STEMtastics: Inspiring Middle School Girls to Pursue STEM Careers

Photo: Keynote speaker Erica Grow, second from left, discusses STEM opportunities with three AAUW McLean Area Branch members, left to right, Juanita Cullen, Barbara Sipe, and Betsy Schroeder. Barbara and Betsy served as STEMtastics volunteers, while Juanita’s granddaughter was a student participant.

March 8, 2014: Attendance at STEMtastics was “standing room only” when almost 300 middle school girls and 200 parents from Fairfax County listened on March 8 to keynote speaker Erica Grow, meteorologist for WUSA-TV, Channel 9, provide advice and motivation as she discussed her career. Fifty McLean students from Longfellow and Cooper Middle Schools joined students from 35 other schools at NOVA-CC to attend STEMtastics, a career day event designed to educate and inspire the students to consider careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Following opening ceremonies, twenty female presenters from across STEM fields ran interactive breakout workshops for the students, while parents attended informational workshops on curriculum, resources, and financing options.

The event was sponsored by the Fairfax City, McLean Area, and Reston-Herndon branches of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), in conjunction with Fairfax County Public Schools and SySTEMic Solutions. AAUW has been a leader in sponsoring STEM education programs and introducing girls to female role models. For more information on STEMtastics or to sign up for information on next year’s program, visit the AAUW McLean Area website at http://mclean-va.aauw.net/stemtastics/ or send an email to mcleanaauw@gmail.com.