Girls Leading Girls in Science

Fall 2009 – Funding by a NSF Grant through

The National Girls Collaborative Project

This program was created to encourage and inspire girls towards science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers through a visit to Belmont Abbey College. Each 5th grade girl is matched with a female mentor in a STEM majors from Belmont Abbey College (BAC) to encourage them to consider entering college as STEM majors. A mentoring partnership will be developed between the women college students from BAC and the fifth grade girls from North Belmont Elementary School.

College students will be given girls’ names to establish a mentoring relationship prior to the girls’ visit to BAC on November 4. Here are some of the features of the visit:

  • North Belmont students participated in an engaging inquiry science lesson instructed by BAC education majors.
  • Female STEM mentors and elementary students attended a STEM class together at BAC.
  • North Belmont students went on a tour of the BAC campus.
  • Both college students and North Belmont students attended a luncheon on campus. At the luncheon 7 women from the Charlotte area in STEM careers came and informally discussed their role in STEM and what preparation it took to accomplish their goals.
  • College students were invited to go to North Belmont Elementary School to mentor their girls by the school principal, Mr. Chris Germain.
  • A scientific research project will be conducted at the school lead by Dr. Judith McDonald and assisted by BAC female STEM and education majors.
  • The collaborative nature of this program involves many individuals including the departments of BAC (students and professors), students and teachers from North Belmont Elementary, and women from the community.
  • Pictures of the day are the link below

http://picasaweb.google.com/TerMcd/GirlsLeadingGirlsInScience#

We all had a great day despite the lack of electricity on the campus for about 15 minutes in the morning.  Many girls said that they had a great day and would look at science with a different view after this day.  The principal, Chris Germain said to the girls that they were special because they were the only ones having a day like this in the entire school district.  I will do some follow-up and see if this day had an impact.  Stay tuned….. we will see.

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