Pattonville High School freshman Sophia Luraschi was selected to represent the I-270 Project Pave program at Gov. Mike Parson’s State of the State address to the Missouri General Assembly in Jefferson City on Jan. 18.
Luraschi was able to meet Gov. Parson and first lady Teresa Parson in the governor's office and then listened to the governor's address from the House Gallery and wasrecognized during his speech. After the address, Luraschi returned to the governor's office to meet Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and several directors from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).
MoDOT’s $278 million I-270 North Project is an investment in the infrastructure and transportation network of St. Louis. MoDOT and its contracting team leads, Millstone Weber and Parson’s Transportation Group, are also investing in the futures of area high school students near the project boundaries.
Project Pave, a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Program, will mentor, teach and support students attending targeted St. Louis North County high schools. The goal is to stimulate an interest in and pursuit of heavy highway design, engineering and construction careers.
Students attend monthly Saturday workshops to learn about construction, engineering, project management and financial planning through site visits, classroom instruction, projects, mentoring and field trips.
High school college and career preparation coordinator/counselor Michelle Luraschi accompanied the group and also attended the event.
Watch Parson’s Missouri State of the State Address and see Sophia Luraschi get recognized at the 16-minute mark: https://www.c-span.org/video/