Exploring the World of Work: Tollway Team Inspires Future Problem Solvers
Illinois Tollway staff spent time with students in the Lake County area sharing how science, engineering and environmental stewardship intersect to keep people moving safely while protecting natural resources at this year’s Navig8Lake Career Exploration Event.
The annual Navig8Lake event, hosted by Lake County Regional Office of Education, encourages middle and high school students to explore a wide range of career paths through hands-on demonstrations that bring professional careers to life – from agriculture and business to engineering, public service and the trades.
This year, Navig8Lake brought together more than 6,000 students and 140 community partners for a day of discovery, connection and innovation. Events like Navig8Lake open doors for students to learn more about careers they may already be interested in from working professionals.
“We hope these demonstrations make environmental science come alive in a way that’s captivating and ignites curiosity about this field,” said Talent Acquisition Administrator Jyoti Rao. “We want students to discover how the Tollway analyzes, surveys and designs roadway construction and maintenance around ecological and environmental impacts.”
Illinois Tollway Senior Environmental Planner Kelsey Musich demonstrated an interactive EnviroScape watershed model that helps students visualize how water and pollution move through the environment.
The model shows how road salt or soil erosion from construction can wash into storm sewers and rivers. The Tollway uses such modeling to measure and achieve environmental goals, such as capturing and filtering pollutants off the pavements before releasing downstream.
Through another demonstration, GIS Support Specialist John Foster showed students how the Tollway uses spatial data to guide land use decisions and how environmental professionals track wildlife to measure the impacts of infrastructure projects
“Many kids only learn about adult jobs through their family,” Musich said. “This event helps them see themselves in new roles – ones that may be a perfect match for their unique personality and individuality.”