High 5: Inspiring Girls For The Future

OGDEN, Utah – With careers in theater, health care, tech, science and more, there was one thing all the presenters at Inspiring Girls for the Future had in common: they’re successful, passionate women.

KSL TV’s Shara Park was one of the presenters at the event, which was held at Weber State University. She was impressed with the group’s goal and decided it was deserving of a High 5.

Laurie Larsen is the Managing Director for Inspiring Girls for the Future. A mother of four girls, she wanted to create an opportunity for young women to come face to face with local female professionals from a variety of careers.

“I just feel like it’s so important for girls to know so many opportunities are out there,” she said.

Thanks to Larsen and her team, about 140 girls met professionals like Camille Beckstrand, from the popular website SixSistersStuff.com and co-author of eight cookbooks.

They also got to meet Alex Highman, one of only eight female firefighters in Salt Lake City.

“I am happy to be a part of this and encourage them and say, ‘Hey, this is a career option for you, even though you don’t see very many female firefighters. It’s an option, and you can do it,'” she said.

Olivia Lifferth, 13, attended the event.

“It’s so cool to see all the different people coming together and just talking at this event and just showing people what they do,” she said. “It’s really inspiring.”

This was the first event for Inspiring Girls for the Future, but Larsen said it won’t be the last.

If I could communicate to every single girl here, they’re amazing, they have so much potential and talent, and I don’t think they recognize it because they’re young and it’s hard to be a teenager,” she said. “But the world is open. They can do so many good things.”