While children in classrooms across Pima County celebrated Valentine’s Day with card exchanges and kindness challenges, 150 middle school girls were treated to a hands-on tour of opportunities in STEM, including robotics, veterinary science, healthcare and more.

Women make up nearly 50% of the United States workforce but only 35% of the workforce when it comes to careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. Representation is even lower for Hispanic, Black, and Indigenous women, who constitute only 10% of this workforce, according to the National Girls Collaborative Project.

The lack of awareness about career opportunities in STEM fields is what prompted Scott Weiler to launch a hands-on program aimed at middle school girls.

Weiler started Girl Power in 2013 after realizing his daughter and her peers in the Amphitheater school district weren’t aware of career opportunities beyond a two- or three-mile radius.

The program started as a small luncheon but quickly picked up steam and grew into a celebration of STEM education and career readiness.

“We want the girls to know that there is a path from where they are now to where they could be in the future,” Weiler said.

Last Friday, more than 150 middle school girls descended on Pima JTED’s Innovation Learning Center to learn more about STEM careers through hands-on activities, mentor-led discussions, and real-world insights.

The annual event hosted girls from several Southern Arizona districts, including Sunnyside, Amphi, Douglas, and more.

They were met by 40 female mentors, a mix of high school students and professionals, who engaged with the girls, sharing personal stories from their days in middle school as well as their experiences in their respective fields.

They talked about their career paths but also touched on the obstacles they overcame along the way, with professional mentors representing employers including Raytheon, Allicat, the U.S. Air Force, and more.

The event also included a live theater workshop, which featured a lesson on stagecraft, props, and the behind-the-scenes work involved in creating a theatrical production.

The demonstration provided an example of STEM careers moving beyond labs and equations to include problem-solving and creativity.

The Air Force booth featured a robotic arm that attendees attempted to control and use to pick up different objects.

Keynote speaker Kelly Potter, associate dean of academic affairs at the University of Arizona's College of Engineering, told the girls about the many important opportunities that exist for women in STEM fields, encouraging them to picture themselves as future leaders.

“I liked how she talked about the different roles at the U of A (that) some women have,” said Sophie, a student at Cross Middle School.

Kapua Ioane, a mentor and advocate for Girl Power, talked about her excitement in seeing the girls interact with the high school and professional mentors.

“My favorite thing about this event is seeing the girls meet the mentors and learn about jobs that they didn’t even know existed,” she said.

Alana Chappell, a second-year student in JTED's air transportation program and one of the high school mentors, said that she knew from an early age that she wanted to be a pilot.

A junior at Catalina Foothills High School, Chappell wanted to start preparing for her career early and enrolled in JTED to get a jump start on her technical education.

“I wanted to take anything I could early on to prepare myself to be a pilot,” said Chappell.

Abbie Andrus is a University of Arizona alum and Tucson Spotlight reporter. Contact her at asandrus@arizona.edu.

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