SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Seventh- and eighth-graders from 25-plus middle schools visited the Aerospace Museum of California in North Highlands on Sept. 24 and Sept. 25 for the “We Can Do It” event that inspires young girls to learn about science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). 

About 1,200 girls from the Twin Rivers Unified and San Juan Unified school districts attended the event, listening to panel discussions, interacting with planes in the yard and experiencing museum exhibits.

Jayda Isaac, 13 and a F.C. Joyce School eighth-grader, said that she felt inspired by the speakers from the panel discussion. One speaker was a high school student from Saint Francis High School and Jayda said she learned to believe in herself. Jayda “learned a lot,” including that she is capable of whatever she puts her mind to, no matter who tries to put her down. 

Aerospace Museum President and CEO Tom Jones said that he has met dozens of children who have had their lives changed by attending museum events and that the organization raises money specifically for such inspirational events, which are free to students and the school districts.

“People don’t really understand, “Jones said. “These types of things change lives but you can’t change a life until you get them here so they can meet women like this, see a place like this, be around the aircraft we have in the park. You can’t just talk about it in a classroom.”

Alianna Threatt, another F.C. Joyce School eighth-grader and 13-year-old, said that she had fun at the museum and she liked how multiple schools got together for the event. 

Jeremy Combs, a career and technical education counselor at the Twin Rivers Unified School District, said that the district has had a strong relationship with the museum, partnering together for a number of years. 

“The women here, whether it be in aviation or medical or anything related to STEAM, it’s a really cool opportunity for all ages and all demographics,” Combs said. “The hope is that these girls see something within themselves that inspires them to be in these career fields.”

According to a scientific article from Yale University, more than 50% of bachelor’s degrees were obtained by women and about 38% of all women in the U.S. held STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) degrees. 

Historically, STEAM fields are dominated by men but events such as “We Can Do It” are aimed at encouraging girls who might not even know about such careers, according to Combs. 

“Hearing the feedback, just seeing the interactions with the students and seeing their excitement, hearing them ask questions to these women in different fields,” Combs said, “I was just really surprised at the thoughtfulness of their questions and you can tell it sparks something within them.”

The Twin Rivers Unified School District had about 700 students at the event, Combs said.

According to the San Juan Unified School District, nearly 500 girls from multiple schools in the district attended the event and it successfully sparked the student’s curiosity and passion for STEAM careers in the future. 

“It was heartening to see the girls so engaged, asking thoughtful questions and interacting with the numerous hands-on booths,” San Juan Unified District said in a statement about the event. 

Aerospace Museum Vice President Karen Jones said transportation is one of the biggest barriers when it comes to getting students to attend inspirational events such as “We Can Do It” and that in the five years the museum has held the event, it has served almost 5,000 girls. Jones said the museum can provide the experience, thanks to volunteers and donations from individuals and organizations in the community.

“We’ve probably had, across the five years, almost 1,000 women volunteering their time and being mentors to these girls,” Karen Jones said. 

Describing one of her favorite moments from last year’s event, Karen Jones said that Carmichael’s honorary mayor, Kawanaa Carter, M.D., told her story of becoming a neurosurgeon, causing the audience of young girls to gasp and audibly sigh. One girl in the crowd could be heard saying “I didn’t know we could do those kind of careers,” shocked to learn the career possibilities for women in STEAM.

“I love seeing all these young girls show up and just the excitement,” Karen Jones said. “They energize us to do what we do.”

Linda Martin, board chair of the museum, said that the museum wants its visitors and the youth to be inspired by someone who looks like them. A mural displayed inside the upper wall above the doors to the exhibit portrays historical figures who had to overcome incredible barriers to fulfill their achievements. 

“We don’t just touch lives here, we change lives,” Martin said, “and I really believe that.”

Martin said that the guest speakers have become mentors for many of the girls, describing the progression of a girl who was mentored by a woman in dentistry and is now graduating from dental school.

Tom Jones said that the museum provides about 51,000 scholarships for students each year and that the museum needs donors to continue those life-changing efforts. He said that the museum appreciates people in the community who opened their wallets and made donations on behalf of the students.

“We have unbelievable outcomes but we can’t do that without the support of the community,” Tom Jones said. 

Karen Jones said the museum will have hands-on activities for young people, children and grandparents for families to engage with, learning by doing. 

“So whether you’re 2 or 102, there’s something here for you,” Karen Jones said. “There’s hands-on activities all the time.”

The museum, at 3200 Freedom Park Drive in McClellan, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays with final admission at 4 p.m. To donate to the nonprofit museum, visit aerospaceca.org/make-a-donation.