chance to work with their hands while constructing is crucial. We appreciate Terex and their efforts to educate our youth.” 

Elementary students from the Florence School District, Florence, S.D., learned about electrical safety, the role of Terex equipment in utility operations, and designed their own aerial device model in the Build-a-Boom Workshop.

In March, Terex Utilities participated in a Microsoft DigiGirlz event hosted by Omnitech at the University Center Sioux Falls, S.D. campus. The event is for 8th through 12th grade girls and is focused on dispelling stereotypes of the tech industry. During the event, girls interact with women in technology and participate in technology sessions and demonstrations.

This is the second year that female employees of Terex Utilities participated in the DigiGirlz event. In addition to a demonstration of Safety Town, Lewno; Tiara Marcus, Quality Manager; and Ashley Johnson, Manufacturing Engineer, joined a panel discussion about why they chose a career in a STEM-related field.

Left to Right, Representing the Terex Utilities engineering department, Tiara Marcus, Ashley Johnson, and Marci Lewno discussed STEM-related careers at a DigiGirlz event.

Students asked about how to prepare for careers in STEM-related fields. “We stressed the importance of internships, finding a mentor, and exploring coursework outside of major study area,” said Lewno. “Many technical jobs require people to be detail-oriented, focused, and good problem solvers—traits needed in manufacturing and the utility industry,” she continued.