The Altec Innovation Challenge is an annual competition that encourages students to use technology to solve real-world problems with a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) solution while exposing students to STEM-related careers. The program added a second location for this year’s program in Elizabethtown, KY.
The goal of the initiative is to encourage Hardin County, Elizabethtown City (KY) & Birmingham City (AL) Schools students to innovatively solve real-world problems while benefiting their school and community through the use of technology.
Altec Chairman and CEO Lee Styslinger III said the Innovation Challenge provides opportunities critical to the economy.
“Altec is proud of our partnerships with teachers and volunteers in our communities to provide local students with the training and the opportunity to develop useful work skills in the critical areas of STEM – science, technology, engineering and math,” said Styslinger.
Styslinger continued, “Businesses are dependent on this next generation of workers to develop these important skills to ensure the U.S. economy continues to grow and Americans continue to prosper from that growth.”
What is the opportunity value of a STEM-related career? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics – the average annual income is around $84,000. The STEM job market has grown by three times year over year versus non-STEM jobs between the years 2000 and 2010 in the United States. Currently, it is projected that 2.4 million STEM jobs will go unfilled.
Battling Plastic Bottle Waste in Birmingham, AL
During the Altec Innovation Challenge finals on Friday, October 4th, four teams presented their problems and proposed solutions to a panel of eight judges, including representatives from Altec, Birmingham Ed Foundation, Venture for America, The University of Alabama, Innovate BHAM, Birmingham Business Alliance, Central Six AlabamaWorks, and the Birmingham Office of Innovation and Economic Opportunity. The proposals were judged based on community impact, possibility of implementation and sustainability.
Matt Smith, Special Assistant to the Birmingham City Schools Superintendent, said Birmingham’s school system was excited to partner with Altec for this initiative.
“We are consistently and continually looking for ways to challenge our students to be thinking innovatively, and we recognize that this is one way to prepare our students to be globally competitive in the 21st century,” Smith said.
Altec associates volunteered with student teams to offer advice and assistance with the development of the proposals and with project management plans.
“This challenge helps create heroes and mentors for the participants, as well as an opportunity to have fun in learning with their fellow classmates,” said Lee Styslinger III, Altec CEO.
The four finalist teams represented George Washington Carver High School, Huffman Middle School, South Hampton K-8 and Woodlawn High School. Each group presented a problem directly affecting their school or community.
Mychoal Woods, a teacher at George Washington Carver High School, said the students that participated in this challenge “have learned so much about the power they have to actually invoke and create change.”
“This is the catalyst for change for years to come for all of them because each of them played a very significant role in this,” said Carver Teacher Mychoal Woods.
The Changemakers, a group of juniors and seniors from George Washington Carver High School, took home the $10,000 prize to implement their idea – reducing the amount of plastic bottle waste produced at their school. They will accomplish this by issuing reusable water bottles to every student and installing bottle filling stations throughout the school.
Jamari Dixon, a student that participated in the challenge, described his positive the Altec Innovation Challenge has had on him and his peers.
“I’m excited to share this moment with my classmates, but I am most excited to help make a change in my school,” participant Jamari Dixon said.
Cooking Up Plans for a Raised Vegetable Garden in Elizabethtown, KY
Eleven teams from five schools within the Hardin County and Elizabethtown school districts participated 
in Altec’s Innovation Challenge on Friday, November 22nd. Students were asked to address real-world problems by bringing science, technology and engineering to life through an innovative student-driven, project-based approach that ultimately benefits the community. More than 50 students participated in Altec’s Innovation Challenge.
The Innovation Challenge is guided by local teachers, Altec staff and community volunteers. The competition helps encourage students to develop work skills such as collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and communication.
Chad Sarver, General Manager at Altec’s Elizabethtown manufacturing facility, indicated that these types of skills are essential to students entering today’s workforce.
“No matter what career aspirations a student has, there are common foundational skills required to succeed in the job market,” said Sarver.
Sarver continued, “Our goal is to help students develop the confidence needed to think outside the box and anticipate questions while also developing their technical knowledge.”
Winning the top prize, students from Central Hardin High School presented their solution to food insecurity with plans to build and maintain 21 raised garden beds. The beds will be used to grow various vegetables, which will benefit several nonprofits in our community.
“Once we heard about this opportunity, the students immediately knew what project they wanted to tackle. They’ve worked extremely hard to prepare, and we’re extraordinarily proud of all they accomplished,” said Derek Smith, agriculture advisor and faculty sponsor for the winning team.
Schools from both districts were well represented, delivering projects that addressed energy conservation, pollution, school safety and more.
Teresa Morgan, superintendent of Hardin County Schools, said that the Hardin County School District, “is incredibly proud of our students who chose to participate in today’s Innovation Challenge and grateful for community partners like Altec.”
“Through opportunities like this, we’re bridging the gap between classroom instruction and career readiness,” Morgan said.
Teams from the different Hardin County, Elizabethtown City (KY) & Birmingham City (AL) Schools worked with Altec volunteers, community groups and school faculty members to identify a problem that could be solved using a STEM-based solution.
In total, the Altec Innovation Challenge had over 100 students from 20 different schools participate in this year’s program. The winning teams won $10,000 from Altec to implement their plan. Plans for the 2020 competition are in the works. Stay tuned to our website for more details to come in the next few months.
Start your year off right with the 2020 Altec Wall Calendar! Every year Altec designs a calendar that showcases our equipment, associates and customers. This year’s calendar features photos of our customers and their Altec equipment.
The China Electricity Council (CEC) hosted the 2019 Linemen’s Rodeo for the National Electric Power Industry from November 18 – 22, 2019, in Huzhou, China. The vocational skills competition for distribution line workers (10 kV line live operation) hosted representatives from 26 provincial power companies in China.
“From the linemen that competed in the rodeo to the executives at the power companies, everyone was interested in learning about new work practices and the safety benefits they could bring to China,” says Gilley. “Seeing that commitment to safety at all levels of each organization was the most powerful moment of my visit to the CEC Linemen’s Rodeo.”