WWTW Hosts Event In Alton, Ill., Honors Supporters

Crowds of busy, excited, attentive high school students were bused to Melvin Price Locks and Dam in Alton, Ill., for the latest We Work The Waterways (WWTW) event on October 16 to learn about the many possibilities for a rewarding career on, or adjacent to, the river industry. It’s a topic few students are likely to learn about in regular school curricula.

The Alton event was coordinated with similar events at the Port of New Orleans on October 16 and 17. A third We Work The Waterways event is scheduled in Pittsburgh on October 22.

We Work the Waterways was established less than a year ago but has hit the ground running. WWTW is an organization dedicated to introducing students of all ages to maritime careers through industry interaction. WWTW has held 26 industry interaction events and provided an estimated 10,000 students with a day of engagement and connection to the maritime world.

“The We Work the Waterways program is all about reaching out to youth and making them aware of career opportunities in our industry and trying to build them up as individuals,” WWTW director Errin Howard said. “We really want the students to know that our industry–the maritime shipping and logistics industries–care about these students as individuals, regardless of whether they pursue a career in our industry or not.”

These industry interaction days are just like they sound. WWTW gives students a day to interact and engage with marine concepts as well as have conversations with a variety of maritime companies. Students as young as elementary grades learn about maritime careers, safety and the environment, while industry interaction days with high school students become even more hands-on. 

“We have line throwing and handling, we had a rigging station where the kids got to pick up and feel how heavy the rigging is and actually see it,” Howard said regarding an industry interaction day held in Alton, Ill. “We had an excavator station with a remote-controlled excavator where kids got to hear and understand about terminals and loading and unloading facilities. We had an elevator pitch station where kids learned about first impressions and how important they are.”

We Work The Waterways is a program of Inland Rivers, Ports & Terminals Inc., a trade association that promotes ports, terminals and intermodal centers along the nation’s inland waterway systems.

The industry interaction days were expanded this year to include 12 interactive learning stations, some of them outside, where students see demonstrations of line handling, take turns throwing a line or life preserver and learn about cranes and terminal operations, among many other activities. Sponsors at the Alton event—who also provided volunteers to staff the learning stations—included Osage Marine, Lawson Marine, America’s Central Port, Budrovich Marine and ADM/ARTCo. Each station had marine industry representatives who spoke about the rewards and challenges of careers on the rivers.

Students also learned about practical skills in the job market. One station this year manned by employees of America’s Central Port taught students how to refine an “elevator pitch,” where they described themselves and their skills in one minute.

The event at Mel Price was expanded from last year’s, with more than 200 students scheduled to visit. At least a couple of schools that didn’t officially respond brought students anyway, according to Howard. For close to 17 years, Howard led RiverWorks Discovery, developing that organization’s collaborative outreach program, Who Works the Rivers. In December 2023, Howard left RiverWorks Discovery to become the career opportunities program director for IRPT (The Waterways Journal, Dec. 21, 2023). 

Aimee Andres, executive director of IRPT, was on hand for the Alton event, as was Paul Rohde, vice president at Waterways Council Inc., who spoke on global shipping.

The day included a tour of the lock and dam. Regular exhibits of the National Great Rivers Museum, located at the locks and dam, taught students about the importance of barge transportation and the lock and dam system.

The rapid success of We Work The Waterways is thanks to the dedication of dozens of companies and industry professionals throughout the country. During the We Work the Waterways reception at this year’s 50th anniversary Inland Rivers, Ports & Terminals conference, Howard recognized a few individuals whose hard work and dedication make WWTW a rapidly growing organization.

Dr. Terence James, director of career and technical education for the Vicksburg Warren School District, received the Innovative Educator of the Year Award.

“His deep understanding of our mission shines through in his work, as he effectively communicates the importance of the maritime industry to his students,” Howard said. “So impactful is his message that we’ve even recorded it to share with students nationwide, ensuring that his passion reaches far beyond our local community.”

The Visionary Leader Award was awarded to Associated Terminals and Turn Services Marketing Vice President Dawn Lopez.

“Her dedication to young people is especially commendable,” Howard said. “She works tirelessly to ensure they know their worth and helps them build essential soft skills for their futures. Dawn’s love for the maritime industry shines through in her efforts to make sure that young people recognize just how special this field is.”

Several others received awards as well. Merritt Vesich received the Leadership in Action Award; Kelly DiMarco, director of economic development for Plaquemines Parish, received the Community Builder Award; Arthur Yves at Associated Terminals and Turn Services received the Behind-the-Scenes Award; and the Legacy Partner Award was awarded to American Commercial Barge Line.

We Work the Waterways is already making plans for 2025 to provide students with even more industry interaction days and resources. To learn more, visit www.irpt.net/www-home/.

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Feature photo caption: St. Louis Engineer District staffers man an interactive learning station for high school students at a We Work The Rivers event held at Mel Price Locks and Dam October 16. (Photo by David Murray)