The IGNITE Worldwide Virtual Elementary Show-and-Tell Panel, held on March 4, 2024, brought together students from Wheatley Education Campus in Washington, DC with professionals from leading tech companies. Panelists included Lucia Viña Patiño, a Software Engineer at Microsoft, and Fethiye Starmach, an Implementation Engineer at Oracle. The virtual event, translated to Spanish by Lubia Urdaneta, Senior Technical Delivery Manager at Starbucks, made an impact with the 3rd grade students.
With 33 students participating, the highlight of the event was the wide variety of questions students asked the Panelists. The curiosity of the students was infectious, prompting the Panelists to share details about their lives, including childhood memories and daily routines.
Viña Patiño and Starmach masterfully navigated the students’ inquiries, painting vivid pictures of their career journeys and the tech world. Their anecdotes not only demystified STEM, but also inspired the students to dream big.
Thank you to Lucia Viña Patiño and Fethiye Starmach for bringing their expertise and enthusiasm, and sharing their stories and insights with IGNITE Students. Special thanks to Educator Christine Carter for her invaluable support for her students and the IGNITE Program. Additionally, thank you to Lubia Urdaneta for providing Spanish translation, which made the event impactful for every student present.
After attending this event:
92%
of students are interested in STEM
75%
of students know more about STEM career choices and the benefits of working in a STEM field
81%
of students feel more confident in pursuing STEM
87%
of students gained perspective and feel more hopeful about the future
Here’s what the students thought of the event:
“This event made me feel great! I loved everything about it, it was so much fun!” – 3rd Grade IGNITE Student
“Today inspiered me a lot! I want to work in a tech company and work hard. I liked that we talked a lot and they let us ask questions that the volunteers answered.” – 3rd Grade IGNITE Student
“This event made me feel great and I liked hearing from the volunteers.” – 3rd 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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