On November 8th, the Pennsylvania Commission for Women hosted a National STEM Day Event encouraging girls to study science, technology, engineering, and math and to consider STEM related careers. The program included videos highlighting women in various STEM careers and activities run by the Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania. Learn more about the event in the press release below.
TechGirlz Philadelphia Area Outreach Manager, Danica Pascavage, was featured in one of the videos. She inspired the girls with information about technology and how to create an app prototype. You can view Danica’s video here. All thirteen videos are available here.
Pennsylvania Commission for Women Hosts National STEM Day Event
November 8, 2021 (Harrisburg, Pa.) – Today, the Pennsylvania Commission for Women hosted a National STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Day Event at the Pennsylvania State Museum to highlight women in various STEM careers and encourage girls to consider a future in STEM. The commission received thirteen video submissions from women across the Commonwealth. Each video showcases the women describing the work they do, their educational journey and why they chose to have a career in STEM.
The Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania partnered with the commission to bring girls to the Pennsylvania State Museum to participate in STEM-related activities provided by the Pennsylvania State Library. The video submissions have been uploaded to YouTube and the Pennsylvania Commission for Women’s website, so girls across the state can watch and learn about careers in STEM. Everyone is welcome to watch and share!
“The goal of this project is to allow girls and young women to explore STEM opportunities and spark their interest in pursuing a career in STEM,” said Commission for Women Executive Director Moriah Hathaway. We know that women are less likely to have careers in STEM, so we wanted to be a part of the solution by hosting this event. We know that if we introduce girls at an early age to STEM opportunities, they are more likely to enjoy STEM subjects and feel empowered to consider a career in STEM. We are hoping that the girls feel inspired by the videos that were sent in and can envision themselves enjoying similar jobs in their future.”
Governor and First Lady Wolf were also in attendance at the event. They offered remarks, encouraging the girls to pursue their STEM interests, and commending the Commission for their work.
“Investing in STEM education and workforce development is a top priority for my administration, which is why I launched the innovative PAsmart program in 2018,” said Gov. Wolf. “If we want a commonwealth that is competitive economically, then we need a workforce that is ready for the careers of tomorrow. But as long as racial and gender gaps persist in STEM education and careers, Pennsylvania isn’t living up to its full potential. Thank you to the Commission for Women and their partners for using STEM Day to put a spotlight on this issue, and for helping girls all across Pennsylvania learn about STEM, connect to mentors and envision future STEM careers for themselves.”
“Many of the jobs of the future are STEM related, and it’s vital that our women and girls are equipped with the skills and confidence to pursue them and close the gender gap we know exists in these fields,” said First Lady Wolf. “The Wolf Administration continues to support this effort through initiatives like PAsmart, and I am beyond excited to see the Commission for Women building on this by connecting young girls with successful, professional women in STEM and encouraging them to strive for their goals. It is empowering and inspiring, and I am looking forward to more great work from the commission.”
Sarah Greene, Director of the Bureau of State Library said, “The State Library of Pennsylvania is a proud supporter of STEM education and the Pennsylvania Commission for Women. The State Library engages with community partners and Pennsylvania libraries to encourage the incorporation of STEM into diverse library programs. During the National STEM Day event, State Library staff will be guiding Girl Scouts in microscopy, fossils, robotics and some simple coding, fostering a love of science and learning.”
“The need for STEM talent has never been greater. It is an economic imperative for us to encourage as many girls and women to be part of the innovation economy to grow and sustain our businesses in our state. Also, these jobs are well paying, creating economic stability for the girls’ future,” said Commissioner and Chief Marketing Officer of Chariot Solutions, Tracey Welson-Rossman.
“We are very excited to be a part of National STEM Day and the activities being held at the State Museum on Nov. 8,” said Janet Donovan, President and CEO of Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania. “As one of the four pillars in Girl Scouting, STEM programs – girl-focused STEM programs — lead to critical thinkers, better grades and the foundation for a successful future. We are so proud to be part of that experience.”
Video submissions were received from the women listed below:
Ivy Qin, Senior Director of Engineering, Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Dr. Usha Rao, Director, Office of Teaching and Learning & Associate Professor, Environmental Geochemistry at Saint Joseph’s University
Jumoke Dada, Founder, Tech Women Network & HUE Tech Summit
Laura Felix, Research Project Manager for Project ECHO at Penn State Health
Sweta Shah, Functional Analyst, TestingXperts
Angel Brown, Post Grad Marketing Intern, Nerd Street Gamers
Amanda Keener Hammond, Owner and Operator, My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe
Tiara Evans, Associate Scientist (Toxicology), Quest Diagnostics
Dr. Melissa D. Lane, Senior Scientist, Fibernetics LLC
Lauren Forster, Environmental Education Specialist Supervisor, Bureau of State Parks, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Rebecca Bowen, Ecological Program Manager, Bureau of Forestry, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Stacy Pagán, IT Project Manager, UPMC
Danica Pascavage, Philadelphia Outreach Manager, TechGirlz