Over fifty girls from ninth through eleventh grade were given the opportunity this month to learn more about what they can achieve, if they choose a STEM-related career.

3M sponsors the Smart Girls Rock initiative, which is aimed at girls with an interest in science, technology, engineering or math; the company brought them in for a tour of their Knoxville site, to show them what can be achieved in these areas.

They also had the opportunity to meet with women working in STEM careers and find out about the many career paths available.

Tom Buzalewski from 3M tells KNIA/KRLS News the girls in attendance were energized by their visit and may be spurred on to finding a career in one of these fields.

“And I believe that we probably made an impact with some girls’ lives, where they’re going to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering or math. And I’m really excited about it, and I think it will be good for the community, I think it will be good for Knoxville, I think it will be good for the state of Iowa,” Buzalewski says.

Most of the students were from Knoxville, with a few from surrounding communities also taking part.