Community Outreach

Community Outreach

ARA has succeeded over the last 31 years because of our world-class service and our superior technical expertise. In order to help develop the next generation of scientists and engineers, and as part of ARA’s commitment to give back to the communities where we all live and work, ARA offices across the country are active participants in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education programs. Here are just a few examples:

  • In the Florida panhandle, the North Florida Division and Engineering Science Division engage in education outreach initiatives ranging from mentoring students to school tours of science and robotics labs to judging local science fairs.

  • ARA/Virtual Heroes, one of ARA’s divisions, has supported STEM education programs from its inception, ranging from employees volunteering in schools and internship programs to leadership in developing the NASA STEM education game, Astronaut, Moon, Mars & Beyond. ARA/Virtual Heroes also joins with other corporate leaders in supporting Innovate Educate, a national organization committed to educational transformation.

  • Corporate partners with the University of New Mexico in supporting the Annual Central New Mexico Science & Engineering Research Challenge, including employees judging the projects and ARA sponsoring several awards.

  • ARA has supported New Mexico Math Engineering Science (MESA) not only as a financial sponsor but has had two ARA corporate staff on the MESA Board of Directors since 2001. MESA’s mission is to increase the number of students from diverse and underrepresented groups who aspire to careers and leadership roles in math, science, technology, and engineering professions. MESA inspires student career success by Instilling passion, increasing educational performance, and enabling academic and leadership skills.

  • ARA has a community outreach program that has given 9th grade Bosque School student, Justin Singleton, the opportunity to spend a week with ARA mentors during a special Winterim program. As an intern, Justin gained hands on experience in a possible career field working in LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy). ARA’s experiential learning program is offered to students from 6th to 11th grade and provides an outside of the classroom educational opportunity. Many students take advantage of this opportunity each year.

ARA continues in our commitment to education, and especially to STEM education programs.