STEM/STEAM Day

Today is #STEMSTEAMDay which inspires kids to explore and pursue their interests in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. Today we’re celebrating just a few of our employees and the people and experiences in their lives that brought them here.

SYDNEY JERNIGAN | Graduate Engineer

KATIE BALTZLEY | GIS Specialist

DAVID KRESLEY | IT Specialist

ALEX NAWOTKA | Environmental Specialist

SYDNEY JERNIGAN | Graduate Engineer

I have always loved math. Even as a kid. I loved using formulas and critical thinking to come up with an answer. I remember in 5th grade we had these math workbooks. We were assigned a page every night to complete- about eight problems. My teacher would scold me for completing 10 pages at a time, because I was moving so far ahead of the class. In high school, when it was time to start thinking and talking about college, I knew I loved math and wanted to apply those skills. But, I had no idea what I wanted to do. My geometry teacher, Ms. Gallagher, first told me to consider engineering. I did some research and realized that was exactly what I was looking for. The idea of engineering is to use critical thinking to create solutions. This is what I’ve always loved growing up. (It was also a bonus that throughout college I was constantly doing math homework like in 5th grade). It’s thanks to Ms. Gallagher, my high school teacher, that I ended up where I am today. I can’t imagine having any other career now. 

KATIE BALTZLEY | GIS Specialist

I had amazing parents growing up. My dad, an avid outdoorsman, always taught me about the importance of protecting wildlife and stream health. I have memories of spending summers playing in local creeks, and pulling over in the car to help box and snapping turtles cross the road. (I still do this, to this day!) My mom always encouraged me to look up to the sky. She would wake me up at 3 AM to catch a lunar eclipse. Or, we’d lay out blankets on the lawn so we could stay up late and watch meteor showers. My dad’s love for the beauty of nature and my mom’s enthusiasm for the world around us both led me to my future. I went on to major in Geography with a focus in Environmental Science and minor in Meteorology. Now, I get to create interactive maps that help educate others on source water protection and the wonderful world around them.

DAVID KRESLEY | IT Specialist

My love for technology began with my dad. One time, a computer that he used broke and he told me to “try to fix it” even though I was only in the 2nd grade and had no clue how to even begin. The inside of the computer reminded me of Legos. There were a bunch of important pieces that belong in their place, all serving their own purpose for one final result. In 5th grade I got a brand new computer that was setup right next to my dad. Here, I started to learn the parts of computer, and how to upgrade whole computers or individual components to make them more powerful. Every computer I’ve had since that first Dell tower has been built with my own hands. The idea that I can make a computer look how I want it to look and make it as powerful as I want it to be is still an idea that gives me a sense of wonder. From sitting next to me in my early memories to running Ethernet cable through our walls and attic- my dad helped to create my foundation of knowledge and understanding. Now, I’m an IT Specialist and do what I love every single day.

ALEX NAWOTKA | Environmental Specialist

There are so many moments in which I found my love for science. I remember finding awesome-looking stones at the edge of the forest when I was eight and taking them home with me. (I actually still have them.) I can remember really falling in love with my future career in middle school. My teacher set up a sand table experiment for us. You have sand and mud in a large, shallow crate, and you carve whatever stream shapes you like in the sand with your fingers, and add water. Through this experiment, you get to see a miniaturized version of erosion and channel meandering, and how sand moves with water versus how mud moves with it. I still remember thinking that was the coolest experiment we did all year! Years later when I had to choose a major in college, that sand table was one of the memories that helped me to make my decision.

Mariner East 2 Pipeline Grant Opportunity

Grants will be awarded for projects that reduce or minimize pollution and protect clean water in the 85 municipalities along the length of the pipeline corridor.

DOWNLOAD INFORMATION SHEET

Examples of eligible projects include:

• Projects to improve water quality while enhancing community recreational opportunities, such as restoration and enhancement of natural water resource features at community parks and public properties, including lake restoration and wetland creation.
• Projects to educate future generations about water resource protection, such as demonstration projects that showcase pervious pavement, stormwater runoff management features and systems, bioretention systems, constructed wetland complexes, stormwater runoff collection and reuse projects, stormwater mitigation projects that reduce rate and volume and improve water quality on a school or other public property.
• Projects to improve and/or protect public drinking water sources and infrastructure, such as repairs to drinking water system source facilities that improve resiliency of the water supply, including water supply dam rehabilitation work and upgrades, and repairs to water treatment infrastructure and water intakes.
• Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) projects to address rate, volume and/or sediment load, including flood-control project features and retrofits to existing stormwater runoff control infrastructure that reduce rate and volume of stormwater runoff.
• Projects that result in nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment load reductions within the Chesapeake Bay watershed and impaired waters, including stream buffers, stream restoration projects, wetland restoration or enhancement projects.
• Projects that result in water quality improvements in DEP Priority Watersheds and Impaired Watersheds within the 85 municipalities.

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced the creation of a new water quality project grant program funded by the penalty assessed against the Mariner East 2 (MEII) Pipeline. Grants will be awarded for projects that reduce or minimize pollution and protect clean water in the 85 municipalities along the length of the pipeline corridor. These grants will be directed to the municipalities to eliminate pollution and protect the public from unsafe dams, water obstructions, and encroachments.

In February, DEP collected the $12.6 million penalty for permit violations related to the construction of the project. The penalty, one of the largest collected in a single settlement, was deposited into the Clean Water Fund and the Dams and Encroachments Fund, in accordance with the provisions of the Clean Streams Law and the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act.

Eligible grant applicants include the 85 municipalities, county conservation districts, incorporated watershed associations, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations along the length of the MEII Pipeline.

The 45-day grant application round will open May 7 and close June 21. DEP anticipates announcing the approved projects in the summer of 2018.

For more information about the Program

• Eligible applicants can apply via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Electronic Single Application website.  
• Mariner East II Pipeline Webpage
• Questions should be directed to R. Scott Carney, Chief Watershed Support Section, 717-783-2944.

2018 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence

Lyn O'Hare | SSM and Shannon Rossman | Berks County Planning Commission

Berks County Source Water Protection Program

Spotts, Stevens and McCoy as a proud partner with Berks County Water and Sewer Association, is excited to announce that the Berks County Source Water Protection Program was a 2018 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence recipient.  The program incorporates new and existing protection zones to maintain safe drinking water in Berks County, identifying possible sources of contamination for both surface water and groundwater. The program combines education and water quality improvements to the Schuylkill River and Chesapeake Bay Watersheds.  The program promotes the “One Water” concept, which integrates source water protection with the reduction of stormwater and wastewater impacts. 

The Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence are awarded each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Each year the Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence provide statewide recognition to businesses and organizations involved in a cross-section of environmental initiatives from cleaning up watersheds, saving energy, eliminating pollution, reducing waste and more. The awards highlight those projects that promote innovative technological advances, partnerships, public service and environmental outreach as well as encourage pollution prevention, demonstrate economic impact or employ innovative technology.