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December 14, 2023, L'Anse, Michigan – Five L’Anse girls recently used their creativity to solve a unique problem, cleaning up the beach in the Great Lakes. Students, Amelia Knapp, Juliet Knapp, Hannah Wilson, Addy Snyder and Genevieve Cadeau, competed with 17 other teams in the “Michigan Girls Future Flight Challenge,” hosted by the Women of Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan (WAIAM). Their comprehensive solution, which included cleaning up garbage, incinerating the waste, and then reusing the ash as a recycled material for road construction, won the team 2nd place in the state-wide competition. The challenge tested the girl's critical thinking skills, as they were to design a sustainable, unique way of flight that solves a problem – impressing both the competition’s mentors and judges from key industry players including L’Anse Manufacturing, Boeing, Gulfstream, and Calumet Electronics. “The future of aerospace needs passionate and solution-oriented thinkers like this group of girls. We really enjoyed mentoring them during this competition,” said Kim Dunnebacke of L’Anse Manufacturing. Kim and Jessica Martin of Gulfstream served as their mentors throughout the three-week event. After thinking of a variety of problems and potential solutions with their mentors, the team decided to find a solution to clean up beaches sustainably. Their solution used a drone, powered by solar panels, and equipped with a net and sensors, to find garage on the beach and bring it to an incinerator. Then the ash from the incinerator could be used for road construction projects. In addition to developing a prototype, they were required to create a business plan, marketing materials, and present a slide deck to a group of judges from major aerospace corporations across the state. As the aerospace industry strengthens and grows in Michigan, it is vital to educate and inspire young girls to STEM and the possibilities of their future careers. The “Michigan Girls Future Flight Challenge” serves as an excellent opportunity for girls to see into the industry and gain early mentorship from women in the field. “We hope this event inspires girls to pursue careers in STEM,” said Lissa Barron, WAIAM Co-Chair and Director of Communications for Barron Industries. “The aerospace industry needs more people – especially women – who are enthusiastic about solving unique problems.” Established to create advocacy, education and visibility for women and girls in aerospace across Michigan, WAIAM strives to support and promote the advancement for within the industry and is an advocacy group of the Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan (AIAM). The “Michigan Girls Future Flight Challenge” is an annual event hosted by WAIAM to expose girls to STEM and foster mentor relationships between the girls and women in aerospace in Michigan. Through the support of key industry partnerships, like L’Anse Manufacturing and Gulfstream, WAIAM can better connect and engage with girls across the state. “It was great to work with this team of creative girls and help mentor and educate them on the possibility of working in aerospace. It is impressive that the girls competed against other teams from across the state and took 2nd place. We are so proud of them, and hope they are proud of themselves,” said Kim Dunnebacke.
The team visited Kim Dunnebacke at L’Anse Manufacturing. Their prize was $600 in Barnes and Noble gift cards, split between team members.
Additional winners in the competition were students from Bingham Farms, Grand Ledge, and Canton; in first place, third place and 'honorable mention' respectively. ABOUT L’ANSE MANUFACTURING L’Anse Manufacturing offers custom machining solutions to a variety of industries, including medical, orthopedics, military, aviation, automotive, and light industrial applications. From concept to production, their skilled team is dedicated to manufacturing components with a wide range of materials including steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloys, plastics, and bronze. ABOUT GULFSTREAM Inspired by the belief that aviation could fuel business growth, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. invented the first purpose-built business aircraft, the Gulfstream I, which first flew in 1958. Today, more than 3,000 aircraft are in service around the world. Together with parent company General Dynamics, Gulfstream consistently invests in the future, dedicating resources to researching and developing innovative new aircraft, technologies and services. ABOUT AEROSPACE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN AIAM is a non-profit platform for Michigan’s aerospace leaders to work together on a common set of priorities to strengthen and support the continued growth in the industry through talent attraction and new investment.
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