Rowan University Inspires Young Girls To Become Engineers
By David Madden
GLASSBORO, N.J. (CBS) -- Rowan University is playing host to some 100 middle school girls over the next two days -- young ladies who are thinking about careers in engineering.
This is the 16th year for the Attracting Women into Engineering program. Melanie Basantis, director of the program, is encouraged by what she has seen from the girls this year.
"The girls seem to be more engaged and more driven towards the sciences," Basantis says. "I think that's an awareness that society is presenting that these STEM careers are an option."
And they have success stories to tell. One of them comes from Megan DeGeorge, who is a senior engineering student at Rowan. She's also volunteering as an instructor in the AWE program she took part in while attending middle school herself.
"It's what made me want to come to Rowan as an engineering student," DeGeorge remembers. "Now I get the same opportunity to help hopefully inspire young girls to want to do the same as me."
Participants get more than just engineering 101 here. They also get to create fun stuff to take home, like something called "bouncy balls." Not quite the "superballs" 0f the 1960's, but you get the idea.
So what do these young women hope to get out a day long science mini-camp?
"Just an awesome experience that I'll never forget," says 8th grader Kara Semet of Egg Harbor Township, "and take home and tell it to everyone."
Semet credits a science teacher back home with sparking an interest not just in the program, but the world of science as a whole.
Basantis not only runs this program. She helps to place Rowan graduates in engineering jobs once they graduate. And she says programs like this get young girls started on the road to successful careers.
"We do have students who have gone through the AWE program who have gone through Rowan engineering and are out there," Basantis says, "productive engineers in society, making a mark on the world."
