POWERGRAMS

36 engineers for Alabama Power. Joy Young, assistant principal and academies coordinator at Hewitt-Trussville High, was directly involved in implementing iCan in 2009 and saw firsthand the impression the volunteers had on students. "One of the biggest benefits that the girls get from the program is the actual personal interaction with the female engineers," said Young. "They learn a good bit through the engineering activities, but I personally think the thing that impacts the girls the most is being in a room with very successful female engineers who are dressed professionally and are talking about their families and jobs in a positive way. The visual of seeing and then interacting with those females is the most powerful part of that program." The relationships formed with the female engineers had the biggest influence on Gibson through the years. One of the volunteers she met through iCan was Elaine Kwarcinski, Alabama Control Center Systems Operations manager. "I really developed relationships with the women I met through the program because I felt like I could relate to them," said Gibson. "They continued to advise me as I got older about decisions I should make. In my freshman year at Alabama, I knew I needed internships and experience, so I called Elaine for advice." "I encouraged her to pursue that work and industry experience and figure out from there what she enjoyed and what she wanted to do," said Kwarcinski. "The biggest difference is knowing someone you can call to ask questions and get advice. I think that's what all our volunteers try to do to help the girls we work with." Now a sophomore at the University of Alabama, Gibson is pursuing her degree in Electrical Engineering and working as an engineering co-op employee in Alabama Power's Western Division. As she has gotten older, Gibson has realized the influence iCan has had on her life since that first meeting in 2009. "I went through all the phases that every kid has. I wanted to be an astronaut, a doctor, all the cool things you hear about," said Gibson. "But as I got older and went to iCan and got involved with engineering, I heard that I could do all of those things with an engineering background. Hearing this allowed me to keep dreaming a little bit longer." Gibson now wants other girls like her to have the same experience of pursuing that dream. By volunteering with the iCan program at Davis- Emerson Middle School in Cottondale she is able to do just that. "What I love about Amber's story is that she embodies and represents the vision of iCan and the goal of having them working alongside us one day," said Kwarcinski. "What better message than for Amber to go back and say she was in their shoes at one point, and look at where she is now." Gibson recalls a story about University of Alabama College of Engineering Dean Charles "Chuck" Karr that made her want to continue to give back by volunteering with iCan. "Dean Karr told us to write down our network of people who have helped us get to where we are today. At the end, he said he didn't care who was on our list, but whose list we were on," said Gibson. "He said the only way you can make it up to the people who did that for you is to do it for someone else. I hope to do that with iCan." For Gibson, the lessons she learned in iCan reach far beyond the classroom. The most important, she said, are the ones that have nothing to do with math, science or engineering. "I learned to not underestimate or label yourself, because that limits you. I thought I was a girlie girl and I was proven wrong," said Gibson. "I found that I can be both women – a girlie girl who likes shoes and an engineer who likes field work. Having an open mind will give you your best shot at being successful." It's these lessons she hopes to pass down to girls who are just now exploring the world of engineering and the future it can hold. Alabama Power engineers assist girls statewide. EDUCATION BY ANNA CATHERINE ROBERSON Photography by Christopher Jones

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