Girl Scouts get hands on with STEM careers for the future

Toyota of Blue Springs partnered with Girl Scouts Heart of the South Branch in Tupelo for "Invent It, Build It"

BLUE SPRINGS, Miss. (WCBI) – Toyota of Blue Springs partnered with Girl Scouts Heart of the South Branch in Tupelo for “Invent It, Build It.”

The hands-on event welcomed 50 girls from the area to participate in various STEM-based activities.

Coding, robotics, and car design were just a few of the stations the scouts got to test out.

Tiffannie Hedin, the Corporate Communications Manager for Toyota Mississippi says exposure at a young age is crucial when impacting the future.

“They’ll look back on this and this experience, seeing women who look like them, who have similar stories, and know that if they did it, I can do it too,” Hedin said. “Having a partnership with the Girl Scouts to be able to expose young girls and young women to careers that they could do in the STEM field, particularly male-dominated fields is so key. To boost their confidence, to create exposure, and have them see what lies ahead, what the options are, that’s gonna be a pivotal moment in their future.”

Brownies through Cadettes consists of girls in the second through eighth grades.

Hedin says Toyota wanted to reach this specific age group before outside factors come into play…before stereotypes before cultural stigmas enter their mind and their choices,” Hedin said. “So if they can think about a career for them that is tied to an interest that excites them, whether it’s computers or building or problem-solving. Then they’re going to continue on with that dream and that concept and feel freer to make those choices.”

Each scout who participated in the event received an exclusive Toyota Mississippi “Invent It, Build It” Manufacturing badge.

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