On October 6, 2025, IGNITE Worldwide hosted a Virtual Mini-Panel for girls and gender-diverse students at Paschal Sherman Indian School. Students in grades 6–10 joined the session to hear from STEM professionals and explore career possibilities in a welcoming and conversational setting. The event was made possible through the partnership of Sila Nanotechnologies and Colville Tribe’s BigFoot Telecommunications and featured support from Superintendent Waylon Michel.
The highlight of the day was hearing from Jessica Ramsden, a Quality Control Lab Manager at Sila Nanotechnologies. She shared her personal journey into STEM, how her role connects to developing better battery technology, and what it’s like to work in a lab setting. The session, hosted virtually and facilitated in-person by Ernie Rasmussen from BigFoot Telecommunications, gave students the chance to ask thoughtful questions and engage directly with a real-life STEM professional. From talking about educational paths to lessons learned along the way, the conversation helped the students see that STEM careers are not only possible—they’re exciting and within reach. With Rebekah Luce running tech behind the scenes, the event ran smoothly and left students with new inspiration and confidence to keep exploring what’s possible in the world of science and technology.
“I liked hearing about that girl’s story and how she went so far. It is inspiring.”
9th Grade IGNITE Student
“This event inspired me to try new things. Starting small can lead to success. Not to be scared to do new things.”
9th Grade IGNITE Student
STUDENTS SURVEYED FOLLOWING PARTICIPATION IN THIS EVENT REPORTED...
50%
INTERESTED
IN STEM
63%
KNOW MORE ABOUT STEM CAREERS & THE BENEFITS OF WORKING IN STEM
50%
GAINED PERSPECTIVE & FEEL MORE HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FUTURE
Thank you to our IGNITE Volunteers and Educators:
- Jessica Ramsden
- Ernie Rasmussen
- Rebekah Luce
- Waylon Michel
About IGNITE Worldwide:
IGNITE Worldwide is a 501(c)3 nonprofit STEM education organization that aims to change gender and racial equity in STEM permanently and systematically. We work directly with teachers during the school day to provide programming that promotes gender equity and representation in STEM academics and careers. Through our award-winning program, IGNITE provides engaging, hands-on events that connect students with STEM professionals from industry leaders from around the world. Learn more at igniteworldwide.org.