Girls in STEAM: Rising Stars of Robeson County

On March 11, 2025, local students from Prospect Elementary, Deep Branch Elementary, and Pembroke Middle Schools gathered at UNC-Pembroke for the Girls in STEAM Women's Empowerment Conference. Hosted by Schneider Electric in partnership with the Public Schools of Robeson County, the conference seeks to address gender gaps in STEAM professions and encourage the next generation of female leaders to dream big. 

The conference offered a day of inspiration, learning, and empowerment for 55 students, featuring motivating messages from female leaders in STEAM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). Students also participated in activities designed to allow them to apply STEAM principles in innovative ways. 

Students engaged in dynamic sessions and hands-on workshops led by female professionals from organizations such as High Tide Aviation, Corning Inc., MarineQuest, Duke Energy, Robeson County Community College, and Schneider Electric.  

Dr. Windy Dorsey-Carr, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Accountability at the Public Schools of Robeson County (PSRC), kicked off the event with an empowering address. Dr. Dorsey-Carr encouraged the young women to harness their talents and curiosity, emphasizing their potential to drive significant change.  

"The future is being built right now—and it needs you. It needs your ideas, your creativity, and your passion. Whether it's designing the next big app, curing diseases, or building robots that can save lives—you have the power to make it happen. So, dream big, stay curious, and don't let anyone tell you that STEAM isn't for you—because it absolutely is," Dr. Dorsey-Carr added.  

To learn more about how Schneider Electric works with school districts to create impactful, hands-on STEAM learning programs, visit our Student Engagement page.