AT&T, CNY STEM Hub, Le Moyne College and Partners For Education & Business Inc. have partnered to create the region’s first science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) summer program exclusively for high school girls, the CNY STEM Hub Summer Camp for Young Women Powered by AT&T, to encourage more women to enter the field of technology an industry that is alarmingly male-dominant.
The program will provide 30 girls from local high schools (grades 9-12) across Central New York an opportunity to gain STEM skills and experiences and engage them to follow a STEM career paths. The week-long program is from July 25 to 29 at Le Moyne College in the newly-renovated Coyne Science Center. Participants will learn computer coding basics, robotic engineering, computer science literacy, among other STEM-related topics. To ensure inclusion and diversity, the organizers are committed to having at least 50% of the participants in the program made up of at-risk high school girls and to eliminate economic barriers, the registration is free, transportation is available upon request and lunch is provided.
The camp will connect girls with team-based STEM projects designed to make a difference in their schools and their community, while providing them hands-on experience developing their own technology. The program will be half day building on communication and problem-solving skills by using guest speakers and best practices, the other half day is for girls to participate in informational tours, work on projects in the Le Moyne College Maker Zone and to participate in mentoring dialogue circles with professional women from STEM- related companies. The Camp Director is Meriel Stokoe, most recently the Education Director at the MOST (Museum of Science & Technology). Students will also interact daily with Doug Hill of the Le Moyne College Maker Zone, located in the Madden School of Business.
To register, girls and their parents must visit
www.cnystem.com and go to News & Events. All applicants will need to provide any STEM-related accomplishments and complete a short essay as to why they want to attend the camp. A panel of judges will be used to assist in selecting camp invitees. The deadline is Sunday, July 10. Applicants will be notified if selected or not on or before Tuesday, July 12.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Labor, much of the growth in the domestic and global economy will come from STEM-related jobs – a highly lucrative and competitive field. It is estimated by 2020 there will be 2.4 million unfilled STEM jobs with more than half made up of computer and coding careers, underscoring the importance of providing the youth the tools and skills necessary to compete in this innovation economy. The urgency for more STEM and computer science educated employees is accentuated by the low percentage of females who are currently employed at major technology firms (29 percent) and women pursuing bachelors’ degrees for computer science, just 18 percent. According to the White House, which has set forth an initiative to increase participation of girls in STEM education and career paths, women in STEM jobs earn 33 percent more than those in non-STEM occupations and experience a smaller wage gap relative to men, and increasing opportunities for women in these fields is an important step towards realizing greater economic success and equality for women across the board.
AT&T’s support for this program is part of the company’s legacy of supporting educational programs focused on STEM disciplines in New York through AT&T Aspire, the company’s signature $350 million philanthropic initiative that drives innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issue including funding, technology, employee volunteerism and mentoring. Aspire is one of the nation’s largest corporate commitments focused on school success and workforce readiness by creating new learning environments and educational delivery systems to help students succeed and prepare them to take on 21st century careers.
“AT&T is proud to collaborate with these dynamic organizations to develop and support this innovative experience for girls as it further enhances our commitment to providing resources for STEM-related educational programming throughout Central New York and builds upon our vigorous efforts to bridge the gender gap in the technology industry,” said Marissa Shorenstein, New York president, AT&T. “Our economy continues to transform at a robust pace – requiring a workforce with a focus on technological education and literacy – and STEM programs like this one are vital to ensure that the students of today, despite gender, are equipped to compete in the global innovation economy of tomorrow.”
"We thank AT&T for their commitment to STEM education in providing the resources and the collaborative efforts of Le Moyne College and Partners for Education & Business in spearheading this inaugural summer experience for young women in Central New York high schools who are interested in preparing for future Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers," said Dr. Donna DeSiato, CNY STEM Hub, Chairperson.
Le Moyne College has a long history of providing STEM education opportunities for high school students throughout the Northeast. Majors such as biology, chemistry, environmental science systems and physics have steadily grown over the past several years, strengthened by the College's cutting-edge science facilities, including a new science building that opened in 2012 and the total refurbishment of the Coyne Science Center, which was completed in 2015.
"We are so proud to support and participate in this wonderful initiative," said Le Moyne President Linda LeMura, who has her doctorate in and taught applied physiology. "Our curriculum for STEM disciplines integrates the liberal arts into each program, as we firmly believe that a college education that infuses the liberal arts into every student's experience produces individuals who have stronger critical thinking and problem solving skills. They are imaginative in their thinking, and bring together far flung insights to build bridges between disciplines and open new worlds of research and innovation."
“PEB is honored to be working with AT&T, Le Moyne College, the CNY STEM Hub and local companies to use our networks to bring together young women from urban, suburban and rural schools who are interested in learning more about STEM education and careers," said Joe Vargo, executive director. "Our camp will not only offer them STEM experiences but will provide opportunities to interact with professional women from STEM companies to help create career sparks in STEM for the participants.”
In addition to the CNY STEM Hub Summer Camp for Young Women Powered by AT&T, AT&T and the CNY STEM Hub are partnering on establishing the Women in STEM Mentoring Program, an initiative linking up more than 100 young women interested in STEM with women in STEM professionals from the region. The program will entail various events where the women and girls from regional high schools can come together for networking and formal programming at a local STEM company. The mentoring program is designed to build off of the momentum of the STEM summer camp and to continue to strip away gender barriers in STEM education and professions. In addition, Women in STEM information will be developed and highlighted on the www.cnystem.com website.
About CNY STEM Hub
The CNY STEM is a volunteer-driven incorporated organization focused on impacting students in the classroom by implementing new teaching strategies in multi-disciplinary/inquiry-based methodologies with real world applications. The CNY Technology Sector is a business-led effort engaging businesses to support an increase in the awareness of STEM careers by supporting effective programming and providing opportunities for students and teachers to learn about the needs of the technology/STEM workforce. Further information can be found at: cnystem.com.
About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T
AT&T Inc. is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; or address community needs. AT&T Aspire is AT&T’s signature philanthropic initiative that drives innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issue including funding, technology, employee volunteerism, and mentoring. Through Aspire, we’ve passed the $250 million mark on our plan to invest $350 million in education from 2008-2017.
About Partners for Education & Business
PEB was created in 1994 by education and business leaders as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to addressing the workforce preparation needs of both education and business. PEB develops connecting activities that would enhance the career education and skill development of the future workforce while understanding and promoting the skill requirements of regional employers. PEB provides administrative support for the CNY STEM Hub and the CNY Technology Sector and is an affiliate of MACNY, the Manufacturers Association of Central New York.
About Le Moyne College
One of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S., Le Moyne College is a private, four-year institution enrolling approximately 2,500 full-time undergraduate students in programs of liberal arts, science, business and pre-professional studies, and 800 full- and part-time students in graduate programs in nursing, education, business administration, arts administration, occupational therapy, family nurse practitioner, information systems and physician assistant studies. Since its founding in 1946, the College has modeled and strengthened the nearly 500 year-old Jesuit educational tradition. As a diverse learning community, Le Moyne is recognized for its academic excellence and commitment to cura personalis – the education of the whole person.