VIDEO: Clarence High School’s Women in STEM Seminar Grows in Second Year

With increased participation going into its second year, Clarence High School’s Women in STEM Seminar grew its message to students that career paths in science, technology, engineering and mathematics were for everybody.

“I hope they realize there’s an infinite number of opportunities out there,” said Megan Wojiechowski, a 2020 graduate of the High School who serves as an advanced product development and technical engineer at the Ford Motor Company. “Everybody has their own unique path and they can take that and go where they want to be.”

The December 20, 2024 event was highlighted by a panel discussion that drew about 60 seniors to hear from seven alumnae in fields like medicine, engineering and computer science. In addition to sharing their academic and career journeys, panelists spoke on topics like building community, taking risks and overcoming adversity. 

“It’s so empowering to hear successful women who have gone through the same things we have,” said Sarah Pollard, a Clarence High School senior who was one of the student organizers for the event. “You admire their passion, and their perseverance.”

Making up this year’s alumnae panel was Dr. Emily DeNisco (Pulli) (Class of 2003), an anesthesiologist at Buffalo Niagara Anesthesia; Elizabeth Putney (Class of 2015), a PharmD pharmacist at Kingman (Arizona) Regional Medical Center; Jamie Palka (Class of 2017) an engineering delivery manager at IBM; Corinne Barnes (Bernd) (Class of 2018), a structural design engineer at the New York State Department of Transportation, Zofia Rozmus (Class of 2019), a DDS Candidate at the University at Buffalo’s School of Dental Medicine, Anna Ablove (Class of 2019), a computer science doctoral candidate at the University of Michigan and Megan Wojiechowski.  The panelists were introduced by former teachers, who praised their hard work, intelligence and willingness to be among the few girls in their math or science classes. 

Among the events added by student organizers was a course fair that showed about 75 freshman and sophomores the wide range of science and math classes and extracurriculars available to them. 

“You have people who’ve never taken science classes who discourage you,” said fellow student organizer Morgan Shunk. “This gives students a perspective from the teachers about what their class is and how to excel.”

A networking event with the alumnae panelists was also added to foster discussion for participants. Seniors Sadie Ladelfa and Lauren Holley, who attended the event, said the panelists' stories were inspiring as they considered their own futures.

“If they could make it through those barriers, I can too,” Holley said.

The event comes as higher education advocates describe women as underrepresented in math and science fields. The American Association of University Women found women make up only 34 percent of the workforce in STEM, and are vastly outnumbered in college STEM majors.

Palka, whose younger sister Nora is a student at the High School, said there were many reasons women may not feel empowered to pursue STEM majors or careers. She said having role models can help students see a path for themselves.

“They can see someone who is like them and did similar things doing something bigger and different,” Palka said. “When I saw women doing things that I wanted to do, that was super inspiring.”