On May 8, 2024, Mountainview Elementary hosted a Virtual IGNITE Show-and-Tell Mini-Panel Event. The panel was comprised of professionals from Starbucks and Microsoft. Facilitated by Fethiye Starmach with help from Tech Host Anusha Yella, the Panelists Lubia Urdaneta, Senior Technical Delivery Manager at Starbucks, and Lucia Viña Patiño, Software Engineer at Microsoft, shared their insights and experiences with the students.
The event began as students from Mountainview Elementary gathered virtually to meet the accomplished women from two renowned companies. Fethiye and Anusha set the stage, while Lubia and Lucia impressed the students with their stories. The Panelists shared their personal journeys, allowing students to connect with them on a deeper level.
As the discussion unfolded, students were encouraged to ask questions, ranging from the personal to the professional. From inquiries about favorite Starbucks drinks to college choices and career aspirations, the Panelists provided candid and relatable responses. Lubia shared her love for fall, a season she discovered after moving to the US, while Lucia reminisced about her affinity for math, a subject that transcended language barriers.
The Panelists’ ability to relate to the students on a personal level left a lasting impression, demonstrating that STEM is accessible to all. By sharing their own journeys and passions, Lubia and Lucia inspired the students and exemplified the importance of representation and diversity in STEM fields.
Thank you to Fethiye Starmach, Anusha Yella, Lubia Urdaneta, and Lucia Viña Patiño for their invaluable contributions to the IGNITE Worldwide event at Mountainview Elementary. Their roles as Facilitator, Tech Host, and Panelists inspired the students and showcased the endless possibilities in STEM careers. We also thank Stacey DeWet for encouraging and supporting her students with the IGNITE Program.
After attending this event:
100%
of students are interested in STEM
81%
of students know more about STEM career choices and the benefits of working in a STEM field
84%
of students feel more confident in pursuing STEM
80%
of students gained perspective and feel more hopeful about the future
Here’s what the students thought of the event:
“Today inspired me by showing girls can do things like boys. The volunteers were amazing.” – 5th Grade IGNITE Student
“It made me feel more comfortable about STEM. I liked learning about the ladies in STEM.” – 5th Grade IGNITE Student
“It inspired me because it showed me how the volunteers could just be like us and then turn into workers in STEM. My favorite part was when they explained how they can make choices at STEM and how they help people like us.” – 5th Grade IGNITE Student
“Today’s event inspired me because I feel like I should be in a place where they do electronics. I liked getting to know everybody.” – 4th Grade IGNITE Student
“It inspired me because I now feel more comfortable working in STEM. My favorite part of this event was when the volunteers were sharing their stories, they were very nice!” – 5th Grade IGNITE Student
“Today’s event helped inspire me by learning what others are interested in and noticing that I’m not alone in some things. I liked how kind the volunteers were and thank you too! 😁” – 5th Grade IGNITE Student
“It inspired me to know the future will be different than what I think. My favorite thing about this event is when I got to learn about who works with STEM.” – 5th Grade IGNITE Student
“It helped me by showing me how the volunteers were inspired in STEM and hearing their stories inspired me. I liked how all of the volunteers shared your stories and answered all of our questions.” – 4th Grade IGNITE Student
“It inspired me to work for Starbucks when I am older and go to Starbucks today.” – 4th Grade IGNITE Student
“It makes me want to go into engineering. My favorite thing was the volunteers answering the questions.” – 4th Grade IGNITE Student
“This event inspired me to learn more about STEM. My favorite thing is learning about what some of the volunteers’ favorite things are and thank you for coming to this meeting.” – 5th Grade IGNITE Student
“I liked getting to know everyone.” – 4th Grade IGNITE Student
“Today’s event inspired me to look more into STEM and opportunities. My favorite part was probably hearing the volunteers’ experiences and things like that.” – 4th Grade IGNITE Student
“I understand a lot more about STEM. I loved asking the volunteers questions.” – 4th Grade IGNITE Student
“It inspired me by telling me that STEM is used in a lot more than I thought.” – 4th Grade IGNITE Student
“Today’s event has inspired me. It has informed me that there are other jobs other than engineering.” – 4th Grade IGNITE Student
“I feel very comfortable. Also, I really liked this event. I liked asking questions.” – 5th Grade IGNITE Student
About IGNITE Program Panel Events:
Virtual or In-Person IGNITE Panels empower women in STEM careers to connect directly with students by sharing their academic and professional journeys. IGNITE Students are inspired by hearing stories they can relate to, and Q&A discussions help break down stereotypes that hold them back from engaging in STEM classes and careers.
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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