On Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, Trailside Middle School buzzed with curiosity and creativity as more than 100 students from Trailside, Farmwell Station and Eagle Ridge middle schools came together for Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. The hands-on experience was designed to spark interest in engineering and technology-related careers while helping students see how classroom learning connects to the real world.
Opportunities like this matter. Students benefit from repeated exposure to engineering and problem-solving careers over time, and early, consistent experiences are especially important for girls, who have historically been underrepresented in these fields. By introducing engineering concepts in meaningful, age-appropriate ways, schools help all students see themselves as capable creators, innovators and future leaders.
The Trailside event is part of a broader effort across Loudoun County Public Schools to highlight engineering and technology pathways multiple times for girls throughout their middle school years. Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day experiences are planned at other LCPS middle schools, reinforcing the division’s commitment to sustained exposure, mentorship and hands-on learning opportunities.
The half-day program came to life through a partnership with Microsoft, with support from the Loudoun Education Foundation. Microsoft volunteers led interactive breakout sessions, sharing real-world insights into careers in computing, engineering and data center operations. LCPS computer science content specialists supported students throughout the day, helping guide hands-on learning and exploration.
Students rotated through engaging activities such as building circuits, exploring data center virtual simulations and getting a behind-the-scenes look at Trailside’s network closet. Seeing Cat5 cables and infrastructure within their own school helped students connect abstract concepts like cloud computing to the real systems that power everyday technology.
Several students shared that the experience opened their eyes to the wide range of engineering careers available and helped them imagine themselves working in technology-related fields in the future. Others highlighted the hands-on simulations as a favorite part of the day, noting how the activities made engineering feel accessible and exciting.
Days like this do more than introduce careers. They build confidence, curiosity and a sense of belonging in STEM spaces. Through an intentional focus on engineering pathways for girls, LCPS is helping ensure every student can imagine themselves shaping the future.
Families are encouraged to keep the conversation going at home by asking students what excites them most and exploring STEM interests together. Sometimes, one inspiring day can be the start of a lifelong journey.