Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Exploring an Ocean of Knowledge; U.S. Navy Officers Offer Insights into STEM Careers for Students
Description
It was recently Navy Week at Hidden Valley Middle School, where students had a chance to dive deeply into ocean STEM careers.
On this episode of the Supercast, discover why the U.S. Navy recently visited a number of Utah schools and why the Navy sees students as the future of solving some of the ocean's most challenging problems.
Audio Transcription
[Music]Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. It was recently Navy Week at Hidden Valley Middle School, where students had a chance to dive deeply into Ocean STEM careers.
On this episode of the Supercast, discover why the US Navy visited a number of Utah schools, and why the Navy sees students as the future of solving some of the ocean's most challenging problems.
We talk with US Navy officers and civilians who explain why they want to help Utah middle school students find a passion for the oceans and possibly discover a career they might not have considered while living in the desert.
[ Music ]We're here at Hidden Valley Middle School talking with several representatives from the U.S. Navy who have been visiting our classrooms to talk with some of our students in science classes. And I'm really excited to have a chance to talk with you. Please introduce yourselves, where you're from, and just a little bit about yourself.
Lt. Amanda Weber:
Awesome. Well, glad to be here. My name's Lieutenant Amanda Weber. I am originally from Maryland, but call Stevensville, Montana home now. I have been in the Navy for about six years. I started off my career in the Navy as a meteorology and oceanography officer. I've currently done three tours in the Navy with that community, and currently right now work in Monterey, California. I’ve got a degree in biochemistry and then my master's in cybersecurity.
Lt. (j.g.) Corinne Fleury
All right, morning, thanks for having us. My name is Lieutenant (j.g.) Corinne Fleury So I've been in the Navy for about two years now. I'm also in METOC or meteorology and oceanography. I come from a small town, about an hour north of New York City called Mahopac, New York. In college, I studied space science and engineering.
Lt. Serena Gardner
Good morning, Lieutenant Serena Gardner. I'm from Santa Maria, California. I've been in the Navy for about seven years. I spent my first tour as a surface warfare officer, or SWO, driving warships out in Japan. And then for the last three years, I've been also doing meteorology and oceanography. I'm currently stationed at Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, where our headquarters is. And I have degrees in both chemical engineering and a master's in business.
Terri Yocum:
Hi, my name is Terri Yocum. I am from Covington, Louisiana, South Louisiana. I have two degrees in coastal science and coastal engineering. I started working for the Navy about three years ago, and I'm still living in the same area.
Anthony Godfrey:
Well, it's great to have all of you and very nice to meet each of you. Tell me about what drew you to the Navy. What got you interested in being part of this?
Lt. Amanda Weber:
So I originally wanted to join the Army as a pharmacist, ironically enough. Clearly did not go that route. But I had both of my grandpas were in World War II. One of them was a meteorologis and the other one was in the Navy as a radar man. So I kind of merged the two and here I am as a meteorologist in the Navy.
Lt. Corinne Fleury:
Yeah, so for me, you know, I was spending my time in engineering school kind of learning not only all the technical matter that I needed to for my degree, but learning a little bit about the pathway of what being an engineer looks like. And to be completely honest, I just couldn't see myself doing that job for my entire life. I felt kind of called to something a little bit h