By 2017 the state of Washington will experience 50,000 vacancies in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workforce. Women will be holding less than 25 percent of those STEM careers according to a 2014 Washington STEM report. Washington FIRST Robotics in partnership with Tahoma High School’s Robotics club, Bear Metal, is hoping to change that statistic with the Fourth Annual Washington Girls Generation Competition. It will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 17 at Tahoma High School.

The game is an all-girls robotics competition to encourage girls to get involved in STEM activities. The sold out event will host 30 robotics teams from across Washington State with approximately 500 girls competing and another 500 people cheering on from the bleachers.

Tahoma junior Alicia, an electronics lead and member of the Bear Metal robotics club said, “So being one of the only girls on the team has been a unique experience. Regardless of gender, robotics is a learning experience for everyone.”

Irina Menn, CEO and founder of Hopela, Inc. a mobile and social giving platform will kick off the morning inspiring and educating the young women of the many future opportunities that are available to them in the STEM workforce.

Washington FIRST Robotics currently has over 11,000 students participating on 975 teams throughout Washington State. There are 5,000 mentors and coaches and over 1,300 volunteers that are actively involved in inspiring students toward STEM careers.