{"id":17522,"date":"2019-10-18T12:40:59","date_gmt":"2019-10-18T19:40:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goodnews.pylusd.org\/?p=17522"},"modified":"2019-10-18T12:57:40","modified_gmt":"2019-10-18T19:57:40","slug":"third-annual-pylusd-women-in-industry-event-encourages-future-leaders-to-work-hard-and-be-true-to-themselves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goodnews.pylusd.org\/?p=17522","title":{"rendered":"Third annual PYLUSD Women in Industry event encourages students to be determined and true to themselves"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Tuesday, October 15, the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD) hosted\u00a0its third annual Women in Industry event, an inspirational experience geared towards empowering the next generation of leaders through future-ready learning.<\/p>\n

Hundreds of\u00a0students, families, community members, and District employees gathered in the PYLUSD Performing Arts Center (PAC) in order to learn from this year\u2019s respected panel of eight female\u00a0professionals\u00a0who represent a variety of\u00a0diverse industry\u00a0sectors.<\/p>\n

To begin the event, Esperanza High School\u2019s all female Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AFJROTC) color guard posted the colors.<\/p>\n

PYLUSD teacher Susan Sawyer then welcomed the auditorium and thanked honored guests in attendance such as Board of Education members, Executive Cabinet members, and various District and school site administrators. Director of High School Education, Cary Johnson, then\u00a0discussed\u00a0the various programs the District has to offer in benefit of students\u2019 college and career-readiness.<\/p>\n

Special guest, Nominee Gurrerro, a young student at Van Buren Elementary School, then shared a\u00a0brief autobiography about herself and how photography has positively impacted her from a young age.<\/p>\n

The event\u2019s emcee, Robin Osborn, who served as a panelist at the inaugural Women in Industry event in 2017, then introduced the 15 PYLUSD Career Technical Education academy and pathway high school students that served as hosts and moderators for the evening.<\/p>\n

\"Student<\/a>

Student moderators.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

This included Alyssa Boone and Jillian Silvas from El Camino Real High School, Colby Bladow, Lia Mimun, and Emily Sweet from El Dorado High School, Kaitlyn Blais, Ariel Blodgett, Julia Chan, and Gretchen Michael from Esperanza High School, Bethany McMahon and Noelia Ortiz from Valencia High School, and Kayla Higgins, Ameerah Hirji, Kay Lupiba and Brianne Turner from Yorba Linda High School. Ms. Blodgett then had the honor\u00a0of introducing the evening\u2019s keynote speaker, Storyboard Artist, Jane Wu.<\/p>\n

Wu took the stage as original storyboard sequences of hers played for audience members to witness. Wu went on to explain her role as a storyboard artist and the impact it has on creating a successful and highly visual production.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that story tellers are one of the most powerful people in the universe,\u201d she shared. \u201cI get to tell stories that bring hope; I get to tell stories to scare you; I get to tell stories that make you cry; I get to hold your attention in the palm of my hand because I can tell a story.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jane<\/a>

Jane Wu, keynote speaker.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Jane also\u00a0talked about her road to the film and television industry, and the adversity she had to overcome to end up successful.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I was in the field working, I found myself competing with men. And I found myself trying to be more like them so that I could keep my job or I could be more relevant or I could be accepted,\u201d Wu said. \u201cSomewhere along the line I figured out that it didn\u2019t work because I wasn\u2019t being me and I wasn\u2019t really tapping into my own uniqueness and what made me good at what I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wu ended her keynote address with words of encouragement for all individuals in attendance. She was met with a large round of applause.<\/p>\n

The panelists and student moderators then took the stage for brief introductions and\u00a0to kick off the Q & A portion of the evening. Panelists included Wu, Claribel Anyikam, Monica Belavic, Rachael Belavic, Natalie Crawford, Teresa Gould, Bonnie Headley, Geri Magwire, and Violet Palmer.<\/p>\n

The question and answer portion of the evening began with a speed round question asking panelists to answer, \u201cWhat did you want to be when you grew up?\u201d The panelists\u2019 answers ranged from astronaut to professional baseball player to writer to police officer, as shared by Palmer.<\/p>\n

The students then went on to prompt individual panelists with specified questions such as, \u201cHow did you build confidence in your professional and personal life?\u201d and \u201cHow have you managed failure? How do you learn from it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Question after question, the crowd listened attentively in order to absorb the thoughts, experiences, and advice that the panelists so\u00a0thoughtfully shared. Following all of the questions, the panelists received a loud\u00a0round of applause and cheers from the packed crowd.<\/p>\n

PYLUSD Administrator, Jamie Jauch, then thanked the panelists, students, and various individuals who made the event possible once again. Jauch also presented two lucky students in the audience with brand new Google Chromebooks donated by event sponsor, USA Softball of Southern California. The crowd exited the auditorium to enjoy a reception with the panelists and baked goods professionally prepared by the Yorba Linda Culinary Arts program.<\/p>\n

Following the event, the audience was energetic as the\u00a0met panelists and reflected on the impact the Women in Industry event had on all.<\/p>\n

The third annual PYLUSD Women in Industry event was possible thanks to the willingness of the panelists, students, and a large committee of District personnel\u00a0headed by Jauch and Sawyer.<\/p>\n

Event sponsors included Handable Phone Grip, The Traction Expert, USA Softball, and the R.E.A.C.H. Foundation.<\/p>\n

To watch a replay of the entire event, please follow the link below.<\/p>\n