More than 100 female students from three Alachua County middle schools participated in Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day on Wednesday.
The purpose of the event, which was hosted by the UF Society of Women Engineers, was to give the students the chance to meet fellow females who are experienced in the field, said environmental engineering junior Cherona Levy, director of the event.
Students listened to a presentation by Deborah M. Mayhew, assistant director of student affairs for the College of Engineering.
Mayhew spoke about the low percentage of women in engineering and encouraged the girls to consider it for a career.
"Engineering is your chance to make a difference," she told the audience.
The girls received a campus tour, sat in on classes and participated in a science experiment.
For some students, it was simply a day off from school, but for others it was the chance to learn more about becoming an engineer.
"It's good that I came today," said Lincoln Middle School student Ceantra Davis-Robinson, 11. "This way I might be able to get a head start."
