Rachel Hoskins, G-1 program analyst, staffed the recruitment and outreach booth while Amy Friese, operations research system analyst, Methodology and Analysis Directorate, and Joseph Lucidi, also an analyst, and Vincente Gonzales, electronics engineer, both with the Test Technology Directorate, assisted with judging.

OTC represented the Army Educational Outreach Program, which supports science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

JSS is a hands-on opportunity for students to apply STEM concepts, creativity, teamwork and problem-solving skills as they design, construct and race solar-powered cars. Volunteer responsibilities include timing the cars, judging notebooks and evaluating the overall presentation of the vehicles. The competition featured nine entries from fourth- to eighth-grade students.

About 2,000 people attended the state event, with projects ranging from dress-making, robotics, woodworking, welding, video production, animatronics and wooden cars. TSA offers programs for students in grades K-12.

Support of the event was a rewarding experience, Hoskins said.

“A memorandum from Maj. Gen. Peter Utley, commanding general of the United States Army Test and Evaluation Command, came out in August 2014,” she said, “and allows ATEC and OTC to take a new approach in supporting STEM challenges and activities that engage young people in STEM-related fields.

“Although the TSA event was not the ideal location to recruit for college interns or look for new federal employees,” Hoskins said, “our booth served as a means to encourage students to look into future STEM-related career fields within the Department of the Army.”

The OTC volunteers displayed photos and showed the official OTC “Hooah” video at the booth, which elicited lots of questions, Hoskins said.

“Many were intrigued by the video, which depicts OTC employees performing their duties throughout the command,” she said. “The most common questions were, ‘How do I apply for a federal position?’ and “Do I have to be in the military to do the cool stuff in the video?’”

OTC is looking forward to participating in other career fairs and recruitment events, Hoskins said.