Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day 2026 takes place at the State House
February 25, 2026
More than 30 young women in elementary, middle and high school from across South Carolina gathered Tuesday, Feb. 24, at the South Carolina State House for Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day.
The American Council of Engineering Companies of South Carolina (ACEC-SC), South Carolina Society of Professional Engineers (SCSPE), the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and WTS-SC partnered to host the event as part of a shared effort to build awareness of engineering careers among young women.
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day highlighted the vital role engineers play in South Carolina and the growing impact of women in the profession, while giving participants an opportunity to see how engineering, infrastructure and public service intersect at the State House. Attendees received a letter of welcome from U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, commending them for their participation.
According to the World Economic Forum, women accounted for 20.4 percent of U.S. graduates in engineering, manufacturing and construction in 2024. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the American Society for Engineering Education show women remain underrepresented in U.S. engineering and engineering technology programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
“The future of our profession depends on expanding the engineering pipeline, and that starts with reaching girls early,” said Shannon Meder, vice president and South Carolina practice lead with HNTB. “With Women’s History Month taking place in March, Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day was an ideal opportunity to celebrate women’s contributions to engineering and inspire the next generation.”
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day was held as part of National Engineers Week (EWeek), an annual observance recognizing engineers’ impact on communities and quality of life. South Carolina’s engineering organizations collaborate each year during EWeek to elevate the profession and encourage student interest in engineering careers.
