PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. --- Nearly 90 high school females representing 25 northern New Jersey schools attended Picatinny Arsenal's fourth annual "Introduce a Girl to Engineering" event on Feb. 25.
The purpose of the event is to encourage females to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). These career fields are predominantly male.
During the event, Picatinny engineers showcased the products that they work on, including sound energy, aerospace, and more. By participating in hands-on demonstrations and experiments, attendees were given a first-hand appreciation for the engineering at Picatinny.
The high school students met and spoke with Picatinny' s female engineers and scientists, who are developing armaments now being used by our warfighters, and armaments technology for future Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen.
"Great opportunity for me," exclaimed Krista Grassano, whose father, Chris Grassano, Chief of Staff, Program Executive Office Ammunition, "made me come to this event tonight last year." Krista a student at Randolph High School, is planning her future by attending Virginia Tech and study materials science engineering. This was Krista's second visit to Introduce a Girl to Engineering.
Sussex Technical School students Rachael Randall, 16, from Byram, Catherine Choppy, 16, from Stanhope and Miranda Crothers, 14, from Frankford attended this event for the first time.
Choppy expressed an interest in working at Picatinny and is interested in guns, specifically sniper rifles and plans to apply for an internship.
School districts invited to the event include Benedictine Academy Boonton, Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School, Cicely L. Tyson Community School of Performing Arts, Clifton, Dover, East Orange Campus, East Orange STEM Academy, Girl's Academy of Newark, Hackensack, Hackettstown, Hopatcong, Jefferson, John F. Kennedy Memorial, Kinellon, Lakeland Regional, Montclair, Montgomery, Morris Hills Academy, Morris Knolls, Mount Saint Mary Academy, Mount Olive, Newton, Orange, Piscataway, Pope John XXIII Regional High School, Randolph, Roxbury, Somerville, Sussex Technical School, Union City, Vernon, Verona, Warren Hills Regional and North Warren Regional.
Picatinny leaders at the educational event included James Shields, Program Executive Officer Ammunition, Col. Scott Turner, Chief of Staff, and Garrison Commander Lt. Col. Ingrid A. Parker.
"Introduce A Girl To Engineering" was co-hosted by the U.S. Army Armament Research Development and Engineering Center, (ARDEC), Navy Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division, the Picatinny' s Science Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) office, the Women in Defense-Picatinny Chapter, as well as ARDEC's Diversity Advisory Council.
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