ST. MARGARET’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL GIRLS IN STEAM SYMPOSIUM

SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2019 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM a ts Plaz Ar o Y ER 1037 essing m Girls Room m Dance Studi GREGOR AMIL Dr F THE AT

MC Mens omens

Restroo W essin g Restroo EVENT SCHEDULE Boys Room 1036 Dr

8:30 A.M. REGISTRATION AND REFRESHMENTS L OO

1007 9:00 A.M. OPENING SESSION featuring s L SCH r ER Elevator r 962 • UCI Grad Slam Presentation HURLBUT PA ye D. Fo Theate CO Stairs THE AT

Event Aces • Spotlight Presenter: Dr. Andrea Fidgett, San Diego 961

SECOND FLOOR TEACHER ROOM 950 951 Classroom Flex 952 Windes 953 Paul 954 Assaf 955 McMahon 956 Hoggan 957 Botts 958 Harris 959 Lakeman 960 Beitner 961 Tufo 962 Cheng Lopez Zoo Global, Director of Nutritional Services 100 3 MARCUS ostumes ’S EPIS C Girls

Restroom “Feeding the Roar and Ending Extinction” e Sta Stairs Restroom
c Boys Boys Restroom x O 1017 10:00 A.M. BE A STEMINIST! SESSION A Bo . MARGARET 960 L

ST Refer to your badge for your assigned session O 958 957 956 955 954 953 952 951 950 O 1031 1015 activity and location a PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ROOMS ARTS PERFORMING t SC H 959

L 1014 A and PERFORMING ARTS CENTER horal P chestr 1032 1030 1029 oncer B C O C Or C 1013 STEAM INSIGHTS FOR PARENTS & S I Student P Restrooms E

CHAPERONES S ’ 1012 T E R A

G 11:15 A.M. A DAY IN THE LIFE PANEL DISCUSSIONS R A M

Refer to your badge for your assigned panel . T Elevator ntrol Room S discussion and location 910 an Stairs isual Co o V y

Ground, Kw Floor ve e iller iles udio ostume Studio oncessions achec tice Rooms Wi GROUND FLOOR GROUND TEACHER ROOM 901 902 Otto 903 Johns-Richardson 904 Samskey 905 Administration 906 Johnson 907 Lab Design 909 Estipular 910 Harrington Hurlock

ac 12:15 P.M. MENTOR LUNCH MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOMS OOM LEGEND 1015 - M 1036 - Green Room 1037 - Har P - Pr 1007 - Richins 1012 - Rice 1013 - Silverman 1014 - P 1017 - C 1029 - 1030 - Carbajal 1031 - A 1032 - M R 1003 - C

909 Chat with women in STEAM professions from

Stairs the panels to learn more about her and her career. 908 Asst. Room Principal Principal Reception Conference Conference

906 905 903 902 901 1:15 P.M. BE A STEMINIST! SESSION B 904 MS 907 Secretary Refer to your badge for your assigned session Restrooms Work Room Work activity and location Elevator 962 2:30 P.M. CLOSING REMARKS AND CELEBRATION Second Floor Stairs 961 SECOND FLOOR TEACHER ROOM 950 951 Classroom Flex 952 Windes 953 Paul 954 Assaf 955 McMahon 956 Hoggan 957 Botts 958 Harris 959 Lakeman 960 Beitner 961 Tufo 962 Cheng Lopez MIDDLE SCHOOL ROOMS Girls Restroom Sta Stairs

Restroom CHECK OUT OUR OPEN DEMONSTRATIONS DURING Boys Boys

Restroom YOUR BREAKS! 960 L O 958 957 956 955 954 953 952 951 950 O Photo Booth (PAC Foyer) • Learn about Anatomage (PAC Foyer) SC H 959

L Learn to Drive a First Tech Challenge Robot (McGregor Theater) A P O C S I P E

S ’ T E R A G R A M

. T Elevator S 910 Stairs GROUND FLOOR GROUND TEACHER ROOM 901 902 Otto 903 Johns-Richardson 904 Samskey 905 Administration 906 Johnson 907 Lab Design 909 Estipular 910 Harrington Hurlock MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOMS 909

Stairs 908 Asst. Room Principal Principal Reception Conference Conference 906 905 903 902 901 904 MS 907 Secretary Restrooms Work Room Work OPENING SESSION BRENNA NORTON-BAKER • Ph.D. in progress, Chemistry, University of California, Irvine UCI GRAD SLAM PRESENTATIONS • B.S., Biochemistry, B.A., Chemistry - College of Charleston Brenna grew up in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She ANJELICA CARDENAS attended College of Charleston, where she studied biochemistry and started doing research in organic • Ph.D. in progress, University of California, Irvine chemistry. She graduated in 2015 and took a year off to • M.S., Pharmacology, University of California, Irvine backpack through Europe and work as a research intern at • M.S., Biology, California State University, Northridge the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. She started her Ph.D. • B.S., Molecular and Cellular Biology, California State at the University of California, Irvine in 2016 and works in Dr. Rachel Martin’s group, University, Northridge studying the proteins found in human eye lenses. When she’s not in lab, she can be Anjelica was born and raised in the High Desert of found gardening or scuba diving. Southern California. Her educational path started at CSUN before completing a stem cell research program at RACHEL ROSENZWEIG UCLA where she studied a blood cancer. After obtaining a Master’s degree, Anjelica became a staff research scientist and studied brain cancer. Anjelica decided to pursue • Ph.D. Candidate, Materials Science Engineering, a Ph.D. so that she could run her own research lab and train others. In 2018, Anjelica University of California, Irvine was awarded the Ford Foundation Fellowship, a competitive award that funds her • M.S., Materials Science & Engineering, University of stipend for three years. Her current research aims to understand the effects of California, Irvine nicotine and other drugs on the brain. When Anjelica is not in the lab she enjoys • B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, University of playing volleyball and spending time with her dog, Beaker. Washington, Seattle Rachel obtained her B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering STEPHANIE HACHEY (MSE): Nanoscience and Molecular Engineering from the University of Washington. Rachel is currently a MSE Ph.D. Candidate at UCI’s AFYee • Ph.D. Candidate, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Research Laboratory. Her research involves applying materials science techniques to University of California, Irvine engineer both antibacterial and antifungal surfaces for medical devices that too often • M.S., in Biomedical and Translational Science, cause global catastrophic infections in hospital patients. She engineers nano-scale spiked University of California, Irvine surfaces on medical device materials that mimic natural spikes found on antibacterial • B.S., Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, dragonfly wings. Rachel enthusiastically participates in public outreach at the UCI University of California, Santa Cruz Applied Innovation business plan competitions along with opportunities such as Grad Stephanie currently is a Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Chris Slam. She additionally serves as Vice-President for the Society of Women Engineers- Hughes’ lab at UCI. Her main research interest is in Orange Country division to increase recruitment, engagement, and retention of women in precision medicine with a focus on facilitating the translation of basic research STEM. findings to clinical practice. Stephanie has extensive experience with hands-on, cross- disciplinary training in molecular biology, a strong publication record and proven SPOTLIGHT SPEAKER ability to secure funding for her research. She has been recognized for her academic achievements (ARCS Scholar Award 2017-2019, Chancellor’s Club Fellowship Award 2018-2019) and public speaking abilities (UCI Grad Slam Finalist 2016 and ANDREA FIDGETT 2019). She has served as an Invention Transfer Group Fellow at UC Irvine Applied Director of Nutritional Services, San Diego Zoo Global Innovation and aspires to start her own biotech company “Feeding the Roar and Ending Extinction”

See Andrea’s full credentials and bio under the Researcher Panel Discussion PANEL DISCUSSIONS

SO YOU WANT TO BE AN ENGINEER?

UC Irvine. At UCI, Patricia took a physics course and was intrigued by the concepts. Knowing that she wanted a career that directly impacted the community and realizing her HAILEY COCKRUM Material Planner II, SpaceX interest in physics, Patricia majored in civil engineering. After graduating in 2015, Patricia entered Stanford University’s graduate program in civil engineering – environmental fluid • Bachelor of Business in Operations and Information mechanics & hydrology. Patricia held an internship with San Francisco Public Utilities Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst Commission. Nearing graduation, Patricia accepted a job with the City of Newport Beach At UMass, Hailey played field hockey and attended the Isenberg Public Works Department and works on capital improvement projects. School of Business. The combination of an honors course load and Division-1 sports program developed in her the ability to thrive in a LAURA MOORE-SHAY fast-paced, competitive environment. Upon graduation, she sought Project Manager, Enterprise Automation a job in a field that would mimic her college experience, so she targeted the STEM and technology industry. For the past two years, she has served as a material planner at SpaceX, • M.S., Environmental Science, Indiana University owning the fairing product line, and more recently the landing legs. As a member of the • M.P.A, Environmental Policy, Indiana University supply chain department, she is responsible for managing complex timelines across different • B.S., Environmental Geosciences and Anthropology, University stakeholders, implementing new product integration, and facilitating efficient part flow. of Notre Dame Laura graduated magna cum laude from Notre Dame with a bachelor’s in environmental geosciences and anthropology and JASMINE JAUREGUI has an M.S. and M.P.A. in environmental science and policy. As a project manager at an Project Engineer, Enterprise Automation engineering services company, she leads teams and completes deliverables while managing • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Los scope and competing constraints on technical projects. Angeles • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Minor in Applied Mathematics, Loyola Marymount University TAYLORE McCLURG ‘02 Aerospace Engineer, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems Jasmine is a project engineer at Enterprise Automation, an industrial controls systems integrator. During her time as an • B.S. and M.S., Aerospace Engineering, California Polytechnic, undergraduate, she became intrigued by mechanical systems and developed a systems- San Luis Obispo thinking perspective that allows her to see problems from a wider perspective and to Taylore (St. Margaret’s Class of 2002) is a self-proclaimed space evaluate how solutions affect other systems and the end-user. Her current role requires a nerd who gets to live out her dream designing and building mix of mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering to develop solutions. Being able to spacecraft. She has worked on projects ranging from Mars orbiters combine her technical engineering skills through a systems lens is the most rewarding part and lunar probes, to weather satellites and manned missions. She of her job. currently works on NASA’s biggest, most advanced space telescope ever built: The James Webb Space Telescope. With a degree in aerospace engineering, she leads the team which verifies that the telescope will operate as planned, ultimately proving to NASA that it PATRICIA KHARAZMI ‘10, P.E. is ready to launch. Taylore also enjoys playing sports, having been a tri-sport athlete at Assistant Civil Engineer, City of Newport Beach – Public Works SMES, and is currently learning how to play competitive ice hockey. Department • M.S., Civil Engineering - Environmental Fluid Mechanics & Hydrology, Stanford University • B.S., Civil Engineering - Environmental Hydrology & Water Resources, University of California, Irvine Patricia graduated from St. Margaret’s in 2010 before attending SO YOU WANT TO BE A HEALTH CARE SASHA MAHER, DO PROFESSIONAL? Otolaryngologist, Pioneer Medical Group • D.O., Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine JAN JOHNSON, MD • Internship in General Surgery, Harbor - UCLA Medical Pediatrician, Seaview Pediatrics Center • Residency, Loma Linda University Medical Center • University of Texas, Southwestern, Medical School • Residency Children’s Medical Center of Dallas Dr. Maher grew up in the Orange County area and completed • Undergraduate, University of Oklahoma her undergraduate studies at the University of Southern California. Her passion for medicine was greatly influenced by her mother, a family Dr. Johnson was born and raised in Southern California. She practice doctor. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Dr. Maher went on to pursue a career attended college at the University of Oklahoma (Boomer Sooner) as a doctor and chose to specialize in otolaryngology because it provided the right balance and medical school at the University of Texas, Southwestern in between the more hands-on, clinical aspect of surgery that she loves, and the ability to Dallas. After residency, Jan made Sea View Pediatrics her home work closely with her patients and establish relationships so essential to patient care. and has been one of the managing partners for more than 10 years. She feels blessed to help families in Orange County and beyond raise healthy, confident and capable children. Dr. Johnson is married and has three children. In her free time, she loves watching her LARA MARMELSTEIN, RN, BSN, CEN, MICN kids play sports, attending church and running. In addition, Dr. Johnson has a passion for ER Nurse, Mission Hospital Medical Center medical missions and loves caring for children on a global level. • B.S., Nursing, California State University, Long Beach After receiving her bachelor’s degree in nursing, Lara began THUY T. LE, MD, F.A.C.C. working at Torrance Memorial Medical Center in the cardiac Cardiac Electrophysiologist, Orange County Heart Institute telemetry unit where she stayed for 11 years. In 2000, she moved and Research Center to San Juan Capistrano and began working as an ER nurse at • M.D., University of Pennsylvania Mission Hospital and has been there ever since. Lara lives with • Residency in Internal Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical her husband (they are celebrating 30 years of marriage this year) Center and her two children. She loves working with her ER team and feels privileged to be able to help people on days when their health is at its worst. When not working, Lara enjoys Thuy is a practicing cardiac electrophysiologist in Orange County. pickleball. She says she works hard so that she can play hard. Her husband is also a practicing electrophysiologist, and a she has two daughters. Her oldest daughter is in her first year at Cornell University and her youngest is in grade 4 at St. Margaret’s. TANIA ROBERTSON, MD Emergency Medicine Physician, Scripps Memorial Hospital, BLANCA LOMELI, MD Encinitas Global Integrated Health & Development Director • M.D., University of California, San Diego • M.D., Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, Mexico • Residency in Emergency Medicine, University of California, Blanca was, until recently, the director of Project Concern San Francisco International (PCI)’s local capacity strengthening portfolio, • B.S., University of California, San Diego and country director for PCI in México. From 2004-2012 Dr. Tania grew up in San Juan Capistrano and moved to San Lomeli led a partnership funded by the United States Agency for Diego for college and medical school. She realized in medical International Development (USAID) with the Mexican MOH school that she loved helping people who are very ill, so she chose to do her residency in to strengthen prevention and control of tuberculosis across emergency medicine at an extremely busy level 1 trauma center. Tania learned quickly the country. Dr. Lomeli supported PCI’s Ebola response in Liberia and Zika prevention how to take care of anyone who walks through the doors from the smallest baby to the and control in the Americas. In 2018, Dr. Lomeli oversaw PCI’s portfolio in Tanzania, sickest patient. Currently, she practices medicine in the emergency room at Scripps overseeing the Food for Education project an intervention with pastoralists. During her Memorial Hospital. She enjoys problem solving, especially in the emergency room where tenure at PCI Blanca participated in different emergency response efforts in Mexico, the every single patient presents a complex and unique challenge. U.S. and Africa. SO YOU WANT TO BE A RESEARCHER?

and Corning Life Sciences. Her career has included work both as a research scientist ANDREA FIDGETT (Spotlight Speaker) and a business and technology Leader. In 2016, Ellie joined Thermo Fisher as a senior Director of Nutritional Services, San Diego Zoo Global director to lead their cell culture product portfolio which is focused on cancer research, • B.S., Zoology cell therapy and immuno-oncology. She has two sons who attend St. Margaret’s in the • M.S., Animal Nutrition Lower School. She always encourages her boys to focus on science and technology which • Ph.D. in Avian Ecology she believes to be the foundation that leads to a healthy mind and a successful life! Dr. Fidgett leads the department of nutritional services, which formulates and deliver feeding plans for more than 7,500 KIMBERLY WON, PHARMD, BCCCP animals. San Diego Zoo’s Global Nutritional Services department Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, serves both the world-famous zoo and Safari Park, providing Chapman University, School of Pharmacy scientific-based diets and leading the fight against extinction through nutritional research. Great nutrition is key to ensuring the health and well-being of wildlife, both free-ranging • Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Colorado animals and those in human care. In 2016, Andrea participated in the first voyage of a • B.S., Biology, University of California, Los Angeles groundbreaking international leadership program for women in science (Homeward Dr. Won earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and Bound) and realized a childhood dream of visiting wild penguin colonies in Antarctica. went on to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy. After graduating pharmacy school, Dr. Won completed a pharmacy residency in acute care at UCSD Health System and then returned to KATIE LYONS Scientist, SGI-DNA/Synthetic Genomics the University of Colorado to complete a specialty pharmacy residency in critical care and emergency medicine. Dr. Won is currently a professor at Chapman University and • M.S., Molecular Biology teaches classes in their School of Pharmacy and Physician Assistant Studies programs. • B.A., Biology She currently serves in leadership positions and on committees at both the state and Katie loves everything about DNA. She started with a general national level and has been recognized by national organizations and Kaiser Permanente biology degree and found her niche at her first job in vaccine Colorado for her leadership efforts while at the University of Colorado. research where she was exposed to molecular biology, protein chemistry, and immunology. Editing DNA became her specialty, NANNETTE Y. YOUNT so she pursued an MS in molecular biology and joined the San Visiting Scientist, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center/Los Diego Zoo’s Institute of Conservation Research where she determined cause of death and Angeles Biomedical Research Institute monitored potential disease outbreak through DNA analysis of pathogens. Today, she works in synthetic biology not just editing DNA but actually synthesizing DNA. At SGI- • Ph.D., Nutritional Science, University of Arizona DNA, her team developed the first “DNA printer” which automated gene building, and she • B.S., Biochemistry, University of Arizona works in the lab that built the first synthetic cell. After attending University of Arizona and obtaining her doctorate, Nannette came to California as a post-doctoral researcher and NIH Fellow in the department of pathology at ELLIE MAHJUBI Senior Director, Product Management, Thermo Fisher UCI. At Irvine, her research focused on genetic and proteomic Scientific characterization of antimicrobial peptides. Subsequently, she has worked as a lecturer at Cal State, Long Beach and as a visiting scientist at Harbor UCLA Medical Center. • M.B.A. and Master’s, Technology Management, Stevens Her research has focused on characterizing antimicrobial peptides using molecular and Institute of Technology proteomic methodologies with the identification of a number of novel anti-infective • M.S., Genetics, The State University of New York, Stony Brook agents. She has published more than 25 peer-reviewed articles and invited reviews and • B.S., Biochemistry, The State University of New York, Stony has been awarded three patents with two pending. Brook Ellie is passionate about the life sciences and has spent 20-plus years working for the leading life science companies in the world including GE Healthcare SO YOU WANT TO BE A TECHIE?

PAIGE SELBY ‘08 SAMANTHA ANTON Software Engineer, Google COO, North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF) • M.S., Computer Science, Brown University • B.S., Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of • B.A., Film & Media Studies and Political Science, University Southern California of California, Irvine Paige is a 2008 graduate of St. Margaret’s. While at SMES, At NASEF, which operates out of UCI Esports, Samantha Paige did a high school summer internship at UCI in the oversees daily operations including tournament governance, civil engineering department; she was the first female in that organization and event production, and marketing. In her program. She credits that internship with setting the trajectory previous roles, Samantha worked in higher education event for her career, which has led to her current work at Google. She has been at Google for production, coordinating and supporting events for prospective and incoming students. the past three years working as a software engineer currently on the YouTube team and Samantha is a proud graduate of the University of California, Irvine. previously on Google Ads. Between earning her engineering degree from the University of Southern California and attending graduate school, Paige spent two years at Raytheon as a SKYE CHANDLER software engineer working on the Patriot missile and Air Missile Defense Radar. Game Designer, Blizzard Entertainment As a game designer on the World of Warcraft team at Blizzard, CONSTANCE STEINKUEHLER Skye creates a variety of game experiences for players Professor of Informatics, University of California, Irvine including content in the latest expansion, Battle for Azeroth. • Ph.D., Literacy Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison Specializing in quest design, she is responsible for aspects of • M.S., Educational Psychology, University of Wisconsin, design ranging from writing dialogue to concocting the spells Madison wielded by enemies. Skye joined Blizzard in 2008 in the creative • B.A., Mathematics, BA English, BA Religious Studies, development department where she founded the creative media University of Missouri, Columbia team. She then transitioned to the Diablo III team as a producer. Before joining Blizzard, Skye spent 13 years doing camera work, production, and writing for film and television. Constance researches the cognitive and social aspects of Skye’s interests include learning to fly, volunteering at wildlife rescues, scuba diving, and multiplayer online videogames and esports. Her current projects traveling and photographing the world. include mixed methods research on the NASEF high school esports league, quantitative study of esports in higher education, and advice on parenting gamers. She chairs the annual Esports Conference at UCI and the UCI Esports Program Task Force for Diversity CAYCI ROBOLD and Inclusion. Constance formerly served as senior policy analyst under the Obama Software Consultant, ieFACMAN Team Lead administration advising on games and digital media. She is the founder of the Higher • B.S., Information and Computer Science, Software Education Video Games Alliance. She has worked closely with the National Academy of Engineering, University of California, Irvine Sciences and National Academy of Education on reports related to video games. • B.A., Drama, Musical Theater, University of California, Irvine Cayci is a software engineer who has spent the majority of her career on a long-term contract with the U.S. Navy. She is believed to be the only person in the history of UC Irvine to graduate with magna cum laude Latin honors in both her majors of information and computer science and drama. Cayci’s adventures have been varied. She has been a regular on a YouTube show. She is a foodie and loves trips to wine country. She did a side job as the CEO of a non-profit. She organized a three-day My Little Pony convention and possesses one of the largest collections in the world. Cayci even learned how to solder in order to repair her own TV. SO YOU WANT TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR?

GINA HEITKAMP CEO, Gengirl Media, Inc. • M.B.A., University of California, Irvine • B.A., Comparative Literature, California State University, Long Beach THANK YOU! Gina is a start-up enthusiast and the CEO of Gengirl Media, Inc. Gengirl aims to be the toy and media company that best understands and empowers Generation Z. The company’s primary brand, Middle School Moguls, is a doll and media brand that GradSlam Presenters inspires entrepreneurship and STEAM learning for girls 6-10. The brand was acquired by Nickelodeon and will be relaunched in the next year. Prior to Gengirl, Gina operated her own start-up consulting firm creating go-to market strategies for new products and brands. Spotlight Speaker, Dr. Andrea Fidgett

CAROLYN STEPHENS A Day in the Life Panelists Associate Director and Chief of Staff, UCI Applied Innovation • Ph.D., Management, Claremont Graduate University Be A STEMinist Session Leaders • M.B.A., Pepperdine University • B.A., Economics, University of Southern California STEAM Insight for Parents & Chaperones Panelists Prior to joining UCI, Dr. Stephens was visiting clinical assistant professor at the George L. Argyros School of Business and Anatomage Economics and assistant director at the Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics at Chapman University. Her business experience includes executive marketing and general management positions in Gengirl Media multiple publicly traded high-tech firms, as well as founder of a high tech start-up. Dr. Stephens has also been highly active throughout her career in industry and community activities. She has and been nominated for the Orange County Business Journal’s Women in Business Award and has been mentor in the Women Unlimited Leadership Development program. The countless supportive individuals at St. Margaret’s that helped put together a day of inspiration and celebration for all things STEAM! JUDY YORKE, P.E., C.P.P. President of Yorke Engineering, LLC • B.S., Mechanical Engineering Judy is the president of Yorke Engineering, LLC, an environmental engineering consulting firm that has assisted over 850 clients throughout California. She has over 29 years of air quality and emission controls experience and has consulted with government and industrial facilities to meet local and federal air emission standards. She teaches “Air Quality Permitting and Compliance” and “Climate Change and Sustainability” courses for the University of California, Irvine, Continuing Education, and routinely provides instructional seminars regarding air quality regulations, permitting, air pollution control technologies and strategies, and emission quantification and health risk modeling. MARGARET KNIGHT, FEMALE STEAM PIONEER

The “flat-bottom paper bag” you are holding shows the original patent design of its inventor, female STEAM pioneer Margaret Knight, 1838-1914. Created nearly 150 years ago, Margaret’s bag remains a ubiquitous item in daily life. Her original patent included the design of a new machine invention that folded and glued paper into the “flat-bottom bag” still in use today. It is one the earliest patents ever filed and held by a female inventor.

In 1868, Margaret worked for the Columbia Paper Bag Company of Springfield, Mass. At this time, paper bags were flat, two pieces of paper glued together around three sides. They were hard to fill and easy to tear. She imagined and designed a bag that could stand on its own and hold more items without tearing. After being awarded the patent in 1871, she started a company to manufacture the bags. According to the Smithsonian, she successfully won a legal battle against someone trying to claim the invention. An 1879 working model of the groundbreaking machine is housed at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

Margaret designed nearly 90 inventions and was awarded nearly 30 U.S. patents over her lifetime. St. Margaret’s Girls in STEAM Symposium celebrates inven- tor, engineer, entrepreneur and pioneer, Margaret Knight. Her creativity, inge- nuity and tenacity are an inspiration!