Amazon Web Services (AWS) Girls’ Tech Day on Saturday brought together nearly 200 sixth- to eighth-grade students across Morrow and Umatilla County.
The mission of Girls’ Tech Day is to inspire and motivate them to pursue interests in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This was the community’s largest Girls’ Tech Day to date and was hosted at Hermiston High School. Girls’ Tech Day is a free learning event that focuses on each of the STEM areas with activities designed to educate, inspire, and be enjoyed. The program also showcases a wide range of STEM careers and introduces participants to female trailblazers who shared their career journeys and passions.
Participants took part in interactive workshops that explored robotics, coding, space science, AI engineering and energy sustainability. Students also heard from the Umatilla County Fair Court princesses about their own STEM passions and diverse backgrounds.
“Empowering young women with the skills and confidence to succeed in technology is essential for their future and ours,” said Dr. Tricia Mooney, superintendent of Hermiston School District. “AWS Girls’ Tech Day brings together students from across our region, offering an inspiring opportunity to explore, innovate, and imagine what’s possible. We are thrilled to support this event and look forward to the bright futures these experiences will inspire.”
AWS collaborated with local educators and staff from Hermiston School District, Umatilla School District and Morrow County School District, along with community partners like Rosie Riveters and GO-STEM to lead the workshops and organize the event. This is one of several ways AWS has worked to drive STEAM education equity and access in Eastern Oregon.
“Hosting AWS Girls’ Tech Day and merging technology with fun hands-on activities is extremely rewarding,” said Paul Butler, Community Engagement Manager for AWS. “AWS is passionate about driving STEM education access and equity in communities like Morrow and Umatilla. Introducing these students to accomplished women in tech will hopefully inspire them to pursue their own journeys in these vital fields.”
Since the program was launched in 2018, AWS has hosted in-person and virtual events in cities across the globe, which has allowed us to reach more than 21,000 girls and young women ages 8-24, to inspire and motivate them to develop and pursue interests and careers in technology.
