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On Saturday, Feb. 28, Society of Women Engineers (SWE) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville hosted IGE Day for students, grades 6-12. Keynote speaker Cathleen Gotsch, Air Dominance Development Excellence Focal, was one of the industry professionals who offered insights into career paths and opportunities in STEM. Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day provided hands-on interactive activities and challenges, tours of SIUE’s state-of-the-art facilities and in-person connections with SIUE students.

SWE President Ximena Gonzalez Alfaro, SWE Treasurer Emma Griebenow and SWE Secretary Katherine Schneider are engineering majors who contacted teachers and sponsors throughout the St. Louis Metro region and organized the event. They shared the following data: 

• Approximately 15% of the engineering workforce is made up of women
• According to SWE’s U.S. Degree Attainment research, around 20.4% of graduates in engineering, manufacturing, and construction fields in the United States were women.
• Forty percent of women who earn engineering degrees either never enter the field or leave after graduation. 
  
  

After spending the day at the popular annual event, Gonzalez Alfaro, Schneider and Griebenow shared this student dispatch.

Why is an event like IGE Day important to your engineering experience here at SIUE?

Ximena Gonzalez Alfaro: I remember being in middle school and looking forward to attending this event myself, and that excitement is something we now see reflected in the students who come each year. Many of our current SWE members once attended this event as middle or high school students and are now returning as volunteers, creating a full circle moment that strengthens SIUE’s culture of mentorship, representation, and community. 
 
Katherine Schneider: This is my fourth-year volunteering, and now, as a senior, the event feels even more impactful. I feel now I have the confidence, technical knowledge, and experience to truly mentor and guide younger students. Being able to pass down what I have learned over the past four years at SIUE, both academically and personally, feels like a full-circle moment. 
 
Emma Griebenow: As a first-generation college student, I didn’t grow up around engineers. No one in my family worked in STEM, and engineering was never something that was presented to me as an obvious career option. I didn’t attend STEM camps or know what engineering really meant when I was younger. Because of that, being part of an event like this is very personal to me. Being able to give students exposure and encouragement at this level is meaningful to me because I see how much power there is in simply being told “you can do this” at a young age, and this event bridges that gap.  
 
 
What motivated you to participate? 
 
Gonzalez Alfaro: This event genuinely brings me joy and aligns with the kind of impact I want to make. I’ve always dreamed of becoming a teacher after I retire so I can inspire the next generation, just like the high school teacher who believed in me and encouraged me to pursue engineering. Growing up, I loved creating and designing, but I didn’t always have the resources to explore those interests, and I remember what it felt like to be that curious student who didn’t know where to start. 
 
Schneider: I continue to volunteer each year because representation and mentorship truly matter in an industry where women are seen as a minority. When I was younger, seeing women in engineering roles made the field more accessible, and now, I get to be that example for someone else. Additionally, as I approach the end of my college experience, I recognize how important it is to encourage the next generation of engineers. This event allows me to show young students that engineering is creative, collaborative, and rewarding. 
 
Griebenow: I participated in the event because representation matters. When young girls see college women confidently leading engineering activities, it helps normalize the idea that engineering is not just for men. Simply being visible can still be impactful, especially in this age group. As a graduating senior, this event was especially important for me as this was my last time volunteering as a student. IGE Day has grown so much over the past four years, and I will never get tired of watching the excitement on girls' faces when they realize they can build something themselves. Seeing their confidence grow within a single activity is incredibly rewarding and has made this event one of the most meaningful parts of my time at SIUE. 

 
What did you learn at the event through interacting with the public and your teammates? 
 
Gonzalez Alfaro: Organizing IGE Day taught me a great deal about communication, leadership, and staying calm under pressure. Throughout the planning process, I learned how to pivot quickly when unexpected challenges came up and how important it is to maintain composure so the team feels supported. Working directly with students reminded me why I love this event so much; so many of them are incredibly intelligent, curious, and thoughtful. They ask intuitive questions that show a genuine desire to understand, and seeing their minds work in real time is one of the most rewarding parts of the day. Every year, IGE Day reinforces how capable these students are and how meaningful it is to create a space where their curiosity can thrive. 
 
Schneider: After volunteering for four years, I have learned that outreach is just as important as technical coursework. This event has strengthened my ability to communicate complex engineering concepts in simple yet engaging ways, as well as the importance of communication between multiple groups. It has also developed my leadership and collaboration skills as I worked alongside other great engineering students here at SIUE. Most importantly, I learned how powerful encouragement can be. Every time I saw a student’s face light up when their helicopter successfully flew, I felt immense joy knowing I may have helped spark someone’s interest in this incredible industry. 
 
Griebenow: Interacting with the students reminded me that curiosity is not an issue, but exposure is. Many of the students were eager, creative, and excited to experiment. What they often lack is simply the opportunity to see engineering up close, tailored to them. Working with my fellow volunteers also reinforced the importance of collaboration and shared mission. Most importantly, I was reminded of why I chose this field in the first place. Seeing the students light up when something finally worked or when a concept clicked for them made all the planning worth it. Realizing we might have given even one student the confidence to consider engineering is a point of immense pride for me. 
 
 
IGE event sponsors included Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery (gold sponsor), Kaskaskia Engineering Group, Utilitra, and Luzco (silver sponsors) and Holland Construction (bronze sponsor).

See you next year! 

Photos by Howard Ash