Girls STEAM Day Offers $11,000 in Transportation Scholarships
Middle and high school girls who want transportation-related majors can look to these awards as a way to help cover the cost of college.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Scholarships
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Around 260 girls in 7th through 12th grade attended the 5th annual STEAM Day at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. Three scholarships totaling $11,000 over three years were awarded to attendees pursuing transportation-related majors.
Why it matters
The event targets girls who may be considering engineering and transportation careers, and the scholarships offer financial support for students who choose transportation-related majors. Hosted by the Women's Transportation Seminar Central Pennsylvania chapter with PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, it connects local students with the agencies that plan and maintain the region's roads and bridges.
Three scholarships totaling $11,000 over three years were awarded, with one $2,000 Women in STEAM scholarship going to a senior at Hershey High School. Eligibility was tied to pursuing transportation-related majors, and the event was open to girls in 7th through 12th grade.
The players
PennDOT
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the state agency that plans, builds, and maintains roads and bridges, and a co-host of the event.
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
The state body that operates the Pennsylvania Turnpike, a co-host whose engineers and staff presented at the event.
Women's Transportation Seminar Central Pennsylvania chapter
The regional chapter of a national professional network supporting women in transportation careers, and the event's lead host.
The details
Students rotated through hands-on stations designed to show how transportation engineering works. At one station they built a LEGO crane to mimic replacing a bridge beam, and at another they stacked giant Jenga blocks to see why a wider base resists tipping. Other stations used Mario Kart to explain highway design and a virtual reality simulation of a maintenance worker placing traffic cones, while a displayed drone showed how such aircraft fly over projects and inspect bridges.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 10, 2026: STEAM Day held at the Farm Show Complex and three scholarships awarded.
Education Landscape
Programs that expose girls to engineering and transportation careers are one way state agencies try to widen the pipeline into fields where women remain underrepresented. This event, now in its fifth year, shows a sustained effort rather than a one-time outreach event.
Girls in grades 7 through 12 interested in engineering or transportation can look for STEAM programs like this one in their region. Students planning transportation-related majors should ask their school's financial-aid or admissions office which scholarships they can apply for.
The takeaway
Hands-on exposure to engineering can shape which majors students consider, and scholarships tied to transportation fields lower the cost of pursuing them. Students who want to apply should check eligibility rules and deadlines directly with the awarding organization or their school's financial-aid office.
Further reading
For more on how awards like these fit into the broader picture, browse our Scholarships section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ABC27.
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