Raquel Torres and her young daughter Byanca stood on the UA Mall yesterday looking up as the platform ladder on a firetruck rose from the ground, carrying parents and daughters.

Torres works as a custodian for the Department of Residence Life and was on campus with her daughter and more than 500 other daughters and parents for the University of Arizona's fourth annual Daughter's Day.

The day's events were designed to teach girls about different career fields and opportunities.

Parents brought daughters to work and gave the girls a glimpse of their potential, said Jennifer Aviles, administrative assistant for the Commission on the Status of Women, one of the sponsors of the event.

Hilda Cordova, another UA custodian, said she brought her daughter to work because it allowed them to spend time together and gave her daughter a chance to learn about the UA. She said she hopes it will be a good motivator for her to attend college.

Michael Shupe, physics professor, brought his 9-year-old daughter Kelsey.

Kelsey, who wants to be a marine biologist when she grows up, said the best part of the day was the liquid nitrogen experiment.

The experiment, put on by the Department of Physics, used liquid nitrogen to freeze items like bananas, flowers, racquetballs and balloons, which shattered when they were dropped on the floor.

Frank Antinoro, assistant director from the Office of Institutional Research, said that women now comprise just under half of UA's workforce.

There are 6,052 female employees out of a total of 12,527.

In 1981 there were 5,904 women compared to the 7,410 men employed.

Deborah Hansen, family studies senior, brought her daughter Lindsey. She said she read about Daughter's Day in the Wildcat and decided it would be a good thing to bring her daughter to.

She said she wants her daughter to realize there are opportunities out there and all she has to do is look for them.

"I want her to get a feel for higher education and the opportunities available to females."

Lindsey said the best part of the day was the solar system tour in Flandrau Planetarium. She said she learned about space and how pictures of the moon are taken.

Aviles said the day was sponsored by many UA departments and organizations, as well as local businesses that donated food, gift certificates and money.

Michelle Maliniak, a Tucson firefighter who received a bachelor's degree in psychology at the UA, was on the Mall with co-workers and a firetruck to show girls that all occupations are within their reach.

"You don't have to be a 250-pound guy to be a firefighter," she said.