STEM the Gap Featured in SWE Pittsburgh Newsletter

Recently, STEM the Gap was featured in The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) newsletter in their September edition. We are grateful to Dr. Williams for writing the article and expanding our reach within the Pittsburgh community. You can find the article down below!

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Pine-Richland SWENext Club Inspires Future Engineers with "STEM the Gap"

Launched in Fall 2024, the Pine-Richland SWENext Club is already making a big impact. Led by co-presidents Sanika Das and Annabella Orlando, the club has grown to about 30 members, hosting monthly meetings with hands-on engineering challenges and even hosting SWE Pittsburgh's STEM Girls Connect! event this past spring.

Last year, the officers—Sanika, Annabella, Ashlyn Casale (Vice President), Riley Shafer (Treasurer), and Brinda Kannan (Secretary)—brainstormed how the club could best encourage young girls in the Pine-Richland community to consider engineering as their future career. They created "STEM the Gap", a program that runs twice a month on Saturday mornings and highlights different engineering disciplines through engaging, project-based activities.

A group photo taken at STEM the Gap's lesson on biomedical engineering (7/12/25). From left to right, top to bottom, STEM the Gap organizers include Sanika Das, Ashlyn Casale, Riley Shafer, Dr. Kim Williams, Annabella Orlando, and Brinda Kannan

The SWENexters planned everything, including organizing supplies and lessons for each of the Saturday sessions. They approached Sarah Ezolt, owner of The STEAM Studio, who kindly offered them space to host the events. 

Sessions typically welcome 8–10 girls in 3rd-5th grades, with many repeat participants. Each workshop is led by 4–6 SWENexters, who guide younger students through design challenges, encourage creative problem-solving, and model teamwork.

A STEM the Gap participant explaining her rocket design at the aerospace engineering lesson on July 26th, 2025. On the left is volunteer Ella Yanni and STEM the Gap organizer Riley Shafer

Feedback has been fantastic! SWENext counselor and SWE Pittsburgh member Kim Williams noted that the students followed good role model practices by asking open-ended questions and encouraging the participants to create, iterate, and refine their designs.

As the club enters their second full year it is also interested in partnering with local engineers who might be available to speak or provide workplace tours to the high school members. Please reach out to their SWENext counselor (Kim Williams – willi113@duq.edu) if you are interested!