Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/960726
SHOW & TELL MAGAZINE 2018 I I-CONNECT007 35 Hillman: These kids are amazing. They do such cool things and we are fortunate to hire about one out of four. Doug and I laugh that some of them are going to find jobs with our competitors. But several of my co-ops are now working out in our industry, which is real gratifying. They might be working for a com- petitor, but they are great engineers doing good things in our industry and it's grati- fying to see them achieve that success and you just hope that you helped in get- ting them to where they're going to do better things. Goldman: I'm sure you guys must be the original inspirers for many. Hillman: Well, I know John Hagge and John Mather set a pretty good example, so we're just going to continue in what those guys showed us. Goldman: I understand that you and Doug also do the Rockwell Collins Roadshow, where you go to schools in Iowa. Tell me about that. Hillman: Oh yeah, you have not lived until you've explained physics to a third grader. I mean it's amazing what you can do. You show them liquid nitrogen and freezing marshmal- lows and freezing balloons. Again, it's cool because you watch these kids discover new ideas. I swear those third and fourth grade minds are brimming full of energy, and while they might not have the right answers, they're so excited to see, "Wow, that nitrogen froze that balloon, or look at those magnets, look what they do. Why can I put 10 nails into a bal- loon and it doesn't pop but one makes it pop right away?" We need to get these kids excited about the sciences. Goldman: Yes, at that early age. Hillman: They keep telling us we're short on engineers here in the United States, so the more engineers we can get, whether it's from the United States or globally, we need a next generation of science minded, problem solving people. If we can help with that, it helps every- one. Goldman: Do you have any other thoughts? Things you would like to add? Hillman: The Hall of Fame is just humbling; it's amazing. I'm still in shock. It's quite an honor, not something I was expecting. Goldman: That's good to hear. Congratulations and thank you for your time. Hillman: Thank you. S&T