Meet Shelby!

SPENCE SHELBY AGE 26 Environmental Engineer at GBMc & Associates

Major/School: Bachelor of Science in Biological and Agricultural Engineering The University of Arkansas Years in EAST: Three

Contact info: sspence@gbmcassoc.com

Q: First memory of EAST? A: Before our school established EAST, my twin sister, Nicole, and I attended a summer program hosted by EAST at a school a few towns over. We mainly signed up for something to do for a few weeks. But once there, we realized that this was a whole new world. Students were using handheld GPS units in scavenger hunts, building primitive rockets, and using technology that I had never been around before. I distinctly remember thinking that the students leading the camp had to be much older than us because they seemed so confident and knew so much. I later found out that they were only one or two years ahead of us.

Q: Why did you decide to participate in EAST? A: When EAST was established at Mammoth Spring High School, I was there for installation and volunteered to unpack the boxes; I was so excited for our rural school and small town! Mrs. Joy Underwood was a fabulous facilitator, source of encouragement, and occasional zoo-keeper (we were teenagers, after all, bless her soul!). She remains a sweet mentor and kind influence in my life today.

Q: Memorable project in EAST you’d like to share? A: I loved seeing technology in EAST impact Mammoth Spring. A couple of older students and I built our school website, which prompted me to learn to use HTML and coding languages that are similar to ones I had the chance to use in my research in college. I always smile when I reminisce about projects like the voter registration drives and techeducation courses that we hosted, especially enjoying those where we worked with senior citizens who did not have access to this technology.

Q: What technology did you use in EAST then, and how has it changed today? A: As a student who grew up with a limited introduction to computers and technology in general, I enjoyed the variety that EAST offered.The minor introduction to various software was extremely beneficial once I got into my engineering classes at U of A! That software went from "hey this is neat "to being a useful tool to delineate the watershed I was studying or to sketch the breakdown of the process we were being tested on.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOU: I love to travel and hike - my husband (Jake) and I hiked Angels Landing in Zion National Park this spring.

Q: Anything you learned in EAST that you still apply today? A: The beauty of my experience with EAST is that while I was learning some of the most valuable lessons of my career, I didn’t even realize it. Who knew that troubleshooting HTML scripts to fix minor problems on a school website years ago would make the code for statistical analysis on chemical data results in MATLAB or R easier to understand? Or that communication skills I learned as an ambassador in 2011 would help me land my dream internship and eventually become a consultant with GBMc & Associates.

However, even if none of the technical skills I learned in EAST would’ve applied to my chosen career path, every career is looking for people who can make connections and solve problems in innovative ways to make a difference. I firmly believe EAST is 20% of the actual technical skills that you learn and 80% about the way the program teaches you to think.

Q: How do you serve or give back today? A: Time is a precious way to help—things don’t change without the investment of it!

Q: What would you like to see happen with EAST in the future? A: I would love to see EAST continue its work in students' lives. Because of my own background, I have a soft spot for seeing the program work its way into more rural areas and small schools.

Q: What advice would you give to EAST students that are graduating soon? A: Take that mindset you have now—that giving back, "always learning" kind of mindset that EAST strongly encourages you to develop—and keep it going. If you need help or support to handle something more significant than your abilities, form a team. This world needs as many active thinkers as we can get, and EAST is spitting them out by the dozens!

Q: Quote you live by? A: My favorite movie is Coach Carter, and there is a quote from Marianne Williamson used in the movie. “...Your playing small doesn't serve the world ... as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Q: If you could partner with an EAST program to complete a project what would it be? A: I think the bigger question is: How can I help? Some of my coworkers had a recent opportunity to work with and educate EAST students in the Maumelle school district on the preservation of the White Oak Bayou, an amazing wetland that is right in their backyard! Any time we can partner in a way that celebrates and cares for the world we live in, it's a good day.