Throughout the school year, our students participate in a guest speaker series, research field trips, competitions, community service projects, and student energy clubs. Volunteers will be placed with an education initiative that most interests them. Our volunteers share their education and career path through our guest speaker series; some provide tours at industry-related trips; and some volunteers prefer to mentor or help prepare the students for a math, science, technology or industry-related competition.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Sarah Hewitt at shewitt@ipaa.org.

The schools are located at the following addresses:

Energy High School

For short term parking (less than an hour) you can park in front of the school off Sampson Street. For long term parking, there is a parking lot located behind the school. If you park in the school parking lot, you will need to walk around to the front of the school. You will need to press a button to the left side of the main doors. When you hear a clicking noise, the door will be unlocked for you to enter. Check-in at the reception area to the right when you enter the building with your Driver’s License.

Milby High School

Enter the parking lot from Broadway Street. There should be available spots in the visitor parking on the left when you enter the gated parking lot. If that lot is full then proceed to the right and find an available parking spot. You will need to press a button to the right side of the main doors and show your government-issued ID to the camera. When the light turns green and you hear a clicking noise, the door will be unlocked for you to enter. Check-in at the main office (on the left as you enter the building) with your Driver’s License.

Southwest High School

Enter the parking lot driveway on Altamesa Boulevard located east of the school. There should be available spots in the visitor parking against the fence between the portables and the practice field. Walk to the front of the school along Altamesa Boulevard and enter through the main doors of the building. The Southwest main office is located at the front of the school behind the main doors. Please use your Driver’s License to sign-in with the receptionist.

Westside High School

Park in the horseshoe parking lot off Briar Forest Drive directly in front of the school. If the lot is full, park in the lot to the west of the front horseshoe parking lot off Briar Forest Drive marked for buses. You will need to press a button to the right side of the main doors and show your government-issued ID to the camera. When the light turns green and you hear a clicking noise, the door will be unlocked for you to enter. Check-in at the reception area or the main office with your Driver’s License.

Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy

Park directly in front of the school off Cleburne Street. If there is no street parking available, a parking lot located behind the school. You will need to press a button to the left side of the main doors. When the light turns green and you hear a clicking noise, the door will be unlocked for you to enter. Check-in at the reception area in the front or the 2nd floor main office with your Driver’s License.

We send out emails with details covering the various volunteer opportunities we are hosting. We know that our volunteers have very busy schedules, but still remain enthusiastically dedicated to their involvement with the Petroleum Academy program. Each volunteer may also contact us with questions concerning the different events. We try to optimize the volunteers’ availability with each school calendar.

We feel that it is important for the volunteers to feel fully prepared. You will be provided with phone training and ample time to ask questions. Meanwhile, here are a few thoughts and suggestions:

• Students are eager to learn and genuinely excited to hear what a speaker has to say, yet teenagers can be timid when raising their hands to ask questions. Please keep in mind this does not mean they don’t have interest in your topic.
• Make your lecture as interactive as possible; for example, pair, share, Q&A, and activities that allow students to move around. Energy is the focus of our Petroleum Academies; it’s always good to bring that connection into the talk. Manipulative examples that students can see and/or touch make the presentation more meaningful.
• Industry related prizes and/or giveaways can also increase the student’s motivation.
• Every 15 minutes, the presentation needs to be changed up; a teenager’s attention lasts for 15-minutes maximum. The more interactive you are, the more interactive they will be.