Female engineers creat inspiration for Girl Scouts

Friday, March 9, 2012

by Adam Kemp Staff Writer akemp@opubco.com

STILLWATER — Cautiously, Alexis Pryor dipped her spoon into the plastic bag that held her frozen culinary creation.

After sampling the ice cream she had made using ingredients including ice, rock salt, vanilla and the enthusiasm of a minor earthquake, she made an announcement to fellow members of Troop 1014.

“It’s good,” the 10-yearold from Wewoka said. “Hurry and try yours.”

Alexis’s enthusiasm was matched by nearly all the 150 participants in Junior Girl Scout Day at Oklahoma State University. The Saturday event was put on by the Society of Women Engineers at OSU in hopes of inspiring young girls to pursue careers in engineering, architecture and technology.

Girls from troops across Oklahoma learned how to create their own magnets, build craft stick structures and assemble cars powered by rubber bands.

Meredith Shiflet, president of the society, said she grew up loving to build things as she watched her father tinker in his woodshed.

“A lot of these girls may have never seen or heard a lot of things we are talking about,” she said. “It’s a really good way for them to get exposure and participate in activities that they may not get in their schools.”

Sharon Millemon, a leader for Troop 477 from Newkirk, wanted her girls to learn there are other possibilities for them when they grow up. Millemon, who worked as a structural engineer for ConocoPhillips for 28 years, said girls from small towns often get stuck in a rut of what’s familiar and never venture into job fields such as engineering because they think they can’t.

“Through engineering, they can see how the world works and the wonders of the world. They imagine what they can possibly do to change the world in the future. They have to do something in this world of ours to keep it going because there are a lot of things that are going wrong, and they can be the ones to change things,” Millemon said.

Abbi Hall, 10, said she and members of her Troop 3128 from Alva aren’t worried yet about making any career choices, but they did like the frozen treats.

“Science can be fun even though it’s sometimes boring,” Abbi said. “Today has been fun, and the activities make it not boring, especially when we get ice cream.”