The National Academy of Engineering is proud to introduce the second class of EngineerGirl Amabassadors. During the 2019-2020 academic year, each Ambassador will implement a project she designed and developed to encourage younger girls – particularly those with little access to engineering role models – to think about engineering careers and give them practical experience in engineering design. They will work with local sponsors and receive guidance and support from EngineerGirl staff.
Kelly Cha
12th Grade Clifton, NJ
Local sponsor: Salem Saykali
Kelly is running an engineering workshop for young, underprivileged girls in her community to inspire them to explore possibilities through experiences. She hopes this exposure will help participants uncover their STEM-related interests and help diversify the engineering field.
Rachel Chae
11th Grade Centreville, VA
Local sponsor: Michelle Pridmore
Rachel is developing an after-school program in which students will become involved with their community’s environmental protection organizations. A group of high school students will go to elementary and middle schools in the area to engage younger students in the promotion of environmental awareness through the arts, writing, and STEM subjects.
Anastasia Cook
11th Grade Saint Charles, MO
Local sponsor: Elena Cook
Anastasia will create a Junior FIRST LEGO League team and “EngineerGirl Junior” club for girls ages 6 to 9 in her community. The after-school groups will work on mechanical and electrical engineering projects to be shared with their families at the conclusion.
Sarah Eckert
9th Grade Davenport, IA
Local sponsor: Kelsey Pearson
Sarah will organize a summer engineering day camp for underserved and underrepresented girls and their siblings in her community. The camp will increase accessibility to summer learning opportunities for girls in her area and provide hands-on engineering fun.
Lauren Eppinger
12th Grade Saxtons River, VT
Local sponsor: Joe Echanis
Lauren will offer a week-long summer “design camp” for middle school girls in rural Vermont. The camp sessions will be collaborative and focus on how engineering helps solve real-world problems. Lauren plans to partner with a science museum and an arts organization to expand the programming and highlight diverse career opportunities.
Maggie Haber
10th Grade Carmel, NY
Local sponsor: Christine Galli
Maggie is planning to run both an afterschool program and hands-on activities in summer camps. She is excited to share her passion for STEAM and empower girls so they know that they can achieve their goals with knowledge, confidence, a strong work ethic, and determination.
Madelyn Heaston
10th Grade Issaquah, WA
Local sponsor: Jannel Heaston
Madelyn plans to host STEAM workshops for young girls experiencing homelessness in the Seattle area. These monthly interactive sessions will bring the wonderful and exciting world of engineering to girls who otherwise may not have the opportunity to explore the field.
Sara Huelskamp
10th Grade Grantsville, MD
Local sponsor: Arlene Lantz
Sara is planning a hands-on afterschool program for girls in her community. The program will introduce participants to new skills while showing them how STEM concepts relate to their everyday life. Sara will also introduce several engineering fields during the program and highlight accomplishments of women in these fields.
Bridget Li
12th Grade Austin, TX
Local sponsor: Brittany Turner
Bridget is putting together an afterschool engineering club for girls at her local middle school. The club will allow girls to complete independent projects using the engineering design process, then present their research at science fairs. Participants will develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills while connecting with the local engineering community.
Ashley Lin
10th Grade Vancouver, WA
Local sponsor: Zaniya Lewis
Ashley is creating a 10-week digital exchange program focused primarily on the themes of engineering and community engagement. Participants will be matched with a peer mentor from a different country in their chosen field of engineering. Using their newfound engineering knowledge, participants will come up with solutions to problems they see in their communities.
Parvati Menon
11th Grade Suwanee, GA
Local sponsor: Janet Devaney Denton
The afterschool program Parvati’s is creating is intended to spark an interest in engineering among girls at a local, under-resourced middle school. In addition to the afterschool club, Parvati will organize engineering events for girls at her local library.
Adun Oladeji
11th Grade Alpharetta, GA
Local sponsor: Aaron Brown
Adun is planning to hold engineering workshops every few months aimed at girls and other underrepresented minorities. The workshops will include engaging activities that teach engineering principles, along with visits from professional engineers to talk about what being an engineer is like.
Sophie Mei Poole
11th Grade Pasadena, CA
Local sponsor: Carolyn Patterson
Sophie will create an afterschool program for girls in fifth and sixth grade and give these girls the opportunity to explore the many career paths in engineering. She will start by interviewing professional engineers so she can show examples of actual engineers to the girls in her program. Then the girls will participate in hands-on activities related to various fields of engineering.
Saraswati Sridhar
10th Grade Mayaguez, PR
Local sponsor: Vidya Manian
Saraswati is building an online learning platform about biomedical engineering. Her website will include videos, quizzes, and simulations. She will then use her platform in workshops around Puerto Rico.
Lucille Steffes
12th Grade Milwaukee, WI
Local sponsor: Mary Laubenheimer
Lucille is creating a club for middle school girls. The club will focus on environmentally-friendly engineering projects that improve their local community and get the girls interested in all that engineering has to offer.
Lillian Williams
11th Grade Connelly Springs, NC
Local sponsor: Kim Cotter
Lillian will host a one-week summer camp at a local elementary school. The camp will focus on chemical engineering and is designed to empower and build character among young Hispanic girls while encouraging them to pursue a career in a STEM field.