Hi All

We had a fantastic event on Saturday hosted by Raelene Sanders at Microsoft. It was such an exciting event; it was for parents!!!!

We did a collaboration with the Gear-Up program in the Yakima Valley for 35 parents who attend the program with their children. The parents did a visit to the University of Washington for a tour and then were scheduled with IGNITE from 2-4:00 at MIcrosoft. The event went so well, I think we could have talked for hours more. We first showed the video, and some of the women there are even in the video, so that makes it fun. The video is such a great tool, to help show what we do in IGNITE. Then we introduced the IGNITE graduates first, so that they can tell about IGNITE from the students point of view. Then the wonderful IGNITE women share their stories, how they got to where they are today, why these careers can be so wonderful for women, and wonderful in general. How much they like working at Microsoft and how many opportunities there are for the young people today in technology.

I want to thank the wonderful women who presented on Saturday to make this event a great success.

First I want to thank Raelene Sanders, who is my co-producer in many IGNITE events in the past and upcoming. What a pleasure and privilege to work with Raelene. It is clear that her passion for this work shines through in every event we do. This one was no exception and our collaboration made this a great success. I want to thank the Presenters who did such an outstanding job in connecting with the parents and really spoke so eloquently on these matters to help their children find exciting and high paying careers with Microsoft and in technology and engineering. I want to first thank the wonderful IGNTE graduates who are now volunteers for IGNITE. They can really address what is has been like for them to be in IGNITE from their freshman year in high school to now working in Microsoft. Wow what a journey and wow how they can really show by example what IGNITE has done and helped them in their career paths. Thank you to Kelly Gonsalez, who worked so hard for us that day doing her talk in Spanish and English and translating for us, so that all the parents would understand and not miss anything being said. Kelly you did such an outstanding job and truly made this event a great success for the parents and all of us.

Thank you to Candy Chiang who is one of our first IGNITE graduates, and then went through the computer science program at the Uw and now works for Microsoft. Candy you did such an outstanding job explaining how IGNITE worked for you, opening doors, networking, learning about the career choices, which now Network Engineering has become your passion. How fortunate that we have you in IGNITE doing the full circle from student to Microsoft employee, You did such an exceptional job and its a honor to know you!! Both of these young women are outstanding and an honor to have had them as my students and now volunteers, It is such a great joy!

I want to thank Manh Duong, who was there for the day and got called out to work, so sorry about that, and thank you Manh for being there for IGNITE, I know how much you wanted to be there, and when work calls you have to go. Manh graduated and now works in the Financial field and has found her passion, we are so proud of her.

Thank you to Marla Mingee, a student and mentee of Raelene's and now working as a consultant for Microsoft. Raelene in her many talks around the Puget sound, met Marla doing a talk for DeVry University where Marla was a student. Marla then job shadowed Raelene, and now they car pool to work together. Your story really makes such a difference for everyone who hears it and it is such an honor for us to have you share it in IGNITE. Thank you for such a great job Marla! I want to thank the wonderful Microsoft women who feel so passionate about doing IGNITE, and thought nothing of coming on a Saturday because we needed them. Thank you to Sharon Carroll, such an unwavering long time supporter, 8 years and counting, you did such a magnificent job with the parents!! Thank you to Juzen Ruelos, it was such a pleasure to have you and such a great job with the parents. It is clear that you love doing this work in IGNITE, and what great fortune to have you in IGNITE!! Thank you to Divya Narayanan, such a dedicated IGNITE volunteer, and when I need her she is always there . You did such a great job with the parents and it is so fortunate to have you in IGNITE! What a pleasure to work with you Divya! Thank you to Cathy Moya for coming and bringing her little daughter, and even if she had a birthday party that day, you fit us in, because you believe in what we do, and you did such a great job, I am so glad that you were able to be there Cathy! I want to thank Dori Peralta Baker UW Gear-up4 Families program. It is such a great pleasure to work with you and it made it easy and fun too.

I look forward to our future collaborations. Thank you for bringing your wonderful parents to the event, they were so excited and had such wonderful questions too. It was so much fun and just so wonderful to be a part of that experience.

Thank you to Loueta Johnson, Director Gear Up, for providing IGNITE with such a great opportunity to work with parents,. I really value our relationship and I look forward to working with you in the future. Our work together is great!

It's powerful putting our organizations together to do things that we might not be able to do without each other. Thank you all for making this day possible.

Cathi