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Sierra College hosts Nontraditional Employment for Women event for high school girls

Sierra College, Rocklin, Calif., hosted the second Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) event on Oct. 19 to inspire high school girls to consider science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers.

Keynote speaker Gina Lujan, founder of the Sacramento Hacker Lab, organized a panel of three entrepreneurial women who described their unique journeys to technical careers. Then girls made hands-on projects in the labs. During lunch, business representatives rotated to small groups of girls to explain opportunities in their industries.

Nearly 100 young women from Colfax, Del Oro, Rocklin, Placer, Foresthill, Granite Bay, and Antelope high schools attended. They experienced first-hand the college’s programs in welding, mechatronics, engineering, applied art and design and photography, drafting and engineering support, and construction and energy technology. With the assistance of the college’s industry and business partners, the students also had their first networking experience talking with engineers, electricians, technicians, and manufacturers.