The Los Angeles County Office of Education’s (LACOE) annual Engaging Girls in STEM event, hosted at the Los Angeles County Zoo, empowers and encourages young girls, between 6th to 12th grades, to consider and pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

The event centers on girls interacting with STEM Ambassadors like scientists, engineers, coders, architects and more. In attendance were 24 STEM Ambassadors, who shared their journeys and experiences, offering a glimpse into the exciting world of STEM careers. Their stories fuel the aspirations of young girls and help them envision a future in these fields.

One of this year’s esteemed ambassadors previously attended an Engaging Girls in STEM event as a student in 2018. She is now a full-time engineer and has come full circle to be one of our STEM Ambassadors.

“We are proud to host events such as Engaging Girls in STEM to inspire and support future innovators in our school communities. It is important students, especially young girls of L.A. County, see role models who look like them in exciting careers, as this representation can influence their education aspirations,” said LACOE’s STEM Science Coordinator III, Anthony Quan.

In addition to the inspiring talks, the event features a range of interactive activities organized by partners and exhibitors. Over 20 organizations hosted interactive booths for students which included the Natural History Museum, National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, Asian American Engineers and Architects, Abbott Technologies, American Association of Chemistry and many more. These activities were designed to challenge and expand the participants' thinking, fostering a deeper interest in STEM and building their confidence to dream big.

One of the key highlights of the event is the collaboration between LACOE's STEM Unit and numerous organizations across Los Angeles County which include the LA Zoo, Columbia Memorial Space Center and California Science Center. This partnership is pivotal in creating a supportive and resource-rich environment for the attendees.

For those interested in more details, Anthony Quan is the point of contact and can be reached at Quan_Anthony@lacoe.edu. Additional information is also available on LACOE's official Engaging Girls in STEM website.