Young girls from Corpus Christi, Robstown, and the surrounding areas gathered at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds on Thursday, February 13 to be inspired by female professionals in the fields of energy, manufacturing, and maritime at the This One's For The Gals (TOFTG) 2025 Coastal Bend Women in Industry Career & Education Expo.

Regulatory Pricing & Analysis Manager Gricelda Calzada served as a panelist and inspired young girls with her heartfelt story.

Calzada prioritized her family over attending university right after high school. Later in life, she returned to college and earned her degree by utilizing AEP Texas's reimbursement program. Her personal story—highlighting her humble beginnings in a small town and the various challenges she faced after graduating as the high school valedictorian—resonated with many young girls in the audience.

"It was gratifying to hear how my story resonated with them, and I appreciated the time they took to thank me for sharing my experiences," she said.

AEP Texas, along with similar organizations, supports events like TOFTG which inspire young girls to pursue careers in engineering, biochemistry, and other underrepresented fields for females, such as robotics and science.