"Who Works the Rivers" Works for Local Students

Photo By James Finn | Mike McKean, Natural Resource Specialist, gives a tour of Locks and Dam 15 to local students during the Quad Cities Who Works the Rivers Event on Sept. 1  

ROCK ISLAND, IL, UNITED STATES

10.30.2019

Story by April Scott 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District

Multiple Rock Island District employees supported the first Who Works the Rivers career event in Rock Island, Illinois. The event, which took place on Sept 12, was hosted by the nonprofit organization RiverWorks Discovery and 140 students attended.

According to RiverWorks Discovery the goal of the Who Works the Rivers event was to offer eleventh and twelfth grade students in the Quad City area an opportunity to learn about river-related careers. The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers participated in the event as an opportunity to highlight federal career opportunities alongside other career fields connected to the river.

Natural Resource Specialists Mike McKean and Bailey Anderegg provided recreation career information and tours of Locks and Dam 15. Mississippi River Maintenance Supervisor Matt Thurman gave a presentation on maintenance careers and Biologist Breann Popkin provided information on environmental careers with the Corps.

“This a great opportunity to learn about jobs in environmental careers and is a long-term investment for both the community and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers,” said Popkin.

RiverWorks Discovery hosts many Who Works the Rivers events all across the Midwest and asked for Rock Island District’s help in getting the event expanded into the Quad Cities.

John Vaughn, a presenter at the event, works as a captain of a towboat with Marquette Transportation.

During the Who Works the Rivers event, Vaughn took the opportunity to promote his career.

“I can share a career perspective with students who have limited access to river careers that are available, because big companies don’t reach out,” he said.

The event offered an opportunity for more than 12 different organizations to network with local high school students and educators and showcase the wide variety of careers they offer. Presenters included Alter Logistics, Illinois Marine Towing, Upper Iowa University, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Eastern Iowa Grain Inspection and Weighing Services.

Christina M. Pineda, assistant agency manager of Eastern Iowa Grain Inspection and Weighing Service, felt the Who Works the River event was a great way to help the community with employment opportunities.

"We need people who are motivated and have a good work ethic," she said. "We are willing to give young people the training and education they need to be successful.”

Eastern Iowa Grain Inspection is both a buyer and seller of grain. They perform quality control for grains sold by sampling, weighing, stowing, grading, certifying and testing for mycotoxins. They cover Easter Iowa, Northern Illinois, and Wisconsin

• Date Taken: 10.30.2019
• Date Posted: 11.05.2019 16:07
• Story ID: 350586
• Location: ROCK ISLAND, IL, US