When Upper School students returned to school at Trinity Christian Academy (TCA) this year, they had a new STEM-focused class, Honors Engineering Design, they could attend as part of their science curriculum. In Honors Engineering Design, students gain a perspective on various engineering disciplines by the introduction of design principles and practices, as well as current and emerging challenges within the field.

Lisa Wong, mechanical engineer, former lead in production engineering at Raytheon and currently the director of technology integration at TCA, is leading the charge for this new class. Wong hopes that the course will give students the opportunity to learn about the importance of design ethics, allow them to hear from engineering professionals and visit various industries or engineering firms.

“Over the years, I’ve seen the gradual effects of more women joining and succeeding in the STEM fields, but there is still a long road ahead,” said Wong. “I believe that thoroughly educating students at a young age in STEM will not only greatly benefit them, but the industry, as well.”

TCA’s new engineering course began just as the #ILookLikeAnEngineer viral campaign began gaining momentum on social media. Naturally, Wong and three honors engineering design students joined the viral hashtag campaign, #ILookLikeAnEngineer, to challenge stereotypes in STEM fields. Wong and her senior students, Reagan Stringfellow, Georgia Scalfano and Madison Helms, held signs with #ILookLikeAnEngineer and #ILookLikeAFutureEngineer to help bring awareness to diversity in STEM fields.

Wong a mechanical engineer, director of technology integration, science teacher and mother, is the embodiment of the #ILookLikeAnEngineer movement. In addition to mentoring young women in the field, Wong works with STEM students at all grade levels and has even pioneered a new engineering class that is now offered to Upper School students at TCA.

"Engineering is a dream come true to me,” said Helms. “I am excited that I have an opportunity in high school to take a class that is orientated towards teamwork and thinking outside the box. I want to become an industrial engineer."

The #ILookLikeAnEngineer campaign gained traction on social media last month, when software engineer, Isis Wenger, tweeted a photo with the hashtag to create a sustaining positive impact in STEM.

"I'm considering studying conservation engineering,” said Scalfano. “Engineering is unwrapping the complexities that God has given to us to solve - it's finding a new way to do things."