Black & Veatch

Students attending the 2026 Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Jacksonville STEM Camp received a firsthand look at how engineers solve real-world problems when professionals from Black & Veatch’s Jacksonville office joined them for a special half-day renewable energy workshop.

As part of the week-long camp at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, students were tasked with developing a dog kennel as one of their capstone STEM projects. While the kennel met the project’s initial requirements, the Black & Veatch team challenged the students to think beyond the basics and consider how engineering innovation could improve the design.

Led by Allison Flynn, with Kent Baugher serving as Technical Lead, the Black & Veatch volunteers introduced students to practical applications of renewable energy and sustainable design. Team members Jose Flores, Richard Horry, Jason Kirk, Michael Lash, Ryan Skardeiros, and Nathan Straub worked alongside the campers, sharing their expertise and helping students transform concepts into reality.

The challenge was straightforward: modernize the dog kennel using a renewable energy solution.

Students learned how solar panels capture energy from the sun and convert it into electricity that can power small cooling fans inside the kennel. As they assembled components, tested connections, and observed the system in operation, they gained a deeper understanding of how engineering principles are applied to solve everyday challenges.

What made the experience particularly valuable was the opportunity for students to work directly with practicing engineers, project managers, and technical professionals. The Black & Veatch volunteers encouraged students to ask questions, explore alternatives, troubleshoot problems, and think critically about design decisions. The workshop quickly became more than a lesson on solar power—it became an introduction to the engineering mindset.

Throughout the day, students discovered that engineering is rarely about finding a single right answer. Instead, it involves collaboration, creativity, testing, and continuous improvement. As teams refined their designs, they learned how small innovations can have a meaningful impact on performance, sustainability, and user experience.

For the Black & Veatch team, the workshop was an opportunity to invest in the future of the engineering profession. By sharing their knowledge and experiences, they helped students see how STEM concepts learned in the classroom connect directly to real projects that improve communities, support military missions, and advance sustainable infrastructure.

By the end of the session, the students had successfully transformed their capstone project from a basic dog kennel into a solar-powered demonstration of innovation and renewable energy. More importantly, they left with a greater appreciation for the possibilities that engineering can offer and a better understanding of the many career paths available within STEM fields.

Black & Veatch is proud to support the SAME Jacksonville STEM Camp and its mission of inspiring the next generation of engineers, scientists, and technical leaders. Through mentorship, hands-on learning, and community engagement, the Jacksonville team helped students experience what engineering looks like in practice—and perhaps envision themselves pursuing it in the future.