The inaugural “Girl Powered” event attracted 36 young ladies from across northern Indiana, including many from across Kosciusko County. Pictured in the front row from left are Arrington Krull, Kaley Kuhaneck, Zoe Yarger, Norah Miller and Nikki Brito. In the second row: Madelyn Zimmerman, Andrea Mickley, Bethany Flannery, Morgan Ebright, Jossie Coy, Ana Rodriguez and Makenna Tharp. Back row: Sydney Vieta, Cameron Brown, Ella Denham and Maddie Nowak. (Photo by Keith Knepp)

SYRACUSE — The inaugural “Girl Powered” event is officially in the books, and by all accounts it was a terrific success. Held at Wawasee High School on Saturday, Oct. 7, the gathering was sponsored by the host school’s Iron Pride Robotics Team. It was geared toward young ladies in middle and high school who were interested in learning more about robotics and the many STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) opportunities available to them.

The afternoon’s schedule included opportunities for the ladies to hear from a variety of highly successful female mentors in the various STEM fields, including professionals in the orthopedic industry, biomechanics field, and engineering, to name a few. Highly placed administrators at top schools including the University of Notre Dame also were there to meet with the students and encourage them in their interests and endeavors.

The program was spearheaded and organized by Wawasee educators and robotics coaches Jed Wandland and Julie Hays, along with Wandland’s wife, Laurie Wandland.

“While our high school robotics team was at the VEX Robotics world championships last spring, we had a chance to attend a ‘Girl Powered’ event,” said Jed Wandland. “It didn’t have the personable sense that we felt it needed, though. Afterward, the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation asked the schools that host robotics competitions to consider putting on a ‘Girl Powered’ event at their school as part of a grassroots campaign to get girls interested in STEM.”

The Wawasee program accepted the challenge and created this event in an effort to inspire more young women to pursue their interests in STEM related fields.

“We designed this event so girls could get into small groups with professionals in a variety of fields,” continued Wandland. “We wanted them to be inspired and have the opportunity to make connections in the fields that they might want to pursue as careers.”

Thirty-six young ladies from across northern Indiana signed up for the program, which included five mentoring sessions that each attendee could tailor to their individual interests, and a panel discussion with the various mentors who discussed the challenges facing women in STEM. The attendees at the free event also were treated to a dinner social, which included pizza and a variety of goodies including handmade gourmet cupcakes created by Dan Bauer, the culinary arts teacher at WHS.

“This was a phenomenal opportunities for these young women,” said Wandland. “It gave them an chance to meet with professional women who are highly successful in their fields. It gave them a feel for the challenges they’ll face and the rewards they can receive.”

Wandland also was pleased that a number of WHS teachers gave up their Saturday afternoon to attend the event, as well. The day’s activities and expenses were underwritten by the Kosciusko County Community Foundation and LInda Chastain, a State Farm insurance agent in Warsaw.

Wandland said they are planning to make this an annual event, noting they look forward to expanding, tweaking and modifying. They hope to host even more talented young women at next year’s gathering.

For further information about the program, contact Wandland at (574) 457-3147, or by email at [email protected].

Thirty-six students from across northern Indiana participated in the inaugural “Girl Powered” event at Wawasee High School on Saturday afternoon. Pictured from left are Sanja Kirova, Kassandra Garay, Faith Zettler and Renee Rushing, who all came to to the event from Portage High School. (Photo by Keith Knepp)