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From the Director... |
We have
hosted two outstanding events in the past few weeks: the 13th MTSU
Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) in Science and Math on October 31 and the
GRITS Collaborative Forum in partnership with the Tennessee Science
Teachers Annual meeting on November 6. Approximately 325 middle
and high school girls attended EYH and 77 teachers and pre-service
teachers along with representatives from community based organizations
and Tennessee industries attended our Forum.
Did you know that EYH is an international conference
that was begun in 1974 as an informal group of women scientists and
educators in the San Francisco Bay Area who were concerned about low
female participation in math courses? The MTSU EYH was first held
in 1997 and there is now a West Tennessee EYH at the University of
Memphis. EYH is a proven strategy that gets girls involved in STEM
education starting in middle school. Our "alumna" are now
studying math, pre-pharmacy and STEM education. We can claim a
physicist and a chemical engineer among our graduates.
One young woman sums up her EYH experiences nicely: "I
really like EYH. It is very good for me & what I wanna be when I
grow up. I love the lunch and the stuff we did was fun. I will come
back next year." Another said: "AMAZING I'm coming here for
college this ROCKS" The girls have spoken! EYH works!
The GRITS Collaborative Forum was a true collaborative
with members of our Leadership Team and Champions Board providing
opportunities to network and a full slate of workshops under the
symposium titled "Celebrating Diversity in STEM." Ruth Woodall
and I used our connections with the Nashville Section of the American
Chemical Society (ACS) and invited Terri Taylor of the ACS Education
Division to talk about high school chemistry clubs. We also
learned about informal science programs at Belmont University from
Rachel Rigsby. Leigh Gostowski of MTSU was this session's
organizer. Champion Mary Thomas, Mary Groff and Sylvia Brown
presented an engineering workshop on building a catapult (or
trebuchet). What a way to introduce girls to physics and
engineering! The GRITS Leadership team introduced the audience to
the NGCP Web site, program directory, and mini-grant application.
The symposium ended with a chemistry based workshop filled with
hands-on activities for pre-K to 12 students called appropriately,
"It's Elemental!" Our symposium was also visited by keynote
speaker, Tom Lane, 2009 President of the ACS. He handed out
copies of the Merck Index to delighted high school science
teachers.
Let me close with saying that it SHOULD be "elemental"
when encouraging girls and young women to explore STEM education and
careers. The work of the National Girls Collaborative Project,
our GRITS Collaborative Project, and EYH and other similar programs and
supportive organizations will make it easier for all of us to reach
this goal.
Judith Iriarte-Gross
Director, GRITS
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Jocelyn Feliciano-Rivera Receives HENAAC Award! |
| Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Award Corporation (HENAAC)
Submitted by Sylvia Brown,
GRITS Collaborative Leadership Team
Ms. Jocelyn
Feliciano-Rivera received the prestigious HENAAC Award for the
Most Promising Engineer or Scientist on October 8th 2009. Ms
Feliciano-Rivera received the 2009 Luminary Award at the HENAAC
Conference held at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach,
CA. Individuals cannot be nominated for the Luminary category;
they are selected from the submissions received for all of the standard
nominations categories.
Ms. Feliciano- Rivera is a
valued member of FEW, Greater Middle Tennessee Chapter since March 2007
and an outstanding volunteer for the GRITS Collaborative.
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| GRITS
Collaborative
Mini-Grants are now
open! |
The GRITS Collaborative Mini-Grants are now available! We are accepting applications for the Mini-Grants from December 1, 2009-January 31, 2010.
What are Mini-Grants?
Grants
up to $1000 to girl serving STEM focused programs that promote
collaborations which address gaps and overlaps in service, and share
promising practices. Mini-grant projects must relate to either
informal learning or evaluation and assessment. Mini-grants are seed
funding and are not intended to fully fund entire projects.
Who can Apply?
Any
organization can apply. First the organization or program must
register in the National Collaborative Program Directory www.ngcproject.org/directory/index.cfm and second, each mini-grant applicant must partner with another registered program.
How can I Apply?
Guidelines and application materials can be found in the mini grant section of the National Collaborative Web site www.ngcproject.org/mini-grant/app-resources.cfm.
What are some examples of successful Mini-Grants?
There are examples of successful mini grants at www.ngcproject.org/mini-grant/grants.cfm.
Who do I contact for more Information?
Please
contact me regarding questions on who is eligible and how to
submit an application for the GRITS Collaborative mini-grants.
Judith Iriarte-Gross
Director of GRITS
615.904.8253
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Thank you for staying involved in and promoting the activities of the GRITS
Collaborative. Happy Holidays!
Cacy DeSheles
Girls Raised In Tennessee Science |
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