By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— With so many careers available to young women in the science, technology, engineering and math fields, Hayley Barber, current Miss Shelby County, decided to host a STEM Summit for the female students at Pelham High School March 23.

“The Miss America organization promotes young women to get involved in the STEM field because women are underrepresented in those fields right now, and there are so many jobs available to them that they could choose,” Barber said.

Barber invited optometrist Dr. Jill Meyer, public accountant Michelle Carney, advertising firm owner Susie Kelley and civil engineer Janie Mauter to the school to give the students an example of successful women in STEM careers.

Each professional explained how she got to her current position, answered questions about her field and explained why her career is important to the community.

“It has been amazing journey for me personally and professionally, and to see the growth in Shelby County and in Pelham,” Meyer told the students. “As young women, please take advantage of your school.”

Meyer pointed out the academies and opportunities all the students have at Pelham High School, and told the teens to never sell themselves short.

Mauter, who was recently named a top female engineer in Alabama, explained the various kinds of engineering students could pursue. She also told the students to choose something they cared about, no matter what it was.

“We are trying to encourage young women to get involved, not (just) if it’s science, technology, engineering or math, but really to do what they want regardless of what stereotypes or stigmas are with those careers,” Barber said.

This is the first STEM Summit Barber has hosted in 2016, but said she has held other events similar to this one. Barber graduated from PHS in 2012, and said this event was the first time she had been back since.

She said her goal is to do one STEM event a year, so she can reach as many students as she can.

“Even though some people think that everybody knows everything, sometimes it might be the first time (the students) are even hearing about the possibilities,” Barber said. “If I can be that person that can inspire them to do whatever they want, whatever it may be…then I feel like I’ve maybe touched them in some way.”