In a concerted effort to nurture the next wave of women in STEM, El Paso ISD's annual Girl Powered Event and VEX V5 Jingle Bot Jamboree brought together a substantial gathering of female students, aiming to spark their interest in fields often dominated by their male counterparts. According to El Paso ISD, the district's Career and Technical Education Department hosted the event during Computer Science Education Week at the Starlight Event Center, featuring over 30 exhibitors from local businesses, higher education, and industry experts.
The initiative, now a staple, provided attendees from STEM Programs of Study the chance to engage with interactive demos, robotics, and panelists dialoguing over the shape of the STEM workforce in the region. Having hosted a robotics competition, the affair made direct introductions to those leading the charge in their respective fields and underscored the wealth of opportunities for postsecondary education paths. Jefferson High School student Destiny Mendoza, enrolled in a STEM program, wanted to make a presence felt, telling El Paso ISD, “There’s not that many girls in the trades. I wanted other girls to see that there are careers like this out there for them that they can do. Events like these show young women that they too can do jobs like these.”
The Girl Powered Event isn't just about robots and tech displays; it has actual career-altering consequences. Benjamin Bautista, a CCTE machining instructor, has observed changes in student trajectories following the event, stating to El Paso ISD, "This is a great networking event for our students." He added, "Some of them have gone on to earn internships at UTEP with the aerospace program. These events open doors for them and let them know what’s out there. Some companies are looking to hire summer interns, and this is a great opportunity for students to get their name out there."
Healthcare, an equally important STEM field, did not miss out on the action. El Paso High School student Annelise Bustamante, with aspirations of becoming a doctor, evidenced the effectiveness of the event, also noting to El Paso ISD, "I came out to this event because I want to become a doctor someday." Layla Flores, another student, expressed a similar sentiment: "I plan on getting into the medical field, and after coming out here, it’s nice to know there’s a lot of job opportunities for us after we graduate."
