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The girls attended camp on scholarships sponsored by the Orinda/Moraga/Lafayette branch of the American Association of University Women. The OML Branch has been sending middle school girls to Tech Trek camp since 1998, and to date, it has sponsored 72 girls. The girls who went to Stanford this year are Emilia Gutman, Henel Kaidantzis, Abbie Lee, Shannon Lipp, Hannah Liu and Reese Whipple. The cost to send each girl to Tech Trek camp is currently $900.
Tech Trek math/science camp is designed to encourage seventh grade girls to persist with their excitement about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through high school, college and into their careers. The program features numerous hands-on activities as well as a chance for the girls make friends with other girls interested in STEM and to meet professional women in STEM fields. All sleeping, eating, instructional and recreational facilities are located on a university campus where camps are held. Tech Trek camps are organized, managed, and funded by AAUW volunteer leaders, with core classes taught by paid credentialed teachers. Each camp is unique with varied field trips and laboratory experiences.
The success of AAUW-CA's Tech Trek Project has gained national recognition. Corporations that see the need for more women in STEM fields are discovering the value of AAUW's project nurturing budding scientists and engineers of the future. The project has been rolled out to other states with 21 camps now serving 1,600 girls. Only girls nominated by a science or math teacher are eligible.
If you would like to donate to the AAUW OML Tech Trek scholarship program, or if you would like to attend a Tech Trek fundraising event such as the Walnut Creek Restaurant Walk on Oct. 18, 2016, please contact Jan Cushman at jancushman@comcast.net.
Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA