On April 30, 2024, students from Tumwater Middle School, Bush Middle School, and Washington Middle School enjoyed an exciting Field Trip to South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) in Olympia, WA. This first IGNITE Program Event in Olympia offered 36 students a chance to experience college life through a series of activities.
The day began with a warm welcome to the beautiful, tree-lined SPSCC campus. The students were greeted by Anne Molenda, Director of K12 Partnerships & Recruitment, Erin Rust, Outreach Admissions Specialist, Tomasina Mydlar, Program Support Supervisor, and student ambassadors Michelle P. and Zee Moreno, then divided into groups and rotated through various activities led by SPSCC faculty.
In the Cybersecurity and Network Administration session, led by faculty Joy Platter and Andrew Leiren, students tackled cybersecurity challenges designed like an escape room. In small groups, they solved puzzles involving ciphers and lock boxes, eventually gaining access to network cables and connecting classroom computers.
In the Chemistry and Biology labs, students were treated to a series of demonstrations with faculty Jim Chen, Jean-Baptiste Urtecho, and Morgan Stock. The Chemistry lab showcased chemical reactions, some of which produced fireworks! Meanwhile, in the Biology lab, students observed pond water under microscopes, discovering an array of microorganisms wiggling around on their slides. This hands-on experience in the labs sparked a lot of excitement and curiosity among the students.
The event also featured a lunchtime panel discussion. Students listened to valuable advice from current SPSCC students Brooklyn Adragna and Patience Nanseko, and industry professional Ana Acevedo, Product Engineer at Naked Prosthetics. The Panelists shared their experiences in preparing for job interviews, balancing work and school, and navigating their career paths. They emphasized that it’s okay not to have everything figured out and encouraged students to practice communication skills and be flexible with their plans.
Throughout the event, students were given a taste of college life, engaging in hands-on learning activities and hearing from women at different stages of their educational and career journeys. The experience left a lasting impression on the students, offering them a glimpse into their potential futures and inspiring them to consider careers in STEM fields.
Thank you to all the amazing volunteers who supported the event: Anne Molenda, Erin Rust, Tomasina Mydlar, Michelle P., Zee Moreno, instructors Joy Platter, Andrew Leiren, Jim Chen, Jean-Baptiste Urtecho, and Morgan Stock, and Panelists Brooklyn Adragna, Patience Nanseko, and Ana Acevedo. We also want to extend our gratitude to educators Michelle Paul, Melissa Stussy, and Brian Morris for their support of their students and for inspiring them through the IGNITE Program.
After attending this event:
93%
of students are interested in STEM
81%
of students know more about STEM career choices and the benefits of working in a STEM field
72%
of students feel more confident in pursuing STEM
78%
of students gained perspective and feel more hopeful about the future
Here’s what the students thought of the event:
“It was great to meet so many enthusiastic people who like STEM! It was also great to know that non-binary people are welcome too!” – 7th Grade IGNITE Student
“This event inspired me to want to go to SPSCC. It also inspired me to want to join science class and learn chemistry!” – 8th Grade IGNITE Student
“Today’s event helped show me potential career paths that I could take. I was able to see real life scenarios and what studying could look like at college.” – 8th Grade IGNITE Student
“Today’s event made me feel more hopeful about pursuing a STEM career. It shows that women can be in this workplace.” – 8th Grade IGNITE Student
“This event inspired me by exposing me to different career options and paths to get there. The labs and panel helped me learn about and experience different jobs.” – 8th Grade IGNITE Student
“I was able to hear more about what it’s like in the STEM environment. It was inspiring to hear their stories and it was helpful to learn more.” – 8th Grade IGNITE Student
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.
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