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ExxonMobil recently hosted Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day with BISD students. -
Students from all five BISD middle schools participated in the program. -
The event is meant to encourage female students to pursue STEM careers. -
Students utilized STEM skills to complete projects throughout the day.
ExxonMobil hosted its annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (IAGTED), collaborating with all five Beaumont Independent School District (BISD) middle schools. The event connects female students with ExxonMobil volunteers to perform problem-solving activities and interactive experiments, all geared to boost interest in future careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
More than 70 middle school students performed experiments, such as assembling squishy circuits and straw towers, to learn the basic engineering principles that ExxonMobil applies to everyday operations.
“Engineers help shape the future,” stated Dr. Shannon Allen, BISD superintendent. “Whether it’s developing new fuel sources, managing energy resources more efficiently or exploring the outer edges of the universe, engineers are vital in making things happen. We need students, especially girls and those in other underrepresented groups, interested in pursuing engineering or other STEM careers. By supporting programs that improve teaching and learning in these key areas, ExxonMobil is dedicated to making a difference in our children’s lives and we are grateful.”
To maintain existing COVID-19 safeguards, ExxonMobil and BISD augmented the annual event to include physical distancing and virtual components. A team of more than 20 ExxonMobil employees volunteered to facilitate this event and represented the company’s Women’s Interest Network (WIN). WIN, one of ExxonMobil’s Employee Resource Groups, exists to foster individual and collective growth of women at ExxonMobil, facilitate impactful mentoring and sponsor initiatives to improve personal effectiveness, business acumen and professional development.
“I am happy ExxonMobil came because it gives us a chance to learn about engineering and, no matter what career you choose, you can excel in it,” said Karenton Guillory, Martin Luther King student.
“We’re pleased to continue this annual event at a time when it’s critical that all students continue to build their confidence in problem-solving skills,” said Jennifer Dunphy, ExxonMobil Beaumont Chemical Plant site manager. “The world will always have a need for engineers and scientists, and it’s critical that more female voices be able to share their perspectives and experiences in these fields.”
According to a 2019 U.S. Census Bureau report, women represent only 27% of the nearly 11 million science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations in the United States. While the number of women working in STEM has increased from only 8% in 1970, some of the world’s largest engineering and technology companies have initiated education and community programs to increase female representation in the future workforce. Since its inception in 2003, more than 16,000 students have participated in ExxonMobil’s IAGTED activities across the United States.
“When students, especially girls and young women, learn from professionals who look like them, they can begin to form a stronger confidence that can propel their academic performance and career journeys,” said Taylor Hines, project engineer. “Representation matters and when young women participate in activities such as these, they will visualize that girls can be successful engineers, scientists or follow any career they choose.”