Technology Education students at South Orangetown Middle School and Tappan Zee High School joined students across Rockland County in the Women in Engineering Virtual Conference hosted by the American Association of University Women last week!
Students in SOMS teacher Kerry Beckmann’s Technology and Explore classes, SOMs teacher Lou Chugranis’s Design & Drawing for Production students and students in TZHS Technology/Engineering Team Leader Nicholas Desantis’s Design and Drawing for Production class learned about the various career paths available in the field of engineering. “Middle school is when many students start to begin to think about potential career paths and as a female, in what was not considered a traditional career for women when I started, I think it’s important to continue to remind young women of career paths they might not initially consider,” said Beckmann.
Keynote speaker Felicia Long, an Electromagnetic Engineer for Boeing Aircraft, discussed how she entered the field and challenges that she faced along the way. Participants were encouraged to ask questions and students at SOMS asked about the different classes they should take in high school and college to give them the knowledge and experience needed to enter the field of engineering. “When we talk about careers in engineering, many students also think they are not capable because they are not in advanced math or science class. Math and science skills are helpful but something that is just as important is being a learner who is curious, creative and persistent. Our keynote speaker made a point of telling our students “Stumbling is not a problem- it’s stopping.” There are so many different areas of engineering that students can go into- it’s a wonderful career path and opportunity,” Beckmann noted.
