South Dakota Mines Hosts Annual iNSPIRE by Omnitech to Champion Future Women Leaders in STEM

Local middle and high school girls will get an opportunity to build catapults, analyze music trends and explore AI during the annual iNSPIRE by Omnitech in Rapid City hosted at South Dakota Mines from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Thursday,  April 17 in the university's Surbeck Center.

The annual event gives 8th-12th grade girls an opportunity to engage in workshops and connect with local professionals in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Attendees will learn more about the variety of college and career paths available in high-tech industries, particularly engineering. The event is free of charge to all participants. Many of the volunteers and student mentors at iNSPiRE are South Dakota Mines alumnae with careers in local high-tech companies.

“The iNSPiRE by Omnitech team is looking forward to a great day of engineering learning with the students,” said Nedra Larson, recruitment coordinator/community relations for Omnitech, a local software engineering company. Omnitech holds a similar event in Sioux Falls. The event begins with a morning kickoff before students break into smaller sessions with mentors from various fields.

This year’s iNSPIRE keynote speaker is Melissa Johnson, the creative genius behind ventures like Oh My Cupcakes!, Sweet Cream Candle Co., and Melissa J. Creative. She will discuss how to create delightful experiences in business that spark joy and happiness. With a strong foundation in broadcast media and communications and a certified trainer with Jon Gordon Companies, Johnson is a dynamic speaker who emphasizes the importance of mindset, leadership and teamwork.

Members of the press are welcome to attend the event to interview organizers and participants.