HI All

WE had a wonderful day at Microsoft! The girls got to see the Microsoft Office and Home of the Future! They loved the tours. WE also met with a very special group of Microsoft women who told their stories and answered all the girls questions. It was a great Presentation and discussion session and the girls really had a fantastic day. They learned so much about what they can do in the technology world and left Microsoft truly inspired. Thank you all for making this day possible.

Thank you to Mylene Padolina and Janice Hunter for setting up this wonderful trip for us. And making each detail work out perfectly!

Thank you to Margaret Bacon who made us feel so welcome at the Tour, getting a cup of tea for a girl with a sore throat, and making us feel so at home! You were so wonderful to us. Thank you to our great tour leaders who really made this fun for the girls. They care so much that the girls enjoy the tour and that they understand everything that they see. Thank you to Ethan Zems, and Valerie Dodge, for your caring and welcoming ways , the girls really felt that.

I want to thank the women who presented at the discussion lunch, you all did such a great job connecting with the girls, really caring about answering all their questions and making sure they understand that Microsoft wants them there and so does the whole world of technology! The girls really get it and when they leave they leave with a new and brighter future, a passion for dreaming big! Thank you to Sharon Carroll, Technical Writer, Justine Vick, Network Architect, Katy Jo Meyer, Profession Capability and Development Consultant, Lara Peterson, Product Marketing Manager, and Karen Beattie-Massey, Senior Program Manager. Thank you all for making this such a special visit.

Thank you to the wonderful teachers at Cleveland and Roosevelt. They are so passionate about getting the girls to the IGNITE events and do such a great job with the girls. Thank you to Dan Norton-Middaugh, Web Design, Roosevelt, Karl Ruff, Project Lead the Way, Roosevelt, Nicole Samuels, Marketing teacher, Roosevelt, Liz MacLennan, Dept Head: Business and Marketing, Roosevelt; and David Freidle, Technology teacher and yearbook at Cleveland, you are all very special teachers and we are so lucky to have you!!

Here are the comments from the girls evaluation sheets.

• I liked listening to each woman's story about how they ended up at Microsoft. I appreciate them wanting to help younger girls to figure out what we want to do . It was really interesting to find out how each person really didn't know what they wanted to do and now I know I can take my time to find out what I want to do. I want to go on the UW trip with IGNITE to find out about their programs and what I want to do.
• I liked the office of the future. The technology was so cool. I learned not to give up on my dreams.
• What I liked best about today's event was being able to talk to people who work at Microsoft. It was great to see how they work and what they've done to get here The most interesting thing I heard today was that almost no one working at Microsoft knew that is what they wanted to do. I look forward to more IGNITE events.
• I really like touring the home of the future and learning about what could soon be in my house. I also like talking to the IGNITE volunteers. I think they really helped inspire me to go into a technical career.
• I learned about so many kinds of careers at Microsoft, like I never would have known that there is a career for writing of tool bars. So many things.
• The best thing about today's event that I liked was what I got to go on the tour to see the Office of the Future. It was the best experience I ever had. The next best thing I learned today was that Microsoft has a Network Architect career. I wish we had more time here. I want to do more things like this.
• I like that there were different women working with technology sharing their personal experiences. I really was inspired to hear that women support each other in reaching their goals no matter how hard or how far you want to go. I learned a lot about technology and how different jobs involved different planning.
• I enjoyed viewing the house of the future. I also liked talking to the speakers and also taking in the information. I loved hearing their stories on traveling. I want to be like all of them and now I feel like I can make it because of my past few years in high school and doing these experiences.
• Well, I like the part where we got to go inside the Home of the Future. Also I like the part where the people who work at Microsoft came and talked about how their experiences and we got to ask questions . Basically, I loved everything about the event!
• The most interesting thing that I heard today is that you don't know what your future career will be. You might major in this degree in college but you might end up with something that you might not thing that you would be working in.
• I really liked the Office of the Future. I loved seeing all the new computers and cool technology. I want to have these kinds of computers myself. I want to learn to take apart a computer and then set it all up again.
• Seeing the Office of the future was the best part. New ideas and listening to the woman from Microsoft how they got here and what challenges they had. I learned that a lot of the women did not have a career in technology in mind. I want to do more ignite activities.
• When I went to Microsoft home it was great. I loved the talk we had with the Microsoft women. there is a lot of flexibility in technology, some workers can work at home, and you don't have to have a technical degree either. I wish we had more time at Microsoft. I want to go again.
• What I like about today was seeing the Office of the Future and hearing all the women's stories. I thought it was interesting that the women didn't think they would be working at Microsoft.
• I liked how we got to see the Office of the Future and how the women talked about what they do and how they got to where they are now. I thought it was great to hear about how the women got to travel. I want to go on more ignite activities.
• I loved seeing the Office of the Future. I really liked hearing the ladies talk to us about their work ad how they got to Microsoft.
• Learning about the future and going to the Office exhibit was great. I got to try the technology and I loved that part. There are many ways to get to work at Microsoft.
• I liked how the presenters today explained how they got there.
• It was very inspiring to see women getting together to enlighten us a little about technology. they showed us options about what we can do. Most of the women were not interested in technology before that.
• the office of the future was the best. I learned how people can have connection with people from far away from the office. I want to see more presentations with ignite
• I loved hearing the women's stories and loved the smart house. Everything was great.
• You helped me realize how many opportunities that I have!! I learned how many different career paths that there are. Also do something that you are interested in and incorporate that into your job. more time!
• I really enjoyed the experiences shared by the women who work at Microsoft
• I was really glad we had a chance to listen and talk to the women it was awesome!
• Hearing about the women's different careers and opportunities . It was interesting what paths they took to get here.
• I enjoyed the whole day, thank you! I loved the future house and got to hear and learn about the presenters different kinds of jobs.
• My experience was perfect and great, keep doing what you are doing. I loved the whole thing.
• Seeing the new high tech devices, in the office of the future, it was my first time seeing these kinds of things and it was awesome! I want to go on all of the ignite events.
• I loved the tour. It was amazing seeing the home of the future and it was more than my mind can expand. Everything was just amazing. the tour and all the information they gave us.

Thank you all for making this day possible.
Cathi