Girls in Engineering Today – Accelerating Advanced Manufacturing of Tomorrow

LIFT was honored to host The Engineering Society of Detroit’s (ESD) Girls in Engineering Academy (GEA) at our Corktown headquarters for their capstone experience.

During this immersive, hands-on event, GEA students dove into drone piloting and experienced advanced manufacturing firsthand through LIFT’s IGNITE: Mastering Manufacturing® curriculum. They engaged directly with cutting-edge training equipment, augmented reality welding simulators, and additive manufacturing technologies, bringing STEM concepts to life in an inspiring, real-world setting.

As part of their drone training, students worked with the CoDrone EDU curriculum, which teaches far more than just flying. It offers a comprehensive introduction to essential skills such as computational thinking, which is breaking down complex problems into manageable parts, debugging, which involves identifying and fixing coding errors, and teamwork, emphasizing collaboration to solve challenges and complete projects.

One student shared, “My experience at LIFT was awesome! All the activities we did, from coding and drones to working with robots and welding, have truly piqued my interest in pursuing a career in engineering.”

The Girls in Engineering Academy is a powerful program that empowers girls from diverse backgrounds to pursue STEM careers and realize their full potential. Through immersive, student-centered, project-based learning, GEA nurtures middle and high school students not only in technical skills but also in critical thinking, creativity, and the belief that STEM can be a catalyst for personal growth and social impact.

The Engineering Society of Detroit supports today’s engineers, scientists, and allied professionals while inspiring the next generation of innovators. LIFT proudly shares this commitment in our mission to advance American manufacturing, which relies on strong partnerships with organizations like ESD that are equally passionate about cultivating tomorrow’s talent.

With partners like ESD, we’re opening doors for young students to explore STEM and advanced manufacturing, equipping them with confidence, skills, and inspiration to create transformative change. These future innovators are the heart of our industry and the key to a more robust manufacturing workforce tomorrow.