Event gives girls a look at engineering field

From AikenStandard.com: Event gives girls a look at engineering field
Javonte Wright likes science and math and was pleased when her guidance counselor at New Ellenton Middle School nominated her to participate in "Introduce a Girl to Engineering."

During the program at the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center on Saturday, Javonte joined about three dozen other middle-school girls throughout the Aiken-Augusta area.

"It's been very good," she said. "It's a great opportunity for young girls to know what job opportunities will be out there in the near future. It's a chance to explore the world of engineering."

The annual event is sponsored by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, the Society of Women Engineers and the Ruth Patrick Center.

The day-long event consists of a series of hands-on activities and intriguing demonstrations, Candice Dermody, SRNS manager of talent development and education outreach, said in a press release.

The activities "prove to these young ladies that being a scientist or engineer can be interesting and even at times exciting," she said.

The students participated in a variety of projects, among them robotics, building contests, a "puff mobile" race, a liquid nitrogen demonstration and a planetarium presentation.

The program also gave the middle-schoolers the chance to meet female engineers like Monica Phillips and Soma Nayak. A South Aiken High graduate, Phillips has worked at the Site for the past decade. She welcomes the opportunity each year to counsel the young teenagers.

"Students need to start thinking about what they want to do earlier than I did," she said. "Girls don't always think of engineering as an option, but we always have a few that seem interested in engineering and science. That's encouraging."

A native of India, Nayak joined Bridgestone as an industrial engineer four years ago.

"Introducing kids to engineering is a real joy," she said. "The field has tons of opportunities. Studying engineering is a great place to have a base on which to build your life. With all the specialities, you can pick the one you like and follow your heart."

Other Aiken County and area students attending the event are as follows: Sylvia Aldrete, Isabella Ebgert and Christina Chavis of Aiken Middle School; Annalise Bassett, Holly Fulmer and Cassia Larson of Schofield Middle School; Chasity Bing, Jasmine Jeter and Latonie Creeck of Williston-Elko Middle School; Briana Gallo of Paul Knox Middle School; Emily Garner, Kaitlyn Gentry and Jillian Shanahan of Kennedy Middle School; Alyssa Ann Jones of Lloyd-Kennedy Charter School; MarCaysia Kitchens of New Ellenton Middle School; Dominique Lyons and Justina Nolen of North Augusta Middle School; and Elizabeth Mikell, Ashley Milton and Olivia Paradis of Merriwether Middle School.

Senior writer Rob Novit, the Aiken Standard's education reporter, joined the staff in September 2001. He is a native of Walterboro and majored in journalism at the University of Georgia.