'Girl Power' Places Bensalem Student in Spotlight With YWCA Honor

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —Keira Seidman is showing just how "Girl Power' can make a difference in the community.

The Bensalem High School junior has racked up over 200 hours volunteering as a counselor in training at the Silver Lake Nature Center summer camp, assistant coach at Bucks County Girls Softball League clinics, and as student leader for the BHS robotics middle school summer program over the past year.

She's being honored for that community service by YWCA Bucks County at its 30th Annual Salute to Women Who Make a Difference Gala on Oct. 27.

Keira will represent the teen award for “#GirlPower,” while 13 women will be honored for Advocacy & Civic Engagement, Corporate & Social Responsibility, Media & Journalism, Women’s Empowerment, Racial & Social Justice, and Community Engagement, the YWCA of Bucks County said.

The gala, on Oct 27th at Spring Mill Manor, is a major fundraising event for the charitable programs run by the YWCA of Bucks County, which focuses on empowering women and eliminating racism.

In a profile of Keira, the YWCA said she loves working with kids and enjoys leading and teaching them about the things she is passionate about: nature, softball, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art & math).

As a budding entrepreneur, Keira started a craft business with her younger sister, called STEAMcraft. Their signature products are do-it-yourself kits for kids. They also make artistic home décor and 3D-printed knickknacks, the YWCA said.

Academically, Keira took a full slate of advanced courses in her sophomore year and made the Principal’s List with straight As. Outside the classroom, she is on the varsity softball team, robotics team, Mathletes team, and teaches peers how to play in the Chess Club.

Keira was also inducted into the National Honor Society. She also plays softball for her club team and plays co-ed street hockey in the Bensalem Police Athletic League.

Keira relishes being on her robotics team. She gained expertise in the electronics, hardware, and motors, and developed the best ways to build and repair their robot. Becoming a go-to person on the team to fix their robot led to being selected to their Pit Team for competitions - only the 5th girl in their history to be selected! At the end of the year, Keira was ecstatic to be selected by team leadership to become the next Assembly Team lead for her junior year.

Keira received a 1st place award in the regional Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science competition, sending her to the state finals at Penn State University.

Keira was also accepted into the "Exelon Foundation STEM Leadership Academy" at Drexel University, a selective summer program that fosters interest in STEM fields in young women.