In March, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Pre-College Engagement and Support (PCES) Outreach Challenge #1 wrapped up with tons of energy, fresh ideas, and some seriously inspiring teamwork.
Run by SWE’s PCES Committee, this challenge asked SWE sections, affiliates, and members at large (MALs) to come up with better ways to communicate in STEM outreach, especially when it comes to connecting with students, educators, parents, and adult advocates.
We had five submissions: three from professional sections and two from collegiate groups. The range of challenges and solutions they shared stood out.
SWE Owerri tackled cultural and logistical barriers in underserved communities. SWE Lagos (University of Lagos) pulled off a Python workshop despite tech issues and power cuts. SWE Miami University reflected on over a decade of Girl Scout STEM days and looked to level them up. SWE Boston created a comprehensive outreach handbook to help volunteers and future leaders hit the ground running.
The range of ideas and experiences was seriously impressive. It showed us there’s no “right” way to do outreach — just a lot of passionate people doing the best with what they’ve got.
Four teams were invited to present at the live pitch webinar, where they shared their ideas with judges and attendees across time zones. Despite time zone differences and a few tech hiccups, every participant and committee member showed up and powered through, making the event a real success.
Presentations were scored live, and prizes were announced on the spot. Here’s how it ended:
- First Place ($1,500): SWE Boston
- Second Place ($1,000): SWE Owerri Affiliate
- Third Place ($750): SWE FCT
What stood out among the top three? SWE Boston’s approach shined for being simple, effective, and easy to replicate. Their outreach handbook gave volunteers a clear, ready-to-use resource — something any section could benefit from.
SWE Owerri impressed us with their deep community involvement and adaptive strategies, while SWE FCT shared thoughtful ways to engage and coordinate with local educators and families.
And in a truly generous move, SWE Boston voted to share $500 of their winnings with SWE University of Lagos, who placed fourth. Emily Cislo, SWE Boston’s VP of K-12 outreach, said she was moved by how much the Lagos team achieved with limited resources. That kind of peer recognition is what makes SWE such a strong community.
Big thanks to everyone who submitted, presented, judged, and tuned in!
The next SWE PCES Outreach challenge is currently accepting submissions! The three top-scoring sections, affiliates, or MALs will win a cash prize to support outreach activities. Submit your ideas here by May 25, 2025.
