How You Can Help Girls Discover a Future in STEM on International Women in Engineering Day

Even though women make up about half of all workers in the U.S., only 15% of engineers are women. That’s why International Women in Engineering Day on June 23rd is so important. It reminds us to support girls as they explore new opportunities and dream big.

At National Heritage Academies (NHA^®), we want to encourage girls to see the possibilities ahead of them, including STEM careers like science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Educational Technology Specialist Alexandra Brown helps develop NHA’s STEM curriculum.

“Our K–8 technology curriculum is designed to introduce all students, especially young girls, to the world of STEM through engaging, age-appropriate instruction in programming, robotics, and digital literacy. Girls are encouraged to see themselves as capable designers, thinkers, and innovators. Our teachers provide inclusive learning experiences that foster confidence, curiosity, and long-term interest in STEM pathways.”

This year’s Women in Engineering Day theme is Together We Engineer. It highlights the collaborative spirit needed to advance the field of engineering. Which is exactly what happening at NHA according to Manager of Science Curriculum & Instruction Brenda Ferrelly.

“Whether they're building bridges in early elementary or solving real-world challenges in high school, learners explore hands-on problems through the engineering design cycle. They ask questions, imagine solutions, build, and test models, and improve their designs, just like real engineers. This approach builds creativity, resilience, and critical thinking. We’re proud that our science program is inspiring the next generation of female innovators. Because engineering isn’t just a lesson it’s a lifelong mindset.”

By talking about how engineering helps people every day, organizers hope to encourage more young girls to pursue a career in engineering.

And it all starts with the adults in their lives, parents, mentors, and teachers.

Here are four ways you can help young girls in your life become tomorrow’s Women In STEM:

• Tell them about amazing women like Mary Jackson (NASA engineer), Ada Lovelace (the world’s first computer programmer), or Radia Perlman (a computer scientist who helped build the internet!). These women show what’s possible.
• Build a simple robot or take apart a toy. These hands-on experiences make STEM careers for female students feel exciting and fun.
• Show them how engineers help people, like cleaning oceans, building safe homes, or creating new medical tools. STEM is about solving problems and helping others.
• Try one of these videos to get inspired:
  • Dream Big: Engineering Our World (Netflix)
  • Girls Who Code: Why We Need Women in Tech (YouTube)
  • She Can STEM (from STEM.gov)

At National Heritage Academies, we believe every student should have a chance to explore their passions. This International Women in Engineering Day, take a moment to talk to the girls in your life. Ask them what they love to build, create, or fix. Help them see how their talents could lead to amazing a successful career in engineering!