Public Works showcases career opportunities at Worlds of Work

Columbia Public Works gave local students a hands-on look at the many careers that help keep a city running.

Staff engaged with high school freshmen during the opens in a new windowColumbia Public Schools ' first Worlds of Work event. Northeast Regional Park hosted the event earlier this fall.

The event brought more than 40 local businesses, organizations and industries together with Columbia Public Schools' ninth graders. Students explored career paths through interactive activities.

At the Public Works area, students could climb into a skid steer, snowplow or backhoe. Doing so gave them a close-up look at some of the equipment used to build and maintain City infrastructure. Many students took the opportunity to sit in the equipment and pose for pictures.

Students could also explore the technology behind less visible Public Works jobs. Fleet Operations staff demonstrated how manufacturers wire equipment such as police lights and sirens. Parking staff displayed the devices used to program and maintain parking meters. Public Works uses those devices for tasks such as updating meter rates when changes are made to the City's parking system.

Survey crews brought digital surveying equipment, including a robotic total station that uses electronic measurements to precisely determine the location of points in the field. The technology gives surveyors accurate measurements they can use to map existing conditions and support the design of infrastructure projects.

A Go COMO Paratransit van was also on display, giving students an opportunity to explore the vehicle and learn about careers serving people with disabilities. Go COMO, a Public Works division, provides federally required Paratransit service alongside its fixed-route bus service. The service provides door-to-door transportation for eligible riders who are unable to use the fixed-route system because of a disability.

The event provided students with a chance to see that careers in local government extend well beyond the jobs they may typically associate with the City, with opportunities in skilled trades, engineering, surveying, transportation, equipment operation, parking, vehicle maintenance and more.