Mini-Grant Awards (page 2 of 3)

2009

• Girls and Careers
  Collaborating Organizations: Breathitt High School Youth Service Center, the Breathitt County Extension Service Family & Consumer Science Programs, and the Breathitt High School Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP)
  Girls Served: Grades 9-12
  
  The Girls and Careers will introduce 50 girls to careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math through a five-day summer camp. The summer camp will include STEM-focused, hands-on activities with educational kits; speakers talking about STEM career opportunities; student interaction and discussion with the speakers; tours and presentations at local businesses and agencies with a STEM focus; and participant presentations about STEM careers. The Partners will contribute matching funds, speakers, technology use and facilities for the summer camp. The target population will be 50 girls in grades 9 - 12 in the 2009-2010 school years.
• GirlPOWER: Energy Focused STEM Careers in NKY
  Collaborating Organizations: Education Alliance of Northern Kentucky, Inc. and Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence
  Girls Served: Grade 5 - 8
  
  GirlPOWER: Energy Focused STEM Careers in NKY will be comprised of panel discussions with female executives in STEM Careers. This series of discussions will target girls in grades 5-8, along with their parents and educators throughout Northern Kentucky and provide a platform to learn about the skills needed and opportunities available to students with an interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The sessions will specifically focus on regional employers associated with the energy industry and highlight female leadership as career mentors to the young female students.
• Girls in Engineering Day
  Collaborating Organizations: Graves County High School Project Lead the Way Program, Murray State Univ. Depart. of Engineering & Physics Depart. Industry & Engineering, and University of Kentucky 4-H Programs
  Girls Served: Grades 6 - 8
  
  The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) at both Murray State University and UK College of Engineering will collaborate with the Math, Science, and Engineering Acadamy's (MSE)- Project Lead the Way (PLTW) program, to host a Girls in Engineering Day. The population that will be served by this event will be 6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls (200 + students), current female members of the high school's PLTW program, and SWE members. SWE members will develop various events and demonstration incorporating math, science, engineering, and technology for the 6, 7, and 8th grade girls to participate in. The high school female students will work along side the SWE to assist with the various events and demonstrations.
• In the Middle of Engineering
  Collaborating Organizations: Olmsted Academy South and J.B.Speed School of Engineering
  Girls Served: Grades 6 - 12
  
  In the Middle of Engineering is an after school engineering club in an all female middle school. The interactive, hands-on engineering activities parallel students’ science and physics curriculum. Lab kits and engineering modules expose students to a variety of engineering tasks using math and technology. Professional women engineers participate in the delivery of the information in the classroom and expose the students to the role of female engineers in the workplace through fieldtrips to working sites.
• MISS Electricity
  Collaborating Organizations: Mentoring is Serving Sisters and Meadowthorpe Elementary School
  Girls Served: Grade 5
  
  Fifth-grade girls participating in the Meadowthorpe is Serving Sisters (MISS) mentoring program will develop leadership skills, self-confidence, efficacy, and content knowledge in the area of electricity. Using Snap Circuit, Jr. educational kits, the students will learn about electricity from university faculty, practice leading activities among peers, and implement activities in their own classrooms. The proposed program will provide reusable kits to the school, train MISS participants over eight weeks, collect survey data, and establish an ongoing mentoring relationship between the school and university.
• STEM Girls Rock!
  Collaborating Organizations: Gray Middle School and Boone County Schools
  Girls Served: Grades 4 - 5
  
  This project will inspire nine- and ten-year-old girls to build, plan, use technology and engage in beginning engineering activities. Beyond the requirements of building a LEGO league robot and programming it to complete tasks, this project will focus on collaborative planning, engineering problem-solving, creative and critical thinking, and foundational mathematical and technological concepts. The girls will work throughout the year--during and after school, as well as in the summer--to research information around a long-term challenge, shadow females in STEM careers, engage in STEM-related activities, and work with mentors to continue their interest in STEM content areas throughout their school careers. Parents will attend sessions to learn about STEM careers and how they can encourage their daughters to pursue such careers.
• Super Science Saturdays
  Collaborating Organizations: Dorton Elementary, Pikeville College and East Kentucky Science Center
  Girls Served: Grades 6 - 9
  
  Junior high girls will attend four half-day, hands-on, science lessons at Pikeville College and one half-day, hands-on lesson at the East Kentucky Science Center. The four Pikeville College lessons include Fun With Electricity, Rockets, Light Activities, and Weather Instruments. The East Kentucky Science Center will provide the “Fun with Color” lesson. The Dorton School will provide transportation and lunch for the girls. The mini-grant will provide the materials, cost of using the lab, and instructors.
• Kenton County Girls in Renewable Energy
  Collaborating Organizations: Kenton County School District & J.D. Patton Technology Center
  Girls Served: Grades 9 - 10
  
  The J. D. Patton Tech Center has the latest technology in renewable energy, solar, wind and geothermal. Our project is to collaborate with Kenton County School District to introduce freshman and sophomore girls to careers in renewable energy. We have articulation agreements with Cincinnati State College and Gateway Community College where the girls could receive college credits for taking these high school classes in renewable energy. We will have an expo where the girls will do hands-on work designing and constructing solar, wind, and geothermal projects. They will learn the math and science behind harnessing these types of energy; they will also work with weather patterns.
• Summer Camp for Girls
  Collaborating Organizations: Big Sandy Community & Technical College and Floyd County Schools
  Girls Served: Grades 6 - 9
  
  The Big Sandy Community and Technical College Math/Science Summer Camp for Girls empowers and encourages middle school girls to pursue careers requiring STEM skills. Female students apply to participate in a fun-filled summer week of educational activities exploring careers in a variety of female-owned businesses including engineering, coal, and banking. The girls participate in activities that increase their confidence in seeking nontraditional career fields, improve their attitudes toward and acceptance of STEM-related skills, increase awareness and development of workplace demeanor, and increase their interest in pursuing an education.
• Science Says…
  Collaborating Organizations: The Center for Gifted Studies and Science Alliance
  Girls Served: Grades 6 - 9
  
  Science Says... is a twenty-five minute television show pilot intended for YouTube. The show will feature one science experiment designed, conducted, and discussed by 2-4 girls in middle school, women scientists and women STEM professionals. The pilot will also include a 5-10 minute segment at the end in which all participants on the show will discuss, in an interview format, what they view as the obstacles to young women entering STEM careers; how to overcome those obstacles; and why it is important to do so. The show will feature only women and be written and directed by women as well.