From encouraging more young women to see a future in STEM to building confidence and making connections, the Girls and Allies Youth Summit at St. Clair College on Oct. 3 offered many door-opening opportunities to 75 high-schoolers from across Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.
Organized by FIRST Robotics Canada and Windsor-Essex FIRST Robotics, participants took part in fun team-building exercises, including a snowball icebreaker, a resilience challenge and a tower-building activity. The FIRST alumni keynote and panel offered relatable examples of how these experiences can shape education and career paths.
"Everyone left the event inspired and thinking about options for their future. The staff that came down from FIRST Robotics Canada were blown away at the level of engagement overall," said Larry Koscielski of Windsor-Essex FIRST Robotics.
FIRST Robotics alumni from six teams helped in key roles at the event, a huge testament to the strong ecosystem which exists in the local FIRST community.
Through the event, students learned how teamwork, communication and problem-solving can open doors to different careers. Including allies in the event helped build a community that supports and encourages young women along the way.
The day featured speed-networking, fun activities, breakout sessions and opportunities to connect with industry leaders.
Close to 20 industry professionals, leaders and entrepreneurs joined the speed networking session, representing St. Clair College, Stellantis, NextStar Energy, AAR, the City of Windsor, CenterLine, WEtech Alliance, the University of Windsor, Rocket Innovation Studio, Picsume, PBX Engineering, Hult Prize, adopli.ai and others. Students explored career paths, asked questions and learned how the skills they're building today connect to opportunities across our region.
"Our biggest takeaway was the value of giving students direct access to people who can answer questions, share their experiences and help them imagine what's possible," said Yvonne Pilon, President of WEtech Alliance. "Bringing this experience to Windsor created an opportunity for young people to explore their futures close to home. We hope students left feeling more confident, connected and curious about their next steps."
The Research and Innovation team at St. Clair College also introduced guests to its new R1 Unitree Humanoid Robot, which was a big hit in the room.
"The Summit was an opportunity for us to be empowered by connecting with each other and making connections with key industry leaders," said Pearl Munim, a team member of Hiveminds Robotics at Riverside Secondary.
