A group of 43 eighth grade girls from Emerson and Lincoln middle schools were introduced to a variety of female mentors and STEM careers during a recent field trip to the FUTURES Unlimited conference at Oakton Community College. Students are chosen based on an interest/strength in STEM careers and a desire to attend.
In the morning sessions, students attended Q&A sessions with female role models who are currently working or studying in STEM fields. Our students attended morning sessions with a biomedical engineer, a mechanical engineer, a technology consultant, and a LEED Fellow architect and engineer who consults with clients to promote green spaces.
In the afternoon, students attended break-out workshops that exposed them to hands-on work in nursing, architectural design, solar energy and space robotics, and anatomy and physiology. These sessions were facilitated by professors and students from Oakton Community College who encouraged the students to follow their interests and passions by exploring and preparing for careers in the medical, engineering, and technology fields.
.