STEAM Academy

One of Hanson’s highest priorities is supporting and promoting the growth of students in our communities. Are you a college student seeking a career in engineering, a high schooler exploring your options or a middle schooler who just wants to have fun and learn more about science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM)? Students of all ages who want to share their perspectives with an organization eager to listen are welcome to explore a variety of opportunities through our STEAM Academy.

Shadow Hanson, our mentorship program for high school students; Grow Our Own, our minority participation program; and our award-winning summer internship program make up STEAM Academy, which welcomes students to learn about STEAM and how we make a difference to our clients and communities.

We believe in creating strong leaders with innovative ideas who bring positive change to our world. Wherever you may be on your path of learning, we have a place for you.

Grow Our Own

Since 1954, we have drawn success from diversity in thought, background and experience.

As part of the Grow Our Own Minority Participation Program, we partner with the city of Springfield and Sangamon County to educate and ultimately employ minority youth in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics (STEAM) careers. The program was developed in 2013 to address a need for more participation in the Springfield Rail Improvements Project by local minority and disadvantaged business owners. Hanson and other program sponsors realized that mentoring and investing in Springfield’s minority talent would enrich the community and bolster its future.

Participants in Grow Our Own range from middle school to college students and are recruited through area schools, minority-based organizations and individual referrals. Students are invited to special company events, engineering camps and internships offered by a range of community partners.

Shadow Hanson

Some of the most meaningful learning experiences come from outside the classroom. The goal of the Shadow Hanson program is to give high school students the opportunity to see the wonders of engineering up close while observing interactive exhibits and listening to engineers from a variety of disciplines share their experiences on projects that have shaped our community. Civil, mechanical, electrical, structural and geotechnical engineering are included in the demonstrations held at our half-day event offered annually in Springfield, Illinois; Corpus Christi, Texas; and — coming in 2026 — Indianapolis.

Springfield

Located at the Bank of Springfield Center downtown, the original Shadow Hanson program has hosted students from Lanphier, Springfield, Southeast, Lutheran, Chatham-Glenwood, Petersburg, Auburn, Pleasant Plains and Sacred Heart-Griffin high schools. In 2020, Hanson held a virtual event to enable program continuity while following coronavirus safety protocol. Four students sitting at table looking at tablet, with Hanson employee smiling in background and other students at tables also in background

Shadow Hanson Springfield exhibits have included:

drones
floodplain model
seismic shake display
environmental demonstration
traffic planning
Ameren project presentation
bridge destruction video
stormwater reuse
traffic modeling

Corpus Christi

Held for the first time in 2025, Shadow Hanson Corpus Christi hosted students from Richard King and London high schools in Corpus and Seale Junior High School in Robstown. Hanson employees from our Corpus office demonstrated floodplain modeling, transportation design and water filtration with exhibits that allowed students to take part in hands-on learning, and a spaghetti bridge-building competition challenged students to work together in teams to construct the tallest structure made of dry noodles and marshmallows.

Calling all teachers!

If you are a Springfield or Corpus Christi high school educator with students who have a passion for math and science and are interested in learning about jobs in the engineering field through Shadow Hanson, contact Sophie Hirschvogel at shirschvogel@hanson-inc.com. If you are a student who would like to take part, reach out to a teacher or guidance counselor for information about your school’s participation. Students must be represented by their school and accompanied by an adult chaperone.

We invite students and teachers to visit the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois website for more information about engineering as a career and how different age groups can learn and get involved.

Coming soon: Shadow Hanson Indy!

Email shirschvogel@hanson-inc.com if your school is interested in attending.

“Helping students and professionals grow at every stage reminds me that development is a lifelong journey. When we open doors for people, we help spark tomorrow’s innovators.”

Sophie Hirschvogel

Talent development coordinator

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