On Monday, October 29, 2024, Ergon proudly sponsored the American Heart Association’s (AHA’s) STEM Goes Red event at the Mississippi Children’s Museum, where middle school girls within the Jackson Public School District explored science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through hands-on workshops with local STEM professionals. The event underscored Ergon’s commitment to Doing Right through our principles and making a positive impact, while helping young girls envision a future in STEM.

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One of the day’s highlights was a workshop led by Ergon employees, including Global Intelligence Specialist Rhyan Plumlee, a chemical engineer who shared Ergon’s passion for community engagement and STEM education. “It’s [STEM Goes Red] a tangible way for them to get exposure to the industry,” said Plumlee, who expressed she did not know what an engineer was when she was the girls’ age. “If you don’t see someone in a certain career path when you’re growing up, you don’t know it’s an option for you,” she said.

One of the STEM sessions the girls participated in during the event was creating an asphalt emulsion heart — a memorable activity that Plumlee hopes will inspire their futures. Azaria Bailey, a student from Powell Middle School, reflected on various sessions hosted by Ergon, Nissan and Mississippi Baptist Medical Center on that day, saying, “I learned how to do CPR. I learned how to make a road. And I learned how to drill. It’s important to have events like this, so you can know what you want to do when you get older and have an idea of it.”

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Keynote speaker Dr. Nashlie Sephus, an Amazon Web Services Principal AI Scientist and CEO of The Bean Path of Jackson, Mississippi, emphasized the importance of diversity in tech and the need for visibility of women, especially women of color, in STEM fields. According to Dr. Sephus, who is also a Jackson Public School District alumna, “Young women need to know they too can be a part of the tech ecosystem … they can be contributors.”

Jennifer Hopping, AHA’s Executive Director and the event’s organizing partner, remarked that Ergon’s role aligns with the organization’s mission to empower the community. Events like STEM Goes Red give young people the support and encouragement to pursue their interests confidently, reflecting Ergon’s dedication to inspiring the next generation of leaders to move the world forward.