Who shoud attend?
Students identifying as female interested in a day of exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, Math & related careers through hands-on workshops.
What is the day about?
A free program created to showcase how science & technology can be fun & exciting! We provide supplies & materials needed for the half-day conference.
All workshops are hands-on & project-based so participants come out with a sense of accomplishment & a better understanding of a specific solution.
Half-Day Conference Agenda
9-10a
10a-11a
11a-12p
Breakout Workshop #1
Breakout Workshop #2
Breakout Workshop #3
Building Robots
Presented by: Tracey Spade
Join us for a high-energy session where you'll design and program a robot car to conquer an obstacle course! Explore mechanical design, circuit building, and coding—all in one exciting experience. We will assemble a robot (Mechanical Engineering) discover the electronic components and how to put together components to build a circuit (Electrical Engineering) and look at some basic code to program the wireless robot (Programming) we built. No experience needed - just curiosity and creativity!
Money IQ
Presented by: Haley Smalley
How well do you know your money? In this interactive workshop, participants will build practical financial skills through hands-on activities and a fast-paced Jeopardy-style game. We’ll explore banking basics, compare cards and payment methods, learn what to consider when opening a first checking or savings account, and practice strategies for managing money responsibly. Participants will also discover how prepaid cards work and why understanding account terms, fees, and protections matters. Whether you’re preparing to open your first account or simply want to make smarter financial choices, you’ll leave with knowledge you can use in everyday life.
Genetics of a Strawberry
Presented by: Anna Widicus
Genetic testing such as 23andMe has made the previously complex world of DNA accessible and functional. This workshop will explore the basic structure and function of DNA through strawberries; and participants will get to see the effect gene inheritance plays in their own lives with an interactive lab. We hope to challenge your ideas about science and who can be a scientist.
Escape Room: Code Breaking
Presented by: Jeanne Cuff
The Cryptograph Escape Room, designed for high school students, is an interactive and educational activity that combines puzzle-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking. Centered around the theme "The American Women who Secretly Broke Codes in World War II," participants must solve cryptographic puzzles and riddles to unlock the code and escape within a set time limit. This hands-on experience promotes collaboration and analytical skills while introducing students to foundational concepts in cryptography and coding, preparing them for future academic or career pursuits in STEM fields.
Workshops
Tracey Spade
Tracy Spade is the VP of Client Solutions at Systems Guild Inc, where she partners with clients to design and deliver enterprise software solutions to drive results. With a rich background in IT, Tracy brings over 30 years of experience spanning product management, project leadership, systems architecture, and hands-on software and database development. She’s known for leading cross-functional teams to success and translating complex tech into meaningful client outcomes.Tracy holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and Information Systems from the University of Illinois. Now in her fourth year leading our robotics workshop, she’s passionate about empowering the next generation—especially young women—to explore the exciting world of technology and engineering.
Haley Smalley
Haley Smalley is a Principal Project Manager at Capital One, working within the Global Payments Network. In her current role, she works with product teams across the global payments network to support procedural governance, controls, audit readiness, and issue management. She serves as a liaison between product teams and risk and audit partners, helping teams navigate requirements and strengthen the processes used to bring products to market. Haley began her career at Discover shortly after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor’s degree in Management from the Gies College of Business. Throughout her career in financial services, she has worked across areas including Deposits Marketing, Mortgage Servicing, and the Payments Network, gaining experience in strategy, project management, process improvement, governance, and financial services operations.
Anna Widicus
Anna is a research intern at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, having received her degree in Neurobiology this Spring. She is very interested in neurogenetics and molecular neurobiology, with a focus on how genetic variation shapes brain development and contributes to neurodevelopmental disorders.
Jeanne Cuff
Jeanne is a Director in GovernX® Services-Managed Services at ISG, where she consults on process improvement, managed services, and vendor management. Known for her IT contract negotiation skills, Jeanne combines data analysis, networking, and ITIL methodologies to deliver client solutions. She also leads ISG’s *Digital Dish* podcast as part of the Women in Digital initiative. Jeanne holds a Master’s in Technology Management from Columbia University, is ITIL certified, and is a member of ISG’s 2021 Chairman’s Club."
Presenters
Aham
"After today, I understand that STEM principles can be found anywhere and everywhere and I’m really glad that I got to be here to experience such a great program!"
Lizzie
"I knew very little about [robotics] coming in, but the exposure I’m getting makes me want to join my school’s Robotics Team! Thanks for helping make this day possible because it has been an awesome experience!"
Aliah
"It has opened up my options on STEM jobs and got me interested in looking deeper into those types of jobs."
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