The students from the Engineering & Industrial Technology classes at Washington State Community College visited Pickering Associates’ Parkersburg, WV campus, on Monday April 30th as they finished up the spring semester. Instructor John Burgardt brought half a dozen young pupils from various engineering classes including CAD-based curriculum to our Emerson Ave. office to see how a local Architecture and Engineering firm uses the skills these students are learning. The visit introduced these budding designers to all of the different disciplines available here at Pickering Associates, reviewed various projects recently completed around the Mid-Ohio Valley, and facilitated one-on-one interactions with other WSCC alumni currently employed at our offices. Patrick Goff, one of the student’s classmates, already has a job at Pickering Associates as a Piping Drafter. Our main objective was to help local scholars realize the career opportunities available to them right here in their hometown.
The Industrial Technology, Engineering Technology and Design Drafting students spent an hour soaking up discussions around which departments perform certain scope items on projects and what innovative technology is being used at Pickering to provide better integrated designs. Students reviewed renderings, witnessed a virtual walkthrough of a 3D industrial model, and flew through a point cloud generated by the 3D scanner that we use to document existing site conditions.
“my class…really appreciated it and we all thought it looks like a great place to work.” – John Burgardt
Pickering’s involvement with various commercial, industrial and institutional clients around the area really blends a lot of skilled staff, emerging talent and interesting subject matter into our daily activities. It was an honor and a privilege to host these fine young minds as they explored local career options where they may put their design degrees to use in the future.