More than 220 eighth-grade girls from eight area school districts will visit NDSU and area engineering companies as part of national Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 25.

The event fosters an interest in science, technology, engineering and math, commonly known as STEM, according to Holly Erickson, NDSU STEM outreach coordinator.

The day begins at NDSU where students will participate in a panel discussion with students from the NDSU chapter of the Society of Women Engineers. They will take part in a group engineering activity constructing a shelter using household materials.

They also will hear from Ashlen Wright, Miss Fargo Teen 2016. Wright is a 10th-grader at West Fargo’s Sheyenne High School. Her platform issue is “Mining for Gems: Girls in Engineering, Math and Science” and she plans to study engineering to become an entrepreneur who mentors women in STEM careers.

Students will spend the afternoon visiting host companies Appareo, KLJ, Bobcat, John Deere, SRF Consulting Group Inc., Moore Engineering, Microsoft and Sanford. The students and female engineers, who serve as mentors, will work together to solve problems, learn about engineering and have fun.

Introduce a girl to Engineering Day is part of National Engineers Week activities celebrated nationwide. The NDSU College of Engineering uses the event as part of its outreach activities aimed at inspiring youth to consider an education and career within the STEM disciplines.

For more information, contact Erickson at 701-231-7697 or holly.erickson@ndsu.edu.

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