ystems at All-girls Tech Camp

“Women can be plumbers, too!” exclaimed Uponor Customer Trainer Steve Swanson to a group of 200+ young girls learning about PEX on Aug. 2 at TXT 2012, a week-long exploration camp for girls promoting the worlds of technology and science.

TXT 2012 (short for Teens eXperiencing Technical education) offers interactive workshops focusing on areas of business, design, transportation, industrial, science, health and technology. Swanson, along with Uponor Training Manager Wes Sisco, were invited to speak about crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) tubing and its use in radiant heating and cooling, plumbing and fire sprinkler systems, as well as show the girls how to make ProPEX® connections — and even make hula hoops with the tubing.

“Being that training is at the core of who we are at Uponor, we were thrilled with the opportunity to teach the next generation about PEX,” says Sisco.

The program was held at Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) in Rosemount, Minn., from July 30 through Aug. 3, and included training performed by the college faculty. Linda Foster, director of Instructional Technology at DCTC and the organizer of TXT 2012, says she started the program because she wanted girls to know that it is okay to explore career opportunities in the trades, get dirty and be smart.

As a mother of two daughters, Foster says, “I wanted my daughters to have professional opportunities not limited by gender stereotypes, and I want other people’s daughters to know there are opportunities beyond traditional female careers.”

Uponor, Inc. is a leading supplier of plumbing, fire safety, and radiant heating and cooling systems for the residential and commercial building markets in the United States. Uponor, Inc. employs 380 people at its North American headquarters in Apple Valley, Minn. For more information, visit www.uponorpro.com, www.uponor-usa.com or call (800) 321-4739.