Orlan Drummond has always been interested in a career in science, technology, engineering and math. When she was a child, she would help her dad with STEM-related events at the Boys and Girls Club, and Drummond has been interested in hands-on activities.
“I always had a fear that I’d be the only woman in the workforce, and I’d be discriminated against,” said Drummond, a junior at Highland High School who wants a career in welding. “I just didn’t want that fear of being alone. Seeing other women in a field like this, I know I won’t be alone, and there will be people to support.”
Drummond was one of about 25 high school students who took part in BP’s annual Girls in STEM day at the Whiting refinery. Participants came from Hammond, Highland and East Chicago.
“I like to get my hands dirty, and I like to mess with stuff,” Drummond said. “This has really helped me with that.”
The refinery has hosted the event for high school girls since about 2016, said Gwen Miller, a BP process engineer.
The event features presentations and interactive activities that teach participants about careers at the refinery. Students also participated in a tour of the facility, which Miller said she hoped gave students more of an idea of what it’s like to work at BP.
“My favorite part is probably the tour,” she said. “I worked at other places before, and until you’re really at some place this large, you don’t realize the scale.”
Miller wishes she had a program like Girls in STEM Day when she was in high school.
“It’s really exciting because I do love being in STEM so much,” Miller said. “I really hope they find this valuable, especially some of the interactive activities. I didn’t learn some of these things until college … so I’m hoping this inspires them to pursue careers in STEM because they might not have had exposure to this kind of thing before.”
Kourtney Trotter, an operation specialist, said she was excited to teach high school students about STEM. She helped with a computer simulation that correlates with processes that Trotter and others might see at work.
Trotter thought it was awesome to watch high school girls get so excited about STEM careers, she said.
“Representation absolutely matters,” Trotter said. “I think it’ll definitely have a positive impact on them going forward and will let them know that they can do it, too.”
Julie Jones, a work-based learning coordinator at the Hammond Area Career Center, said she enjoyed watching how engaged students were with the presentations and activities. Jones believes it’s helpful for students to see “a more advanced version” of what’s taught at the career center in the workplace.
The career center brought eight students, including Drummond, to the STEM event Friday.
As their teacher, Jones said she was proud to see her students thriving in a STEM environment.
“I love it,” she added. “I’m having a blast because they’re asking great questions, and it’s really wonderful seeing them be so engaged.”
