When June Robbins of Media was just a teenager, she became one of six million ā€œRosie the Rivetersā€ who stepped into manufacturing plants, shipyards, and heavy industry jobs during World War II. Robbins worked at the Philadelphia Naval Yard, building and repairing ships for the U.S. and its allies.

On September 18, she was the guest of honor at Delaware County Community Collegeā€™s Celebration of Women in STEM and Skilled Trades at the Advanced Technology Center on its Marple Campus. Students, staff, faculty and U.S. Representatives Mary Gay Scanlon and Chrissy Houlahan presented Robbins with a cake marking her 100th birthday.

Ā鶹ֱ²„ graduated its first female STEM studentsā€”who were Natural Science Majorsā€”in 1972. Fifty-four years later, Lillian Yost follows in their footsteps as a current Ā鶹ֱ²„ Mathematics and Natural Science major. ā€œI would not have the opportunities I have today without the women who came before me and fought for our place,ā€ she said. ā€œIt is an honor to celebrate June Robbins.ā€

In 2025 Yost was selected to participate in the highly competitive Wistar Institute Biomedical Technician Training Program. The Philadelphia-based Wistar Institute is a global leader in biomedical research, with special expertise in cancer, immunology, infectious disease, and vaccine development. It is one of many competitive internship opportunities available to Ā鶹ֱ²„ students. ā€œIt was an opportunity that changed my life,ā€ Yost said. She plans to earn her bachelorā€™s and masterā€™s degrees and pursue a career in biomedical research.

ā€œThe symbol of Rosie the Riveter, and people like June Robbins, continue to remind us that women are capable, we belong in these spaces, and that our experience and input add to the depth of these industries,ā€ said Ā鶹ֱ²„ student Christa Heyward, PhD. She is using the experience she gained in Ā鶹ֱ²„ā€™s Residential Carpentry program to complete a two-year fellowship in the U.S. Department of Energyā€™s Building Technologies Office.

ā€œIt is fitting that Juneā€™s century of life be celebrated at Ā鶹ֱ²„ā€™s Advanced Technology Center because this 32,000-square-foot building is where the College offers state-of-the-art training in advanced manufacturing and the skilled trades, such as welding, carpentry, plumbing and HVAC,ā€ said Ā鶹ֱ²„ President Dr. Marta Yera Cronin. During World War II, women like June Robbins paved the way by showing that women not only can do STEM and skilled trades jobs, but do them well.ā€

Other speakers at the event included Legacy Bridges STEM Academy CEO Dr. Joi Spraggins and Congresswomen Scanlon and Houlahan. Dr. Spraggins spoke of the historical, current and future importance of having more women enter the STEM and skilled trades professions, especially aeronautics. She also discussed the work Legacy Bridges does to introduce young girls to the idea of careers in STEM.

Scanlon spoke about the historic and future role of women in STEM and the skilled trades, especially at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, which is in her congressional district. Houlahan spoke of her life as an Air Force vet, engineer, entrepreneur, and educator.

The celebration concluded with the reading of a special commendation from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and the presentation of a special 100th birthday cake to a jubilant Robbins.

For more on Ā鶹ֱ²„ā€™s STEM programs, visit dccc.edu/stem. For more on Ā鶹ֱ²„ā€™s Skilled Trades programs, visit  dccc.edu/wed.

Photo caption 1: Back row, L to R: Dr. Joi Spraggins; Ā鶹ֱ²„ student Lillian Yost; U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon; Ā鶹ֱ²„ President Dr. Marta Yera Cronin; Ā鶹ֱ²„ student Christa Heyward. Front row, L to R: June Robbins, U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan.