Schools

Stamford Middle School Girls to Find Fun in "GE Girls at UCONN" Camp


This article was submitted by Sharon Beadle

Starting this week, 22 middle school girls from Stamford Public Schools will spend an energetic week exploring the fun of hands-on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), while engaging with academic leaders and initiating mentoring relationships with women professionals in STEM careers. The five-day learning program, GE Girls at UCONN, is sponsored by GE Women’s Network of GE Corporate and GE Capital in collaboration with the University of Connecticut (UCONN) and the Stamford Public Schools.

Research shows that a majority of young girls have an interest and proficiency in STEM, yet may not fully understand the academic and career opportunities available to them. Additionally, middle school girls begin to lose interest in STEM, just as they begin considering their future options.

Find out what's happening in Stamfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

GE Girls began three years ago when GE CEO Jeff Immelt approached the GE Women’s Network asking how GE could help get young women interested in science and technology, and ultimately, into meaningful jobs in those fields.  This year is the first for GE Girls in Connecticut, joining five other camps across the country. 

“We are excited and grateful for this opportunity,” said Louise McMinn, Seventh Grade Science teacher and teacher of the GE Girls at UCONNprogram. “The idea of girls being able to collaborate on STEM projects and to get excited about potential career opportunities is the key to this program.  The students will have an opportunity to experience things that girls have not traditionally been exposed to.”

Find out what's happening in Stamfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Interested seventh and eighth graders applied this spring, and participants were selected by their schools. GE partnered with McMinn and UCONN to develop a curriculum that includes experiments related to construction, programming, electronics and chemistry-topics that directly translate to GE’s core values: building, moving, powering and curing.

In addition to science and technology experiments, the girls will also have the opportunity to share stories and experiences with GE ‘Leaders in Residence.’  These GE women will serve as mentors and offer the girls real-life role models of women in STEM careers.  The girls will also have the opportunity to meet GE leaders through panel discussions and a graduation ceremony and celebration.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here