Collins Aerospace encourages girls to take an interest in STEM

Meridian Creek Middle School student Ruby Windsheimer was intrigued by the "Introduce a Girl to STEM" event hosted by Collins Aerospace at its facility in Wilsonville because she likes science and wanted to see if a career in engineering sparked her interest. The verdict: It did. "I think I'd enjoy it from what I've learned," she said. "The job would be fun and keep me on my toes. I would never get bored." The company, which develops aerospace systems and other services for commercial aircraft, has hosted this event in Wilsonville for the past 10 years to try to inspire girls at Meridian Creek and Inza R. Wood middle schools to consider a career in a STEM science, technology, engineering and math field. Thirty-six girls from those schools attended the event Thursday, Feb. 20. "We should be telling them that any option you want is available to you," said Lorrin Johnson, Collins Aerospace's marketing manager. According to the Society of Women Engineers, women represent just 13% of engineers in the United States. Collins Aerospace has a 20% female population, but wants to forge a more equal gender balance, according to Jeff Priborsky, director of engineering.