Hi All,

We had a wonderful Presentation event at Garfield !! Our speakers did such an outstanding job in connecting with the girls. The question and answer session was so engaging for everyone where the discussions that take place really get to the heart of what the girls want to know and need to know. As usual, our ignite magic took hold and everyone had a wonderful time. I want to thank our exceptional speakers who made this experience really special for the girls.

Thank you to Martine Worrall, Mechanical Engineer, Synapse; Joni Blakeslee, Senior Management, Cisco Systems; Nora Duffy, Intellectual Property, Avanade; Tam Hubert, Program Manager, Microsoft; Marta Smith, Program Manager, Microsoft; Heidi Crawford, Mechanical Engineer, Consultant who works with many companies managing huge initiatives. I want to welcome Heidi to IGNITE, and hearing her story yesterday was so exciting, all she has done and so much to give to the students in IGNITE. We are so fortunate to have her! Welcome to IGNITE! You are all such amazing women and have so much knowledge and experience to share with the young women. They are so fortunate to get that time with you and these girls were very smart in using their time wisely. It is a great honor to be a part of this wonderful experience.

I want to thank the wonderful staff who helps us gather the girls for these events, Thank you to Lilna Givan-Williams, extraordinary Marketing teacher in Seattle for 24 years or there abouts. The students come because they love their teacher, and we do too, Thank you Lilna! Thank you to Karin Engstrom, Career Center Specialist, for sending out the passes, and a big Thank you to Leanne Hust the School Counselor at Garfield who is now joining our IGNITE team, It is great to have you on board Leanne!!

Here are the young women's survey forms to let you know about their perspective on the event, They are really worth reading!!

• I have learned that there are a lot of opportunities for females in the tech world and I am so happy to learn that. I can be one of these females in the future. I have also learned that these females are the same as me, and I learned that by hearing their backgrounds and how they came to be where they are today. Everything was perfect.
• I liked how each of the speakers talked about how they went about getting their jobs and going through college. I learned how these women were able to go through college despite the "dream Killers" who tried to discourage them. I would like to do more of these events.
• I liked the panel of people expressing their ideas and giving their experiences with us. I heard that most of these women struggled but succeeded in what they do. It was fantastic.
• I think how everyone got to tell their own stories and how they had overcome challenges were very interesting. After hearing the stories I found getting a High Business career is more reachable than before I heard the stories.
• I learned a lot about high tech careers and information about jobs.. I really liked learning about information systems and Engineering.
• All of my questions were answered to the fullest and the women seemed very real, like I could imagine meeting someone like that in real life, no fake uptight business, which was a good thing :) I learned that it is so much more reachable than I thought to have a career in technology or engineering. You covered just about everything, there were all kinds of information and it was presented very well. I look forward to the field trip!
• I liked how people were really open with how they got to where they are now. The diverse backgrounds of the women how they had to get these positions, all the different job options in technology, was great. I think having more sessions would be nice.
• I really enjoyed hearing each women's personal experience about their career, and what they did to get there. It is so much more possible to reach than I really thought. It was fantastic. I would LOVE to do a summer internship.
• I liked hearing presentations from women from different backgrounds.
• I enjoyed hearing each speakers story and background and how they got into technology. Also being assured that you don't have to be some super genius to be successful in life. The most interesting thing I heard today was that you can be an engineer even if you have some struggles in math, you really have to have the passion and desire to do it.
• I like how it has real women who had been through a lot. And they told us how to get there like them. I learned that I don't have to have a 4.0 to be successful and get a good job.
• I learned how to get a job and that it is reachable for me. I thought everything was perfect.
• I thought it was great, the advice that was given to us. I wasn't aware of all the different types of engineering.
• I learned more about technical degrees and college degrees. Also I learned it is important to know how to present ourselves. It was great.
• I liked the personal stories that were shared at today's event. I enjoyed hearing about the different way to approach engineering and make it a rewarding career. I found Martine's descriptions of her job very interesting. I can't think of anything that would have made the presentation better.
• Hearing varied non-ivy league backgrounds was the best part. everything was very interesting. I wish we had more time,.
• I liked the different women's stories and how they didn't take no for an answer. Also the different jobs attached to engineering. That many people told them no and they are doing really good with their careers and jobs now.
• Meeting with women who have "made" it in technology was the best part. Great meeting.
• I like the live presentation, and the presenters were very informative! They each had a lot of interesting, personal, things to say :)

As you can all see it was a great success.
Thank you all for making this possible.
Cathi