On October 17, 2024, 17 students from Fife High School visited MCG Health, part of the Hearst Health network, for an IGNITE Field Trip centered on storyboarding in software development. The event, designed to introduce students to real-world tech applications, featured a lineup of MCG Health professionals, including Tami Wantola, Michelle Walsh, Natalie McGarry, Candace McCarrel, Lily Tesfaye, Jayde Mike, Madhuri Vegaraju, and Cora Hubbard.
The day kicked off with a creative exercise, where one student described an image while the others drew it—a fun way to illustrate the prototyping process. The group then delved into storyboarding exercises, crafting scenarios with popular high school foods to simulate software development. The students explored teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking through this collaborative activity, guided by MCG Health’s experts Michelle Walsh, Lily Tesfaye, Natalie McGarry, and Madhuri Vegaraju. Panelists answered student questions about mistakes in professional settings, real-world prototypes, and remote work. The experience provided students with a glimpse into the workplace, inspiring them to envision new possibilities and learn from every challenge.
“Seeing how many women and minorities work in fields typically seen as male-dominated was so inspiring. I used to think it was almost impossible for us to get jobs in STEM, but learning that the barriers aren’t as significant as I thought makes me want to explore more. I really enjoyed hearing about what they create, their processes, and how their jobs work.”
12th Grade IGNITE Student
“As a senior, I’m still in the process of figuring out what I want to pursue in the future. First-hand experiences like this are really helpful for exploring potential career paths. My favorite part of the day was the hands-on activity, which gave me a better sense of what the field is like.”
12th Grade IGNITE Student
“It inspired me to dream big and gave me reassurance that I can become an engineer. I loved the activities we did, and I also loved the view from the office.”
10th Grade IGNITE Student
STUDENTS SURVEYED FOLLOWING PARTICIPATION IN THIS EVENT REPORTED...
100%
INTERESTED IN STEM
80%
KNOW MORE ABOUT STEM CAREERS & THE BENEFITS OF WORKING IN STEM
84%
FEEL MORE CONFIDENT
IN PURSUING STEM
77%
GAINED PERSPECTIVE & FEEL MORE HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FUTURE
Additional Student Feedback:
“Problem-solving is a very important skill to learn. Having a job like this, where you solve problems and collaborate with others, seems very insightful and informative. My favorite thing I learned today was during the panel—hearing how not everyone planned to be in this field but ended up here later on.” – 12th Grade IGNITE Student
“It inspired me to pursue the career I’ve been considering. The way things were explained was interesting and helped me understand STEM better. My favorite thing I learned today was about the variety of jobs people have and how some of them contribute to different parts of healthcare.” – 12th Grade IGNITE Student
“Today’s event showed me different careers and how they work together. It inspired me because, no matter what department someone works in, they all collaborate to help patients. My favorite part of the day was the activity.” – 12th Grade IGNITE Student
“It was inspiring to hear about how different everyone’s backgrounds were. Some were nurses, others were pre-law, and more. This showed me that tech has room for many different experts from various fields. My favorite part of the day was the storyboarding lesson—it was fascinating to learn how tech companies communicate at such a detailed level.” – 12th Grade IGNITE Student
“It was really fun, especially when they talked about their careers and what they do. It was so interesting because I didn’t know those roles existed. My favorite part was hearing about their career paths and work-life balance.” – 11th Grade IGNITE Student
“This event solidified my decision to pursue the STEM pathway. It also helped me learn more about other careers. My favorite part of the day was the group activity.” – 12th Grade IGNITE Student
“This event inspired me to research STEM careers further. I was amazed to see how much harder STEM jobs are than people think and how well these professionals do their work. My favorite part of the day was the activity—it helped me understand the job better and made me even more interested in STEM careers.” – 10th Grade IGNITE Student
“For a long time, I thought working in an office or building would be boring. Now, I can see that pursuing STEM while working with others can be fun and inspiring no matter where you are. I loved the tour and the group activity. All the volunteers and staff were so helpful and kind.” – 10th Grade IGNITE Student
“I’ve always known I wanted to pursue healthcare, specifically nursing. However, I wasn’t aware of the endless opportunities in the field. Today’s event taught me more about the STEM side of healthcare. My favorite part of the day was learning how storyboards are created.” – 12th Grade IGNITE Student
“It inspired me to see how they solve problems and make people’s lives easier. I also learned more about everything they do for us. I would like to thank the volunteers for their time and effort.” – 10th Grade IGNITE Student
“As a junior in high school who’s still unsure about her future, this event inspired me to consider a STEM career. Seeing the workplace and hearing the stories of women in the field made me feel ignited, inspired, and excited to explore more careers as I navigate my way to my dream job. My favorite takeaway from today was seeing how the amazing and kind women I met could reflect my future self. Hearing their stories—how they were once in the same position, unsure about the future—gave me hope and made growing up feel a little less scary. I’m so thankful to the volunteers for making us feel welcome (and for the food too!).” – 11th Grade IGNITE Student
Thank you to our IGNITE Volunteers and Educators:
- Tami Wantola
- Michelle Walsh
- Natalie McGarry
- Candace McCarrel
- Lily Tesfaye
- Jayde Mike
- Madhuri Vegaraju
- Cora Hubbard
- Michelle Laskowski
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 igniteworldwide.org.