Agency employees donate $414 to school's engineering program

BATON ROUGE, La. – Employees of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) hosted the 2009 Job Shadowing Day for students of Scotlandville Magnet High School today.

During this event, seven students from Scotlandville Magnet were paired with DOTD engineers and engineer technicians. The day began with "job shadowing," when each student accompanied a mentor to his or her workstation. This was followed by a tour of the department's Intelligent Transportation Systems office and a tour of DOTD's Materials Laboratory. 

The student/mentor relationships do not end with Job Shadowing Day. Some students in the Scotlandville Mentoring Program, mostly those interested in engineering, have periodic meetings with their mentors.

Also during the 2009 Job Shadowing Day, DOTD presented a check for more than $414 to the school's engineering program. On behalf of the DOTD employees, DOTD's Deputy Secretary Sherri LeBas presented the check to Scotlandville Magnet’s Lead Teacher Beatrice Arvie. 

"We are excited that these young people are showing an interest in engineering, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Scotlandville Magnet High," LeBas said.

"DOTD's Job Shadowing Day and monetary donation will enhance our school in nurturing future engineers," Scotlandville Principal Howard Davis said. "Public schools can always use a helping hand, and Scotlandville Magnet is no exception in that regard."

The money represents 10 percent of the proceeds from two "Books Are Fun" book sales held at DOTD headquarters in 2008 – a one-day sale during the summer and a two-day sale held before Christmas.

Arvie said the engineering group will use the money for various projects and field trips.

DOTD fundraiser: DOTD’s Deputy Secretary, Sherri LeBas (front row, left), presents a check for more than $414 to Scotlandville Magnet’s Lead Teacher, Beatrice Arvie (front row, right), who is accepting the money on behalf of the school’s engineering program. The money was raised by DOTD employees through two book fairs held last year. The students pictured are seniors in the school’s engineering program who participated in DOTD’s Job Shadowing Day. Students are (back row, from left) Kelvin Gray, Trillion LeDuff, Murloneal Webb, Abner Patin, (front row from left) Steve Antoine, Robert Paul and Moszray White.

DOTD Job Shadowing Day: During Job Shadowing Day at DOTD, Mike Bailey, right, of DOTD’s Materials Lab demonstrates the lab’s furnace to Kelvin Gray, left, and Murloneal Webb, seniors at Scotlandville Magnet High School. The “muffle furnace” is used in various tests to ensure the quality of material used in roads and bridges constructed in the state.