Breaking Barriers, Sparking Futures: Empowering Young Women in STEM

Thursday, August 1, 2024 | By: LaVigne, Anna M

FVTC welcomed alumni Olivia Arreola, Valarie Schwartz, and Abby Frisk back to campus to help with the summer camp GirlTech. The camp empowers middle school-aged girls to explore occupations that are particularly emphasized in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), helping each participant discover their future education and career paths.

All three women agree it is important to show young women that their dreams can become reality in occupations where females are typically a minority. Valarie Schwartz highlights the importance of representation for young women: “Girls need to see females like us in the industry, so we all try to come back and help every summer.”

Olivia, Valarie and Abby each earned an associate degree in Industrial Welding Technology and continued to earn their bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering Technology from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. Abby is set to graduate from the program in May 2025.

After graduating, Valarie and Olivia began their careers at Miller Electric in Appleton.

“I also try to make sure that we bring along any female summer interns at Miller to show that Miller is here to support these programs and the community,” Valarie says. “Miller and Fox Valley Technical College are connected in a very visceral way.”