Girls in STEM at Minuteman High School earns national award for second consecutive year

By Judy Bass

For the second year in a row, Minuteman High School’s chapter of SkillsUSA has been awarded the Grand Prize in the Student2Student Recognition Program for its Girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) outreach to middle-school girls. The Minuteman students also earned this honor because of a successful paper recycling program they launched at the school this year.

SkillsUSA is a national organization that runs trade and leadership competitions for students in career and technical schools. The purpose of this award, as explained on the SkillsUSA website, is “to recognize excellence and professionalism in the area of student mentoring.”

Students in the Girls in STEM Club at Minuteman, in Lexington, were instrumental in the popularity and success of the school’s first Girls in STEM camp in February 2015, and the two subsequent STEM camps in August 2015 and February 2016. The school’s STEM initiative was brought to the public’s attention by coverage in the Boston Globe and on New England Cable News.

Three people who have been vital in planning and implementing the Girls in STEM projects at Minuteman are Director of Career and Technical Education Michelle Roche, Engineering Technology Instructor Becky Quay and Horticulture / Landscape Technology Instructor Sarah Ard.

Regarding the Girls in STEM Club’s paper recycling program, according to Ms. Quay, the students “educated their peers, making them aware of the program and encouraging them to recycle paper products within our school. They made weekly pickups from recycling bins from each classroom. They worked extremely hard, putting in many hours and much labor to make this a successful program.” Seven and a half tons of paper were recycled as a result of their efforts.

The week-long STEM program for seventh- and eighth-grade girls from within and beyond the Minuteman school district engages them in creative STEM-related activities, provides information about careers and further education in STEM, and gives them the opportunity to be advised by Minuteman students knowledgeable about STEM and certified in mentoring.

The Girls in STEM Club members from Minuteman are themselves being mentored by female professionals in STEM, and are effectively using their ability and enthusiasm to inspire young female students who are eager to pursue STEM educational opportunities and careers.

Another Girls in STEM opportunity for middle-school girls will take place at Minuteman this summer. From August 1-5, 2016, building on the success of the previous Girls in STEM events, there will be a Girls in STEM Explore program. Students can apply by visiting the Minuteman web site at www.minuteman.org.

The Grand Prize will be presented to Minuteman at the 52nd Annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Ky., on June 21, 2016 during the Opening Ceremony. Minuteman’s SkillsUSA chapter will receive a plaque, $500 to apply to next year’s mentoring project, and a $500 stipend to cover travel expenses for the Minuteman’s SkillsUSA chapter advisor and one student to go to Louisville.

Minuteman is an award-winning regional high school that integrates robust academic and career & technical learning to deliver a revolutionary competitive advantage. The school serves a diverse student body with multiple learning styles, expanding opportunities for college and career success. As an accredited member of the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC), Minuteman challenges all students to aspire to their full potential, accelerate their learning, and achieve success in the 21st-century global community.