Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus recently hosted 175 ninth-grade female students for Future4U, an annual day-long program for exploring career opportunities in the fields of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). The March 9 event, sponsored by the Penn State Fayette Commission for Women (CFW), engaged students in interactive sessions designed to provide insight into the career possibilities available in these fields.
A number of Penn State Fayette faculty, staff, and students participated in Future4U. The presenters created 30-minute hands-on learning experiences designed to engage and encourage the young female attendees to become interested and excited about STEAM careers.
Nursing instructors Melissa Miner and Damien Zsiros introduced students to the primary roles, responsibilities, and requirements of a registered nurse. They engaged in activities that demonstrated the function of the vestibular balance system, tested reflexes, and increased awareness of healthy lifestyles.
Stacy Sekely, physical therapy instructor, provided an overview of the physical therapy (PT) field, including the roles of providers, workplace settings, diagnoses treated, and common PT interventions. Participants had the opportunity to try some physical therapy techniques, including strength testing, wheelchair mobility training, and balance exercises.
Biology instructor Katrina Porter’s hands-on workshop focused on cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, including a sheep heart dissection, heart rate measurements, and blood cell imaging.
Mary Ann Walters, instructor of business, conducted a workshop, “It's All about the Numbers—Data Collection and Statistics.” Students discovered the relevance of statistics as they conducted a brief survey of other workshop participants. They collected the data, crunched the numbers, and drew conclusions based on overall percentages.
Brittany Mihalko, a Fayette campus engineering alumna, spoke about how she became interested in a STEM field while in high school, as well as her experiences in college and the workforce. She also conducted a workshop where the students constructed marshmallow and spaghetti guyed towers and discussed the job duties of tower engineers.
Gina Jones of the career services department and Tricia Homonai of the admissions office jointly made a motivational presentation on embracing opportunities.
Adviser Steve Wilt, who works with student actors at the Fayette campus, introduced Future4U attendees to the stage and engaged them in role-playing exercises.
According to Billie Jo Yuhaniak, CFW campus liaison, Future4U provided an opportunity for the attendees to begin thinking about careers at an early age. “This is especially important as the students begin taking the necessary high school course work in preparation for these career possibilities,” said Yuhaniak.