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DPW workers inspire female South students

By Grace Pecci - Staff Writer | Oct 11, 2019

NASHUA – Female students at Nashua High School South were encouraged to consider career paths that may seem “male-dominated” Thursday morning during a visit with female representatives from the city’s Department of Public Works.

Though it may not seem like it, the students quickly learned jobs in parks and eecreation, wastewater and street areas are not just for men.

Students had the opportunity to speak with women representing all six departments of Public Works, including administration, engineering, parks and recreation, solid waste, street and wastewater. The women gave them an overview of their jobs with informative displays and pictures to give the students a better idea of their everyday tasks within the department.

This is the second year that the representatives have visited.

This time around students were able to get a sneak peek of what a day in the life of a Department of Public Works employee is really like by touring several department trucks.

Though it was not mandatory for female students to attend, more than 50 did.

As noted last year by the city’s Director of Public Works Lisa Fauteux, representatives visit the school with the goal in mind to spark interest and inspire young women to join Public Works.

To make it fun and engaging, the Department of Public Works representatives handed out “passports” for department representatives to stamp once they made it through each station. The passports were entered into a raffle at the end for goodies from each department.

The representatives who visited included Fauteux, Noelle Osborne with the Wastewater Department, Niki Sawyer and Ashley Carusone with the Parks and Recreation Department, Amy Gill with the Engineering Department, Lauren Byers with the Administration Department, Carla Thibodeau with the Solid Waste Department and Kathie Berube with the Street Department.

Fauteux told students Thursday many of the jobs within the Department of Public Works do not require degrees, meaning students can apply after high school if they aren’t interested in pursuing a degree.

Nashua Technology Center South Director Mike McQuilkin emphasized that it is important to get the word out about all the different pathways that are available to students.

For the future, members of Nashua High School South’s career team will be collaborating with the Department of Public Works with the possibility of internships and job shadowing for interested students. The same representatives from the Department of Public Works that visited Nashua High School South Thursday also are planning to make an appearance at Nashua High School North next month to continue to spread awareness of career opportunities.

Grace Pecci may be reached at 603-594-1243 or gpecci@nashuatelegraph.com.

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