JACKSON, Miss. – Holli Gill, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analyst at Waggoner, recently shared her mapping knowledge with Ann Smith Elementary School students in Ridgeland, Mississippi.
Earlier this school year, the parent-teacher organization at Ann Smith Elementary put out a call for volunteers, and Gill answered. “They asked for volunteers to come talk to the students about a wide range of careers. Any time unique careers come up, I somehow always seem to be mentioned,” she stated.
In order to introduce the GIS field to the second graders, Gill chose to read “There’s a Map on My Lap!” by Tish Rabe. The book teaches about the types of maps, different map formats, and the tools we use to read them.
She also gifted each student with a compass. “Compasses relate to the GIS field and they were a good way to get the students engaged with something they could physically hold and play with themselves,” explained Gill.
Gill purchased extra copies of the book which she donated to the library and to the classroom.
“I had this feeling that this was something I should do, so I followed it,” said Gill. “You never know how a moment of your time or an action you take can impact someone else’s life. If taking an hour of my time could introduce and teach the kids about a really cool and unique job field, it was worth it.”
Gill attended Ann Smith Elementary herself, and reading for a second grade class was a happy coincidence. She related that one of her best elementary school memories was also of second grade when she was chosen to juggle for kindergarten circus day.
About Waggoner
Waggoner Engineering, founded in 1976, is a civil engineering firm with a passion for helping communities realize their full potential. Today, Waggoner has expanded to numerous offices in six states and Washington, D.C. and is recognized for its innovative, multi-disciplinary services that make it much more than a traditional engineering firm.