HI All

We had a fabulous field trip to Digipen Institute of Technology! It was a very special day, organized by Diann Stromm and Heidi Munoz who are the Outreach Coordinators for Digipen. They put together a fantastic day. It was truly an inspirational and valuable trip. The girls found it delightful, deeply educational and powerful. Please read their comment below!

• 9:45 a.m. IGNITE girls arrive
• 10 - 10:55 a.m. Industry presentation
• 10:55 - 11:35 a.m. Faculty/Professional panel
• 11:35 - 12 p.m. tour / break
• 12 - 1 p.m. Lunch with student panel
• 1 - 1:25 p.m. DIT Admissions/Summer Workshops Info Session

Thank you to Melvin Gonsalvez who did an engaging opening session about the kinds of things they teach at Digipen. Thank you to the wonderful Professionals who spoke about the school and what they taught. Professors Geraldine Kovats, and Brandii Grace who teach various subjects at Digipen and told the girls all the special things they would learn. Thank you to Microsoft Test Lead, Tina Chen, who helped the girls understand what kinds of careers these skills lead to. You all did such a great job. And thank you to the wonderful students of Digipen who mesmerized all of us with their passion and powerful story telling abilities. Wow is all I can say about the students. They talked and you could hear a pin drop. They were totally inspiring. Thank you to Brittany Aubert, Jami Lukins, Victoria Smith, Cassie Boykin, and Chris Clark. Thank you so much!! We also got a tour of the building and got to see what kinds of equipment and projects the students get to do. It was a stupendous day!

I want to thank the wonderful Seattle Schools teachers and staff who supported the girls in this IGNITE event. You are all very special people who work so hard in IGNITE, and continue to support the vision and mission we are on to educate the young women in these career fields. Thank you to Shirley Osara, Sealth High School, Susan Waterworth, Ballard High School, Mary Davison, Head of Business and Marketing Seattle schools, and Judy Deigman, West Seattle. You are all wonderful!!

Now to the comments from the survey forms. The girls thought:

• The thing I liked the best was the stories and experiences of the students. Also seeing the artwork of the students was fun because we got to see exactly what they do.
• I liked hearing from all the different students because that would be what we would be facing. Plus they were pretty funny. I learned a lot about the different things you can go into.
• I liked seeing what they have created! And learning about what you need, passion is all you need! anything is possible, and I loved the energy and enthusiasm!
• only 9 percent women go to Digipen! shocker
• I liked the people that talked because they gave a lot of good information. The fact that there are barely any girls in the digipen university was surprising to me. Let's play some games next time to see more of their projects.
• I liked the tour and seeing all the different types of labs. I loved the speakers and hearing how they got to Digipen. Not enough women at the school!
• I liked hearing the students and seeing the slide show. I loved everything!
• The students perspectives on all their different degrees. There are no girls in the Computer Engineering Program! I learned that you don't need "rocket science intelligence to be in these careers.
• I loved talking about the Games and listening to the students. I really liked hearing about what the older girls had accomplished. It was perfect. I want to build computers.
• It was fantastic!!! It was the best field trip I have ever seen as long as I have been taking students to events.
• I liked talking about art and the way it was used.
• I liked the roundtable discussion with the teachers, students and the video presentation of Melvin Gonsalvez was amazing. I liked knowing that they are looking for more girls.
• The thing that I liked best was about designing the video games and how they design them. Everything that I heard was interesting. I would like to see all the ignite events that they have. The program was perfect the way it was.
• I enjoyed being able to be on campus and seeing what it is like and meeting some of the students. I learned that it is okay to not know entirely what I want to do. I learned that this program works with Nintendo and Microsoft and I want to be in that network so I can meet people and talk to them. I wish I could take a class there.
• All the information that was given was the best part. I loved hearing about the life of the students.
• Talking to the students to see what their lives are like and what they went through to get where they are today. I loved hearing about the women who are in this field.
• I liked hearing the stories of the students because they are closer to our age. It was very motivating and interesting to hear about their stories. I didn't realize the importance and demand is for girls in these fields. I would love to do more things like this. I want to job shadow these kinds of jobs.
• I liked learning about what is available at Digipen.
• I liked what Brittany was saying. I think I can many do technology because of her. I can seem myself in her. I also learned that you are not alone while you are creating your game. You have a lot of people working with you. and supporting you.
• I liked the demonstrations on the quadraped. That was robotic. and the Powerpoint about ignite. video game salaries and doing what I love playing video games. Legend of Zelda!! I absolutely loved today! Especially the visitors and speaking about technology and electronics. I want to interview more programmers, because its what I want to do.
• I liked learning about the making of video games. How people make video games and characters. that was cool. More time for questions. I want to see how to make video games.
• I loved the tour. I want to put art into the computer and make them move
• I liked the slideshow the best. I really enjoyed learning about how to get into Digipen.

Thank you all for making this day possible, it was a hit! We are looking forward to doing this visit every year!

Thank you for all your hard work,
Cathi