Girls, meet math and science

Girls in the GEMS Academy perform a pig autopsy.

Girls in need of help with math, science or technology spent a week on campus at the end of June.

Girls Empowered by Math and Science (GEMS), year-round program funded by American Honda Foundation, recently held its summer academy. The mathematics, science, and technology program is designed for girls in grades 6 to 10 who desire or need enrichment and mentoring in mathematics, science, and technology.

The academy seeks to foster positive attitudes towards science, mathematics, and technology; raise awareness of career and post-secondary opportunities in the areas of math, science and technology; develop critical thinking and reasoning skills; and positively impact girls’ interest and achievement in mathematics. The week included an overnight stay and a field trip out of town.

But biggest news for the program arrived just after the summer academy ended. The program was notified that it had been selected to visit the White House on Wednesday, July 8.  The program was selected from a request made through Congressman Mel Watts’ office in January.

The program will take 25 middle and high school girls to Washington, DC, July 7-9.