HI All

I want to thank the wonderful Megan Reardon, Advisor Computer Science and Engineering, for inviting us and providing a very special lunch time presentation and discussion. Megan invited all the young women attending the Computer Science and Engineering program to have lunch with us and tell the girls about themselves and their paths into these majors in college. She also ordered a very special lunch for us as well and had it in the best room on campus with a spectacular view of lake Washington! Thank you Megan for your kindness and caring to the Seattle schools girls in IGNITE! I also want to thank the wonderful college women who gave their time and efforts. First they gave a tour to our IGNITE girls. They showed them some extraordinary exhibits and parts of campus that were great to see.

Then we all gathered in the 6th floor Paul Allen Commons room for our lunch discussion.

It was a fabulous and valuable experience for the girls to hear all about how the college women picked their majors and what that experience is like for them. They also talked about what careers these majors would lead to and gave vital information so the girls can make informed decisions about college and beyond. I want to thank, Monica Kumar, Bioengineering, Arpita Ghosh, Pre-Engineering, Justine Sharry, Computer Science, Lisa Fiedler, Computer Science, and Leslie Ferguson, Karen Studalus, Electrical Engineering graduate student, Tina Brilli, Economics, Melissa Cowan, Electrical Engineering, graduate student and member of Society of Women Engineers, Emma Lynch, IGNITE graduate, Computer Science, Teresa Addison, Manufacturing Engineering, Kendal Sager, Computer Science and hired at Dreamworks!

Wow, what an amazing turnout of college women for the high school girls. There was so much diversity of information. Thank you all for making this day so powerful for the girls!!

After lunch we went to the Motion Capture studio where we were able to try the technology of capturing motion such as used in a video game or film, The girls really enjoyed that hands on activity and Megan had that experience set up for us as well!

I want to thank the very special teachers who work tirelessly to help the girls to get this kind of experience and information. Thank you to Pete Bawden, Project Lead the Way Teacher Franklin High School, and Craig Nelson, Project lead the Way teacher Ballard HS. Also girls from Garfield joined us as well! Thank you to Karin Engstrom Career Center Specialist, Garfield HS, for getting these girls the paperwork to get to go. You are very special teachers and we are so lucky to have you! Here are the girls comments from their evaluation sheets.

• The most interesting thing that I heard today was when the ladies of the UW told us about their experiences and it showed us that we can do anything! I want to do more IGNITE field trips!
• The best part about today was when I saw the sheep's heart. It was really interesting. I liked hearing about bioengineering.
• I liked listening to the college students and they shared with us that even if you struggle with math there is lots of help for us on campus and that we can still do it. I liked hearing the ladies talk to us. I really enjoyed seeing the earthquake table.
• I thought this field trip was the best. I loved hearing the college ladies share with us and loved the earthquake table. I love all ignite field trips
• I like learning about how everybody's different and how people choose different kinds of majors. I learned to pick something that I enjoy and I had a blast, thank you !
• I learned that engineering has a lot to offer. I really enjoyed it all, the tour and seeing the earthquake room.
• I liked the big green truck that was displayed outside, it was really nice, the inside was nice too. and the engine was cool.
• Watching the motion capture on the screen how by putting one of the motion sensors on an object and it shows up on the screen.
• I really enjoyed the tour, and liked seeing the big diesel truck, it was nice and comfortable and inside too. The lunch discussion was good too, and hearing from all the women. I learned a lot.
• I liked hearing about how people got into the programs and how to manage a college lifestyle because it really helped me understand the importance of prioritizing. Many said that there are a lot of jobs and careers that go along with computer science and engineering which helped me understand its value. If there are any more trips like this one I would want to be included please.
• What I liked best about today's event was when we got to go inside the truck and look at its engine. I also liked when our teacher Mr. Bawden bought us donuts. Everything I heard today was pretty interesting. I really liked trying the golf ball and the sensors in the motion capture room.
• I really enjoyed the lunch discussion because now I know how to pick and prepare for my classes in college. I also enjoyed the motion capture room because I want to major in video game production .
• The most interesting thing was listening to the women at lunch, so I learned how the women got to where they are today. I really liked this event a lot. I really enjoyed hearing about so many different types of engineering.
• It was really interesting and I learned a lot of things that I did not know. I learned a lot about computer technology and it was really interesting to me.
• I found it interesting to learn that I don't have to be brilliant to be an engineer. It made me more inspired. It was a lot more fun and interesting than I thought it would be.
• I really enjoyed the earthquake/architect part of the event, because I want to be an architect.

Thank you all for such a magical day!
Cathi