Today the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) was pleased to join Wake County Public Schools and other businesses across North Carolina for Students@Work℠ Month. This program serves a critical role in our state’s work-based learning efforts as it helps middle school students become aware of potential careers and the skills needed to be successful in those careers.
Throughout the month, students will hear from guest speakers or take part in worksite visits that will help them learn firsthand about the careers available in their local community. Today DEQ participated in the program by hosting 36 middle school students in a worksite visit at our Green Square Headquarters in Downtown Raleigh.
“DEQ has an incredible diversity of career opportunities in STEM fields and beyond. Many of the staff are scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and technology professionals, but there are also people who work in education, outreach, and communications,” said Secretary Michael Regan. “Students had an opportunity to meet employees with different backgrounds and areas of expertise and learn about their day-to-day work.”
During the visit, students found out what it takes to be a meteorologist in the Division of Air Quality, saw how the division forecasts the air quality index, and learned why knowing how to manipulate data is an important skill for many careers. Students also joined one of our wetland ecologists on an exciting journey through some of North Carolina’s most beautiful ecosystems using a new interactive wetland map. They toured our Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified “green building” and learned more about how our employees protect the state’s environment.
Students@Work℠ is a joint initiative between the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBE) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. This year’s program is made possible by a grant from GSK. The 2019 Students@Work℠ initiative includes more than 280 businesses and 46,000 students statewide.
For more information about the Department of Environmental Quality’s participation in Students@Work℠ Week, contact the Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs at 919-707-8125. For more information about NCBCE, visit ncbce.org.
About the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE)
The North Carolina Business Committee for Education is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit comprised of business leaders from across the state. NCBCE’s mission focuses on ensuring that every student in North Carolina graduates from high school ready for life and work in a global society.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the lead stewardship agency for the protection of North Carolina's environmental resources. Our mission is to provide science-based environmental stewardship for the health and prosperity of ALL North Carolinians. Our organization, which has offices from the mountains to the coast, administers regulatory programs designed to protect air quality, water quality, and the public's health, and works to advance an all-of-the-above energy strategy that fits North Carolina’s needs. DEQ also offers technical assistance to businesses, farmers, local governments, and the public and encourages responsible behavior with respect to the environment through education programs provided at DEQ facilities and through the state's school system. DEQ touches the lives of all North Carolinians in many ways to enhance and ensure our quality of life.
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