Every year, Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day provides an opportunity to inspire young women to explore the exciting world of engineering and manufacturing. This year, we’re celebrating the incredible potential of young women and highlighting how programs like SME PRIME® (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education) are paving the way for students to gain hands-on, real-world experience.
Despite women making up nearly half of the workforce, they still represent just 29% of the STEM workforce in the U.S. According to the National Girls Collaborative Project, this gap reflects the need for more programs that provide young women with the tools and confidence to pursue careers in engineering and manufacturing. This is where the SME Education Foundation, through SME PRIME, makes an incredible impact, giving students like Lilly McCarley a chance to discover the power of manufacturing and engineering in ways they never imagined.
Lilly, a senior at Kearsley High School in Flint, MI, is one of the many students who have benefited from SME PRIME’s hands-on, career-focused curriculum. "I really enjoy learning how to design 3D models,” Lilly says. “The skills I've learned in this class have made me feel confident and honestly impressed with myself. Before taking these classes, I never would have had the chance to experience this kind of learning."
Lilly’s journey with SME PRIME has opened new opportunities and skills, especially in the area of drafting and design, which she says has changed the way she views manufacturing and engineering. "Without SME PRIME, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to be introduced to this manufacturing-related course,” she explains. "It’s been a learning experience that’s helped me realize just how much I enjoy working with design and technology."
In addition to the technical skills, Lilly has found personal growth. She was surprised to find an interest in isometrics—something she had never considered before. “I had no idea I would be so interested in learning about isometrics until I took the class. It really opened my eyes to the possibilities in drafting and design," she says. "It’s important for young women to not get discouraged, to stay curious, and to get involved in SME PRIME classes. I tell my friends to take this class because they might be surprised by how much they enjoy it too.”
Lilly’s story exemplifies the impact that programs like SME PRIME can have on young women, inspiring them to pursue manufacturing and engineering learning to embrace their own potential. Her message is clear: there’s no limit to what young women can achieve when given the right tools and support.
As we celebrate this special day, let’s continue to inspire and empower young women to not only gain valuable technical skills but also the confidence to pursue careers in STEM-related fields. The SME Education Foundation will keep inspiring, preparing, and supporting students like Lilly to explore engineering through SME PRIME and shape the next generation of female engineers.
