It’s a Girl Thing (IGT) is a program targeting middle school girls to introduce the fields of science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (STEM) in a safe and encouraging learning environment. The goal is to expose girls to nontraditional educational and professional career fields while also increasing self-confidence. |
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In addition to career awareness, IGT will provide training in career supporting skills such as team-work, oral presentation, social skills, and an exposure to cultural and current events. Meetings will be held at the middle schools during the school day. Meeting activities are planned and provided by female engineering students enrolled at Clemson University under the direction of the Women In Science and Engineering Department. |
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clemson university, thursday, January 24, 2008 Mrs. Serita Acker, Program Director of the Clemson Women in Science and Engineering (W.I.S.E.) program, along with Dr. Wanda Staggers, Dean of the Academy of Engineering at the Hanna-Westside Extension campus work together to bring science and engineering alive for middle school females across Anderson School District Five. The program entitled, “It’s a Girl Thing,” a title coined by Mrs. Acker, is designed to expose middle school girls to nontraditional educational and professional career fields while increasing self-confidence. In addition to career awareness, IGT provides training in career supporting skills such as team-work, oral presentation, social skills, and an exposure to cultural and current events. Mrs. Acker, Dr. Staggers and female engineering students from Clemson University visit the three middle school campuses once a month to conduct learning experiences with the young ladies. From building towers to making lotion the females participate in a wide variety of activities. The most recent experience is a visit to Clemson University. Beginning the day at Clemson the members of It’s a Girl Thing were able to talk with female engineering students about why they chose their field of study, what it takes to be successful in college and life, the benefits of possessing good study skills and the necessity of time management. After the initial meet and greet the girls attended sessions in the Planetarium and the Bioengineering Lab. A lunch at Schilleter Dining Hall proceeded the concluding field experience which had students extracting their own DNA in the DNA lab. The tour was led by engineering students headed by Ms. Tiffany Washington. It’s A Girl Thing is an innovated program with great benefits to the middle school girls and is made possible in part by a grant from the AAUW Educational Foundation. Please see the article in the Anderson Independent-Mail at Malura Shady, M. Ed., GCDF |
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This project was made possible in part by a grant from the AAUW Educational Foundation. |
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Hanna-Westside Extension Campus South Carolina Department of Education Date Last Updated: Thursday, March 1, 2007 10:52 AM |
