Girl Scouts explore STEAM@Work
Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina continues to build girls of courage, character, and confidence through new program initiative entitled STEAM@Work. With the STEAM@Work program, girls will have hands-on activities for the science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics and they will also be introduced to women in those areas. Tours of OTIS Elevator, Sonoco, and possibly Duke Energy are planned. A workshop was held on Saturday, August 27, 2016 to give young ladies a taste of what this program has to offer. This event is part of a year-long exploration of careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics and is directed by Ashli Smart, Events Coordinator for Girl Scouts Service Unit 646. The workshop was free and available to any girl in 6th-12th grade. The event was held from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Florence Service Center. Lunch was provided by Robison Nuclear Plant Women in Nuclear. Twenty girls participated in the inaugural STEAM@Work career exploration workshop.
The Girl Scouts are starting an exciting new series of workshops that will run throughout the 2016-2017 membership year. STEAM@Work is directed by Ashli Smart. Featured presenters for the first workshop on Aug. 27 were Crishell Bass, Pee Dee Regional Career Specialist, Cassie Sabens and Shealyn Williamson from Otis Elevator, Carol Freligh and Brenda Hayes from Duke Energy and Robinson Nuclear Association, and Winter Moore, owner/operator of Addy’s Baby Art and Design Studio. The next workshop is scheduled for September 28th from 5:30-6:30 at the Florence Girl Scout office.
The journey started under the leadership of Crishell Bass, Pee Dee Regional Career Specialist. Girls introduced themselves and stated what they want to do when they grow up. The girls then completed an interest inventory. Ms. Bass directed the girls to compare their desired career with the interest. Some matched perfectly, while others did not match at all. Other topics covered by Ms. Bass included the importance of making sure the career you choose matches the lifestyle you want, researching your career choice and the college you want to attend, building strong relationships with the staff where you attend school, participating in student organizations, gaining work experience through volunteering, work-based learning, or internships, and the importance of building your brand (the way you want people to think of you). She also mentioned the value of taking courses at your area career center.
Cassie Sabens, from Otis Elevator and National Society of Black Engineers, shared her expertise with the girls as they worked in groups to design or make improvements to an elevator. Ms. Sabens has a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, five years of experience in engineering, and has worked on locomotives, off highway vehicles, MRIs, and elevator systems. Shealyn Williamson, a Project Manager for the Otis Elevator company, also shared knowledge of her career journey with the girls. Ms. Williamson majored in Energy Business and Finance with a minor in Energy Land Management.
Duke Energy and Robinson Nuclear Association also sent two representatives to share their knowledge and expertise about careers in the nuclear engineering field with our STEAM explorers. Carol Freligh, Nuclear Oversight Superintendent began her career in the U.S. Navy as a diesel mechanic. She later worked as Operations Training Instructor of Fossil Power and Nuclear Plants. Her career path also included Training Instructor, Instructional Technologist, Training Supervisor, Procedure Writer, and Lead Auditor. Brenda Hayes, Maintenance Planning Supervisor started working for Duke Energy in 2011 and has worked in the nuclear industry in New York, Arkansas, Florida, and Hartsville for 10 years. She is responsible for supervising the maintenance planning associated with plant equipment. Sharing her expertise with this group of young ladies brings her pleasure as she has a 12-year-old daughter who “is fascinated with all things STEAM.”
The final speaker was Winter Moore, owner/operator of Addy’s Baby Art and Design Studio. She spoke about following your passion even when others try to discourage you. Ms. Moore graduated from Wilson High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Digital Media with a concentration in Graphic Design from South Carolina State University.
These speakers shared their career journey and opportunities available in their career field. Additional workshops, field trips, and activities will be scheduled on a monthly basis throughout the remainder of the 2016-17 membership year. The times for the monthly workshops are from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and locations will vary between Darlington, Hartsville and Florence. Dates for future STEAM@work events are:
September 28th
January 25th
April 26th
October 26th
February 22nd
May 24th
November 30th
March 29th
June 7th
If you know a girl in 6th-12th grade who would benefit from exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, or Mathematics careers or exploring leadership, community service, and travel opportunities, they may contact the Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina at 843-468-4710 or Ashli Smart at ashli.smart@gmail.com. Girls are still welcome to participate even if they missed the first event.