Students from the school districts of Hermiston, Umatilla and Morrow County participate Nov. 16, 2024, in Amazon Web Services Girls' Tech Day at Hermiston High School.

HERMISTON — Eastern Oregon girl students in sixth to eighth grade converged Saturday, Nov. 16, on Hermiston High School for Amazon Web Services Girls’ Tech Day.

This was the community’s largest Girls’ Tech Day to date, according to a press release from AWS. The event focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics with activities to educate and inspire. The program also showcases a wide range of STEM careers and introduces participants to female trailblazers who shared their career journeys and passions.

Girls participated in interactive workshops that explored robotics, coding, space science, AI engineering and energy sustainability. Students also heard from the Umatilla County Fair Court princesses about their own STEM passions and diverse backgrounds.

“Empowering young women with the skills and confidence to succeed in technology is essential for their future and ours,” Hermiston School District Superintendent Tricia Mooney said in the press release. “AWS Girls’ Tech Day brings together students from across our region, offering an inspiring opportunity to explore, innovate and imagine what’s possible. We are thrilled to support this event and look forward to the bright futures these experiences will inspire.”

AWS collaborated with local educators and staff from the school districts of Hermiston, Umatilla and Morrow County, along with community partners, including Rosie Riveters and GO-STEM, to lead the workshops and organize the event. This is one of several ways AWS has worked to drive STEAM education equity and access in Eastern Oregon.

“Hosting AWS Girls’ Tech Day and merging technology with fun hands-on activities is extremely rewarding,” said Paul Butler, Community Engagement manager for AWS. “AWS is passionate about driving STEM education access and equity in communities like Morrow and Umatilla. Introducing these students to accomplished women in tech will hopefully inspire them to pursue their own journeys in these vital fields.”

Since the start of the program in 2018, AWS has hosted in-person and virtual events in cities across the globe, which has reached more than 21,000 girls and young women ages 8-24.