Three Newport News Shipbuilding summer interns attended the Women in Skilled Careers Summit, hosted by Old Dominion University, at the Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC) in June.

Rae Sellers, Katlyn Tuttle and Megan Melzer are all interns assigned to Trades. The event focused on creating awareness of the challenges that women face while enrolling in trade programs and working in skilled careers.

Nearly 95,000 women between the ages 25-34 are estimated to be out of work as a result of various structural barriers and societal norms. Systemic challenges are limiting working women’s access to affordable childcare or eldercare, transportation, flexible work hours for parents of young children, and gender equity in the workplace.

Dr. Latitia McCane, director of Education at Newport News Shipbuilding’s Apprentice School, was the keynote speaker. Suzanne Youngkin, Virginia’s first lady, and Eleanor Delamater of the Department of Labor also delivered remarks. There were also panel discussions and opportunities for networking.

Sellers called the experience “empowering and inspiring.”

“Attending the Women in Skilled Careers Summit was a transformational experience,” she said. “I left the event feeling inspired, motivated and armed with practical knowledge and tools to navigate my career path.”

Tuttle said she learned more about the challenges women face in the workforce, as well as some solutions to help level the playing field.

“There were some issues that sounded familiar, such as harassment and economic disparity, but there were some that my eyes were opened to,” she said. “For example, the director of nuclear energy at Dominion Power spoke on how jobs like hers do not appeal to women. It’s not because it is traditionally a man’s job or because women are not interested in it. It is because there is a lack of movement in development for women in those positions.”

Melzer said she left the summit with two key takeaways – it is in the hands of women to increase exposure of opportunities to other women and there is plenty of room for everyone to succeed.

“It is up to us to continuously stand up for ourselves and those around us so that no girl or woman is ever discouraged from applying for that job or promotion, or simply just following her heart and passions,” she said. “If we can create a sisterhood that backs one another day in and day out, especially in the trades, more women might be willing to apply for that welding position, pursue a degree in a male dominated field, or even lead a team they never thought they would be able to.”