Hi everyone.

I'm Emily Calandrell from Morgantown, West Virginia.

You may know me as the host of Exploration Outer Space from my Netflix show, Emily's Wonder Lab, or on the internet at the Space Gal.

I'm an aerospace engineer, and I'm here to tell you that you two can have an exciting career in science, technology, engineering, and math right here in West Virginia.

It all takes education and training.

Also all available right here in our state.

So we're going to go meet some people who are going to tell us all about it.

Because remember, the future is you.

I'm Grace Lenhart and I work at Pratt and Whitne Engine Services in Bridgeport, West Virginia as an industrial engineer.

Grace, thank you so much for joining us today.

Can you tell us a little bi about what you do for a living?

I am very process oriented.

Detail oriented.

So a lot of what I do ha to do with the flow of processes that already exist, making them better, making the more efficient, more effective.

And how did you end up there?

Tell us a little bit more about your career.

I went to West Virginia University in industrial engineering, but actually I ha a lot of influences growing up.

Of other engineers and kind of pushing me towards that.

And what kind of products does Pratt and Whitney developed?

So here in Bridgeport, we're an overhaul and repair shop.

So specifically are we are bringing in customers engines, overhauling, repairing them, doing what the customer needs and getting them back out to the customer and back into the air.

What's your favorite part about your job?

I really like that there's opportunity.

I'm b, I'm an industrial engineer now, but that doesn't mean I will always be an industrial engineer.

The opportunities at Pratt and Whitney and even our parent company, Raytheon Technologies, are really endless.

A lot of people come in, move around, get to experience differen roles and do different things.

It's really exciting.

It's a great place to be right now.

Do you think other people would be surprised to know that that is based right here in West Virginia?

I think they would.

I didn't know about it until I was in college.

And it's always been here, and I'm a Fairmont native, so I think people would be very shocked, and I wish more people knew about it.

Yeah.

What would you say to young girls who might be interested in what you're doing today?

We need you.

You know we need you, and you can do it.

I mean, look at both of us, right?

We've done it.

But it's.

We're paving the way for other people to do it.

And you can come be part of it and stay in West Virginia while you're at it.

Stay in West Virginia?

Yes.

There you have it.

There is so much out there to get excited about.

So get started today.

Ask your school counselor about Stem education, including career technical education opportunities that are available through your school.

The fields of science and technology need you, and I'm telling you, the rewards are out of this world.

I'm Emily Calandrelli and until next time, remember the future is you.