Teresa VanderSloot and Geralynn Phelps of the Michigan State University (MSU) College of Engineering received the 2025 Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN) and DiscoverE Girl Day Award. The award recognizes organizations and individuals who empower girls with information about opportunities in engineering through the “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” initiative.
MSU’s Introduce a Girl to Engineering program has brought over 2,000 elementary and middle school students to campus since 2016. Through engaging and creative hands-on activities, students are introduced to various engineering disciplines, which provides exposure to real-world applications. This collaborative effort includes the work of faculty, staff, students, and alumni from the College of Engineering, along with corporate sponsors.
"Receiving recognition from WEPAN encourages and propels our team to continue inspiring more students to learn about engineering," said Teresa VanderSloot, director of Broadening Participation K-12 and Women in Engineering Recruitment.
Geralynn Phelps, assistant director of Broadening Participation K-12 and Women in Engineering Recruitment, added, “We are committed to encouraging the next generation and are proud of this program's positive impact on participants.”
WEPAN Awards honor key individuals, programs, and organizations for accomplishments that underscore WEPAN's mission to advance cultures of inclusion and diversity in engineering education and professions. WEPAN Award honorees demonstrate extraordinary service, significant achievement, model programs, and exemplary work environments.
“Teresa and Geralynn have spearheaded an exceptional program, and we are excited about this award honoring their impactful work introducing K-12 students to the many fields within engineering,” said College of Engineering Associate Dean for Inclusion and DiversityTamara Reid Bush. “Their Introduce a Girl to Engineering program has ignited curiosity and motivated many students to be our next generation of engineers and innovators.”
The WEPAN and DiscoverE Girl Day Award was presented on Feb. 9, 2025, at the Collaborative Network for Engineering and Computing Diversity (CoNECD) Conference in San Antonio, Texas.
Written by Judi Melena Smelser
MSU College of Engineering Media and Public Relations page