Members of the Women in Shipbuilding Enterprise (WiSE) employee resource group recently held a Rosie the Riveter event, featuring a range of activities and speakers.

It was facilitated by Shavonne Narwood, who had the idea to bring women together for engagement and networking while observing the empowerment and contributions of others.

The iconic Rosie the Riveter character represents the women who entered the industrial labor force in large numbers during World War II.

There were three key speakers. Kecia Ballen, an E49 engineer, spoke on her success and experience at the shipyard. Danielle Petersen-Camphor described her experiences at the shipyard and her will to constantly persevere and go to the next level.

Mary Kayaselcuk, from Newport News Museums and Historic Services, provided a song, dance and demonstration of different war tools. Janice Boone, an O04 engineer, won the Rosie the Riveter costume contest.