Two Washington State University Tri-Cities engineering students attended the WE Local conference in Wichita, Kansas over their spring break as representatives of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Jacqueline Figueroa, a junior studying mechanical engineering, and Ayla Bales, a senior studying civil engineering, represented the university at the event, joining over 350 college students, retired STEM professionals, recruiters and representatives of notable STEM organizations.

“This was a fantastic experience for students to meet colleagues, network with professionals in their industry, and learn more about opportunities available to them as they start their engineering careers,” said Bales.

According to the website, 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.

The WE Local conference agenda consisted of several keynote speakers and events over two days. Students were able to attend presentations on leadership, finding confidence in professions, becoming inventors, and working towards achieving net zero emissions for organizations. Learning opportunities also included networking lunches, a job fair, student research poster presentations, a trivia night with plenty of prizes, and more.

The opening keynote given by Wichita mayor Lily Wu proclaimed March 15, 2024, as Women in Engineering Day. The proclamation recognized that while only 16% of engineers in the US are women, their contributions have been pivotal in shaping world progress. A second address presented by Heather Meyer, vice president of quality for Spirit Aerosystems, encouraged women attendees to set their own measures of success in their careers through advocacy for work-life balance and addressing bias against women and minority groups in the workplace.

The FY24 SWE president Alexis McKittrick was the second day keynote speaker, addressing the conference’s theme “Live Without Limits”. She was joined by a panel of 4 women in STEM for a discussion of overcoming challenges in workplaces, developing inclusive management strategies, and embracing opportunities within the engineering profession to achieve both career and personal goals.

While visiting for the conference, students had opportunities to explore Wichita’s local culture, including site visits to the Keeper of the Plains monument, the Mid-American All-Indian Museum, and the Wichita Art Museum.

Much of Wichita’s modern culture revolves around aerospace engineering. The city has a strategic location for aviation manufacturing, being situated almost perfectly in the center of the continental US. Known as “the air capital of the world”, it has been the central hub for many notable aircraft manufacturers, including Cessna, Beechcraft, Boeing, Stearman, Airbus, and Learjet. As the Platinum sponsor for the conference, Spirit Aerosystems gifted many attendees with aluminum window cutouts from Boeing 737 fuselages.

“We would like to give a heartfelt thank you to Alaska Airlines for the generous flight credits. This trip could not have been possible without their support. Also, a big thank you to the ASWSUTC’s Finance Committee for helping make this trip possible,” said Haydee Guzman, program coordinator of the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership.