Southern Local students attend STEM Goes Red event

Female students at Southern Local Junior High School explored future career possibilities while attending the annual STEM Goes Red event at Northeast Ohio Medical University.

Science teacher Amanda Wrobleski accompanied more than a half-dozen students on the Dec. 8 trip, where they listened to industry experts and participated in hands-on activities. STEM Goes Red, organized by the American Heart Association, encourages young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Approximately 225 girls from nearly 30 schools attended the event, taking part in interactive sessions and activities while meeting women working in a variety of professional fields.

“I had the pleasure of being joined by seven seventh- and eighth-grade girls who have both the interest and the ability in STEM careers,” Wrobleski said. “We traveled to NEOMED in Rootstown, and the goal was to expose girls to career opportunities in the STEM field.”

Students rotated through several sessions, learning about careers such as petroleum engineering, visiting about a dozen booths at a vendor expo, eating lunch, watching a panel of STEM leaders discuss their career paths and participating in a heart lab led by NEOMED physicians.

Wrobleski said increasing the number of women in STEM careers can lead to higher earning potential, help close gender gaps and create stronger workplace teams. She noted that women make up about 29% of the STEM workforce, with only a small percentage pursuing careers in those fields.

STEM Goes Red provides participants with opportunities to engage with female industry leaders and learn about a wide range of STEM professions. The initiative is part of the larger Go Red for Women movement, which also focuses on improving women’s health and addressing cardiovascular disease.

“We left there full of knowledge and excitement for the future,” Wrobleski said. “This was our second year attending the event, and we look forward to going back next year.”

Seventh-grader Peyton Dowling said she especially enjoyed the heart lab.

“My favorite part was the heart lab because I got to hold a human heart,” Dowling said. “It was an awesome experience, and I hope to go back.”