[National Grid Ventures’ Northport Generation Team kicks off STEM Day early with Herricks School District high school students at the Northport Power Station in Northport, NY. On the specialized tour route, energy professionals gave students a close-up look at the jobs and training that keep the electricity flowing to area homes and businesses.]

National Grid Ventures (NGV) kicked off National STEM Day early with Herricks School District students for an on-site tour and presentation at the company’s Northport Power Station. More than 20 high school students received a closeup look at how energy workers keep the lights on for Long Islanders and what training they will need for energy careers, both for traditional and renewable generation.

In the first half of the day, the students participated in an “Introduction to Generation” workshop where they learned the basics of how NGV’s facilities generate power across Long Island, and more specifically about the Northport Power Station, NGV’s largest facility on Long Island. The students then toured the station, meeting the many specialized workers who operate and maintain it. Last, workers across a broad spectrum of roles participated in a panel discussion, recounting their journeys to careers in the energy business to give students ideas on how they could join the energy workforce themselves.

“National STEM Day is an opportunity for us to reach into the community and show the next generation of workers the types of skills needed for STEM-related jobs like those in the energy field,” said Jim Flannery, Chief Operating Officer of National Grid Ventures, US Northeast. “The most effective way to attract young people to work in this industry is by inviting them into our facility to experience a day in the life. By the end of the day, we hope to spark an interest in energy in the Herricks School District students, so that they can pursue energy careers in the future. It was a pleasure having the students with us for a day of fun activities. I enjoyed speaking with them and sharing perspectives on the panel discussion and am looking forward to their returning again next year.”

According to the U. S. Department of Commerce, STEM occupations are growing at 24 percent, while other occupations are growing at 4 percent. Even in non-STEM careers, STEM degrees tend to earn higher incomes. Jobs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics sectors are critical in growing the U.S. economy and play in important role in securing the nation’s future success. NGV works with local organizations to provide education on career pathways in energy and advertises open jobs at the generation facilities on Long Island.

“The Herricks High School Career Internship Program thanks the Northport Power Station for their hospitality and willingness to support our students’ exploration of careers,” said Keith Preston, Coordinator of the Herricks High School Career Internship Program. “With a large interest in STEM among our students, our visit today allowed us to gain new insights into a fascinating facet of the STEM world, understand the operations of a complex and vital function of our world and broaden our knowledge related to career readiness.  With both an informative information session and tour as well as a thoughtful and in-depth Q&A session, our students left today with a better understanding of their future path along with advice and knowledge to further them in their journey as young professionals.  A special thank you to Shinu Cheatham and the National Grid Ventures team for organizing a really worthwhile day for our students!”

Over the past month, NGV volunteers hosted more than 25 participants from The Hope Program, which provides young adults from New York City with training, adult education and industry certifications for clean energy jobs. The volunteers conducted mock interviews and shared tips for interview success, offering a deeper understanding of the industry for the future workforce.

In November, NGV volunteers and volunteers from the Inspire - Social Equity Employee Resource Group will meet with students from the Keep Your Change, Inc. program in Amityville, which provides access to training and academic enrichment classes for underserved students in the area. The students will speak with volunteers about the job application process and identifying positions that match their skillset for potential careers in the field. The Inspire - Social Equity Employee Resource Group strives to recruit, promote and retain an inclusive workforce and participates in community outreach programs to ensure that the skills and talents needed for energy jobs can be accessed by all.

National STEM Day was founded in 2015 by the Congressional Caucus on STEM Education to raise awareness of the significance of STEM education and encourage students to pursue STEM careers. The date (November 8) is a play on words and sounds: 'Nov8' is a numeronym (abbreviation with a number), pronounced 'innovate.' This year’s theme “The Future of STEM Education and its Impact on Society” is about shaping the future, driving innovation, and securing economic prosperity.

National Grid Ventures

National Grid is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people throughout our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future — transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

National Grid Ventures (NGV) is the commercial arm of National Grid plc, one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world. NGV operates outside of National Grid’s core regulated businesses in the US and UK where it develops, operates and invests in energy projects, technologies and partnerships to accelerate the development of a clean energy future. NGV’s diverse portfolio of low carbon and renewable energy businesses across the UK, Europe and US includes subsea electricity interconnectors, wind and solar power, and battery storage. For more information, visit https://www.nationalgrid.com/national-grid-ventures.

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future — transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.