WAPA Brings STEM Careers to Life for Students at St. Croix Educational Complex

The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority visited the St. Croix Educational Complex on Tuesday as part of the school’s STEM Summer Program, engaging middle school students in hands-on activities and career exploration designed to introduce them to essential roles in water and power delivery across the territory, the authority announced in a press release.

WAPA professionals from the Communications, Line, and Information Technology departments met with 23 students from grades 6 through 8, sharing personal career stories and highlighting the many disciplines involved in supporting critical infrastructure in the Virgin Islands, according to the press release.

Students were introduced to the territory’s power infrastructure — from how electricity is generated, including through increasing use of solar energy, to how it is transmitted and distributed. Lineworkers were spotlighted as key players in the process, responsible for maintaining and repairing the power lines and poles that connect homes and businesses to electricity. The session provided students with a deeper understanding of the technical, hazardous, and highly coordinated work required to keep the grid running, the press release stated.

In addition to energy systems, students explored the evolution of water infrastructure, tracing its development from early wooden pipes to modern PVC systems. The session challenged them to think critically about how future technologies might improve water delivery and sustainability, the release stated.