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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2013

Ivy Tech-Bloomington and Society of Women Engineers hosts hands-on event for girls on Saturday

��������-Bloomington and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is hosting a national WOW! That’s Engineering!® event for young women in grades 6-8 on February 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Ivy Tech’s main campus, in the Connie and Steve Ferguson Academic Building.

WOW! That’s Engineering! is designed to encourage young women to become more interested in careers in engineering and technology. There will also be a parent workshop from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“Girls participating in WOW! That’s Engineering! event will engage in hands-on engineering activities that involve teamwork and creativity,” said Kirk Barnes, Ivy Tech-Bloomington Dean of the Schools of Technology and Applied Science, and Engineering Technology. “They will also celebrate the accomplishments of women engineers and meet role models – professional engineers and college students – who will lead the activities and answer questions about engineering.”

“We are thrilled to be a part of such an important movement: American culture has traditionally misled young girls to believe that they cannot excel in high-technology professions, and as a result, they often hold negative perceptions of engineering careers,” said Tina Closser, President of Society of Women Engineers Southwest Central Indiana Section.  “We look forward to helping to change that perception in south central Indiana, as well as across the country.”

There is a $5 fee for the event and lunch is included. Pre-registration is required due to limited space. To sign up, contact SWCIndianaSWE@gmail.com. For more information about K-12 outreach at SWE, visit .

The Connie and Steve Ferguson Academic Building on Ivy Tech’s main campus is located at 200 Daniels Way off SR 48 on the west side.

About SWE

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE), founded in 1950, is a not-for-profit educational and service organization. SWE is the driving force that establishes engineering as a highly desirable career aspiration for women. SWE empowers women to succeed and advance in those aspirations and be recognized for their life-changing contributions and achievements as engineers and leaders.

About ��������

�������� () is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system serving nearly 200,000 students annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

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