On April 24, 2024, students from Federal Way High School participated in an IGNITE Field Trip to Accenture. With an ensemble of 17 Volunteers, the event unfolded into an enriching experience for the 30 IGNITE Students. Taking place at the Accenture Seattle Innovation Hub, this event was an opportunity for students to get a hands-on look at innovation.
Upon arrival, the students were welcomed into the state-of-the-art building featuring sustainable designs and panoramic views of Puget Sound. Led by Tour Guides Diane Choung and Tony Kay, the students got an inside look, with each stairway adorned with vibrant murals reflecting the Pacific Northwest.
After the tour, students dived into a design-thinking activity. Facilitated by Accenture professionals, the students were tasked with the prompt: “How might we improve the mornings of High School Students?” With a brainstorming session, ideas ranged from whimsical answers like fairies that gently wake them, to pragmatic solutions like restructuring the school day for enhanced nourishment and engagement. Through collaborative and spirited discussions, the students distilled their visions into actionable proposals, presenting them with verve and conviction.
After the whirlwind of activities, the students got the opportunity to glean insights from the Panelists including Ann Forsyth, Christie Fischer, Goonj Mehrotra, and Timon Luvlee. From unraveling the mysteries of career versus job to navigating the intricacies of band life, the Panelists offered wisdom and pragmatic advice. With questions ranging from internship opportunities to the daily trials of their careers, the Panelists provided students with the path forward with candor and encouragement.
The Educators highlighted the transformative impact of the event and the hands-on STEM activity. For the students, the journey through Accenture showed a new realm of possibilities for their futures.
Thank you to all the incredible Volunteers who made this event an exceptional experience. Special recognition to Peyton Miller, whose dedication as the Event Organizer and lead company contact ensured smooth sailing throughout. Madison McKenzie, as Activity Leader, brought energy and expertise to the event’s organization. Diane Choung and Tony Kay, our fantastic Tour Guides, led students through Accenture’s Seattle Innovation Hub. Peyton Miller’s warm greeting set the tone for the day, while Sabah Rod, Stacey Conkle, Kristen Reed, Hannah Smith, Onyie Chibuogwu, Samantha Malone, Geena Glen, and Aria Armand provided invaluable support as Small Group Leaders. A huge shoutout to our esteemed Panelists Ann Forsyth, Christie Fischer, Goonj Mehrotra, and Timon Luvlee, whose insights made an impact. Special thanks to Educators Nelly Rodgers and Jenise Quinn, whose guidance and enthusiasm are truly appreciated.
After attending this event:
82%
of students are interested in STEM
81%
of students know more about STEM career choices and the benefits of working in a STEM field
78%
of students feel more confident in pursuing STEM
79%
of students gained perspective and feel more hopeful about the future
Here’s what the students thought of the event:
“This event encouraged me to do more in life. I really liked learning about the design-thinking.” – 10th Grade IGNITE Student
“This event made me want to pursue business or technology. My favorite thing I learned today was more ideas on how to help myself better by learning.” – 11th Grade IGNITE Student
“Today inspired me to know that not everything in tech is just tech. There are businesses and marketing; it is a broad spectrum. My favorite thing I learned was about how it’s okay to not know your major right into college; you still have time.” – 10th Grade IGNITE Student
“I’ve always had doubts about what I wanted to do in the future. Today pushed me to try out things I thought I would have never been interested in. I think the distinction between a job and a career was very insightful. I didn’t really ever think about that before.” – 9th Grade IGNITE Student
“The safe work environment was really inspiring. I learned that there are so many different things to do in STEM.” – 10th Grade IGNITE Student
“I feel like today’s event eased my mind with the broad topic of STEM and all groups and things involved with it. STEM was very scary looking, and when I heard STEM, I thought of all codes and computers, but really there are so many different majors and learning within STEM like business and financing, which comforted me. I loved the tour, and I loved everyone who helped me understand different types of studios and workforces within STEM.” – 10th Grade IGNITE Student
“Today’s event inspired me because I saw different jobs and career paths; hearing various people talk about their jobs changed my perspective and taught me more about STEM. My favorite thing was the brainstorming because we got to hear different people’s ideas.” – 10th Grade IGNITE Student
“This event inspired me by knowing that there are so many strong women who are leaders in STEM fields. It also inspired me to see all the benefits of STEM careers as well. I loved hearing about all the different jobs inside of STEM that we can explore, and I loved meeting real women leaders.” – 9th Grade IGNITE Student
“Today inspired me to understand that there are different roles involved and that not all roles involve coding or knowing much about computers. I also liked how they were honest about how they chose their careers and the challenges they faced. My favorite thing I learned is the different kinds of positions there are in the STEM field. Also, thank you for having us here and for attending us properly!” – 10th Grade IGNITE Student
“I was given more ideas on different STEM careers I could pursue, and I am now more comfortable. I learned that I can think about machine learning as a career to pursue, which is between software engineering and electrical engineering.” – 11th Grade IGNITE Student
“Getting to know a lot of inspiring women who work in the STEM field encouraged me more to go for the STEM field. They were all so inspiring and intelligent; it really reminded me that there are smart women all over the world. I learned that even if you are on the non-STEM path, you can still end up in a STEM career. I loved that they were so open to asking questions.” – 9th Grade IGNITE Student
“I loved the design thinking; it was so good. My favorite thing that I learned today was software engineering; we learned more about software engineering.” – 10th Grade IGNITE Student
“I really enjoyed the environment and being able to see and listen to the different personalities and perspectives that were provided. The different opportunities there are for this company and the different majors that people took in college all led here; they weren’t all the same, and it doesn’t feel like a big pressure to choose just one major that would guarantee the ability to work here in the future.” – 11th Grade IGNITE Student
“This helped me learn more and showed this is not boring because I used to think that I had to be good at math and stuff, but this inspired me to look more into STEM. The volunteer’s story was the most inspiring and moving to me because we both are in music and helped me understand it’s okay to have a job and not know what I want to do in the future. Thank you so much for this experience; it really helped and inspired me.” – 10th Grade IGNITE Student
“I feel like I learned that there are way more things out there and that you don’t have to stick with a career you do not like. My favorite thing about today is that they all are from different backgrounds or they all specialize in something different but come together to help others and problem-solve.” – 10th Grade IGNITE Student
“Today was a fun and enjoyable day. The mentors today were very nice and took their time explaining things. They answered questions with care, and I would definitely come back. Pretty much everything was super fun, and the volunteers were great.” – 10th Grade IGNITE Student
“I liked hearing about their experiences and how they got into STEM. It was overly intriguing. Thank you, volunteers! I learned about internships and that it is a good idea to take them so you can be sure about your future.” – 9th Grade IGNITE Student
About Accenture:
Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud, and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries in over 120 countries, Accenture offers Strategy and Consulting, Technology and Operations Services, and Accenture Song — all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers! Accenture embraces the power of change to create value and shared success for clients, people, shareholders, partners, and communities.
About IGNITE Program Field Trip Events:
IGNITE Field Trips offer a memorable, behind-the-scenes look at STEM in action and the wide range of career opportunities at the host company. Company employees interact directly with the students through an office tour, hands-on STEM activities, and IGNITE Panel and Q&A discussion.
About IGNITE Worldwide:
IGNITE Worldwide is a 501(c)3 nonprofit STEM education organization that aims to change gender and racial equity in STEM permanently and systematically. We work directly with teachers during the school day to provide programming that promotes gender equity and representation in STEM academics and careers. Through our award-winning program, IGNITE provides engaging, hands-on events that connect students with STEM professionals from industry leaders from around the world. Learn more at www.igniteworldwide.org.
Host an IGNITE Event | Read More Post-Event Reports
