By Aimee Caruso - Oct 25, 2016
Nancy Nutile-McMenemyAinsley Cooke from Randolph High School tried her hand at wood carving.
(Nancy Nutile-McMenemy photograph/www.photosbynanci.com)Summer Raymond, of Hartland, attends Hartford Area Career and Technical Center for forestry but said she really liked making pasta and is “considering the culinary arts now.” Eliza Ligon, from the Long Trail School, waits her turn for the pasta machine. More than 500 young women from schools around Vermont attended the 18th annual “Women Can Do” conference at Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center. The Oct. 13 conference promoted STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and trades careers.
(Nancy Nutile-McMenemy photograph/www.photosbynanci.com)In the Action Expo tent, Lily Holding and Abbey Duane, both from Woodstock Union High School, try cutting tiles. More than 500 young women from schools around Vermont attended the 18th annual “Women Can Do” conference at Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center. The Oct. 13 conference promoted STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and trades careers.
(Nancy Nutile-McMenemy photograph/www.photosbynanci.com)The “Chainsaw 101” event showed students including Grace Shelton from St. Johnsbury Academy, how to use a chain saw properly and to consider a career in forestry management. More than 500 young women from schools around Vermont attended the 18th annual “Women Can Do” conference at Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center. The Oct. 13 conference promoted STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and trades careers.Paul Seaver, from Windsor works, for VTrans and volunteered at the conference to allow girls like Katie McCartney from Arlington Memorial High School try driving some the state highway equipment.Women in the Biotech Kitchen allowed girls to explore a careers in the biotech field. Olivia Mariscovetere from Woodstock Union High School worked with Maya Asher from Essex High School and Dasha Serdyuk from Colchester High School complete an experiment during their workshop session.At 18th Annual Women Can Do conference promoting STEM and Trades careers at the Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center, VT over 500 girls from school around Vermont had a chance to try our careers such as Fire Fighting. Olivia Liberty a freshman from Lyndon works the fire hose under Fire Fighter Ron Trask's instructions.Summer Raymond from Hartland attends Hartford Area Career and Technical Center for forestry but said she really liked making pasta and is "considering the culinary arts now." Eliza Ligon from the Long Trail School waits her turn for the pasta machine.In the Action Expo tent, Lily Holding and Abbey Duane from Woodstock Union High School try cutting tiles.
(Nancy Nutile-McMenemy photograph/www.photosbynanci.com)Katey MacMaster from Woodstock Union High School tries out equipment used in laboratories. Volunteer Instructor Estelle Spear explains what to look for. More than 500 young women from schools around Vermont attended the 18th annual “Women Can Do” conference at Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center. The Oct. 13 conference promoted STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and trades careers.
For the third year running, the Women Can Do STEM & Trades Conference at Vermont Technical College last month reached capacity, with 500 high school girls attending. The conference has been gaining attention over the years, said Jen Roberts, of Vermont Works for Women, who coordinates the event. “There’s been a focus on girls being exposed to those kind of careers.”
This year’s conference, the 18th, featured 35 workshops led by women working in STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) careers and skilled trades, and other areas in which women are underrepresented. Throughout the day, attendees could also check out a police car, tractor, excavator and plow truck, and try out equipment and tools at “action stations,” including an aviation simulator, chop saw, welder, plasma cutter, tile cutter and chain saw. Students from the Hartford Area Career and Technology Center oversaw some of the stations at the event, which is also designed to lend support to young women enrolled in nontraditional programs at such centers around the state.
Roberts said she was struck by the girls’ enthusiasm.
“It’s fascinating to see them enjoying trying all of these tools,” she said, “their excitement about it, that sense of, ‘I can’t believe that I am doing all this’ … and wanting to try the next thing.”
— Aimee Caruso
