Every February, Engineers Week, which is led by DiscoverE, highlights the impact engineers have on the world. At ms consultants, that impact begins long before graduation. We have year-round K-12 outreach programs that introduce students to real engineering professionals, real projects, and real career paths.
From hosting Cristo Rey students in our offices to volunteering at regional STEM expos and bridge-building competitions, our employees invest their time and expertise to help young people see what engineering can look like in practice.
Here’s how that commitment comes to life.
Opening Doors Through the Cristo Rey Columbus Work-Study Program
ms consultants partners with Cristo Rey Columbus High School by hosting students through their Professional Work-Study Program. Students gain real-world experience by working alongside architecture, engineering, planning, and construction professionals, including:
- Rotating across departments to see how architecture, engineering, planning, and construction teams collaborate on real projects.
- Actively participating in day-to-day workplace activities rather than observing from the sidelines.
- Attending meetings, reviewing plans, and learning how projects progress from initial concept through construction.
“The students bring curiosity, professionalism, and a passion to learn that energizes our teams and supports our values. We see our partnership with Cristo Rey student interns as an investment in the future of engineering, in a more diverse and well-rounded workforce, and in support of local youth with tremendous potential.”
– Thomas P. Mosure, Chief Growth Officer
ms leadership attending Draft Day at Cristo Rey Columbus High School.
Engineering in Action at the ASCE Central Ohio STEM Expo
For many years, ms consultants’ Emerging Professionals Network has volunteered at the annual ASCE Central Ohio STEM Expo, engaging K–8 students through hands-on engineering activities. Rather than presenting engineering as an abstract concept, our team demonstrates how real-world principles work.
- One activity explored how trebuchets function, allowing students to test, adjust, and see physics in motion.
- Students competed to see whose trebuchet launched farthest, adjusting angles and counterweights between rounds.
- Through interactive problem-solving exercises like these, students experience how design, testing, and iteration are part of the engineering process.
By meeting practicing engineers and experimenting with real-world concepts, students gain a clearer understanding of how classroom concepts, such as math and science, translate into careers that shape their communities.
ms Emerging Professionals Network attending the ASCE Central Ohio STEM Expo.
Exploring Environmental Engineering with the Girl Scouts
At Camp Innovation with the Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland, our Water Group introduced Scouts to the practical side of environmental engineering. Through hands-on activities focused on watersheds, native plants, rain gardens, and pollution prevention, students explored how engineering protects natural resources in their own communities.
- The ms team presented how water runoff affects the environment, using plant photos and root systems as examples.
- The students participated in hands-on activities that illustrated how rain gardens act like sponges, absorbing water and reducing pollution.
- A walk through the pollinator garden encouraged learning about how each plant plays a crucial role in supporting local pollinators.
By connecting these lessons to their local environments, the session helped the Scouts see how infrastructure and ecology intersect.
Just as importantly, Scouts were able to meet and learn from women working in STEM fields. Seeing environmental engineers in action provides a tangible example of what a future career in science or engineering can look like.
ms Water Team hosting a Camp Innovation session with the Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland.
Building Confidence Through Bridge-Building Competitions
Through sponsorship, volunteering, and judging at the Mahoning Valley Miniature Bridge Building Contest and the Summit County Engineer Miniature Bridge Building Competition, ms consultants supports high school students as they design, construct, and test their own bridge models. These competitions provide students:
- The opportunity to move beyond theory by calculating loads, refining materials, and preparing bridges for performance testing.
- A firsthand look at how engineering decisions affect structural outcomes as bridges are subjected to increasing weight during final evaluations.
- The experience of working alongside practicing engineers to see civil and structural design principles translated into measurable results.
The competitions also bring together educators, students, and industry professionals across the region, reinforcing connections between classroom learning and the engineering community.
Mahoning Valley Miniature Bridge Building Contest and the Summit County Engineer Miniature Bridge Building Competition.
Investing in the Future of Engineering
As we celebrate Engineers Week, we recognize that supporting future engineers is not limited to a single week on the calendar. Through sustained partnerships with schools, professional organizations, and community groups, ms consultants remains committed to introducing students to the realities of the engineering practice across the regions we serve.
These experiences are more than one-day events. They reflect an ongoing investment in strengthening the engineering profession by connecting young people with practicing professionals, real challenges, and real opportunities to contribute.
We are proud to stand alongside educators and community partners who are shaping the next generation of engineers, and we look forward to continuing that work throughout the year.