23rd Annual Expanding Your Horizons Conference

  • By: Karen Skubik
  • March 6, 2014
  • 369
                        
Calling all 5th and 6th grade girls – or at least the ones who like to have fun, learn something new, and dream about the future. The award winning national program, Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) will hold it’s 23rd conference at The College of Wooster on Saturday, April 12. The once a year event is designed to encourage girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers. Local female career professionals will serve as role models and provide hands-on activities to motivate girls to prepare for the ever-changing future by stimulating curiosity and encouraging creative thinking. This year’s conference offers a selection of 17 sessions, all held in the college’s science buildings, so girls will get a taste of the atmosphere of a higher education campus. Each girl will attend three sessions and have the opportunity to gain real-world insight into a variety of career options. There are pediatricians, numerous College of Wooster and Ohio State University faculty, engineers, a dentist, and a veterinarian. Examples of new offerings this year include Melissa Rehm, 4-H Youth Development, explaining how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) work and Denise Ellsworth from the OSU Honey Bee Lab who will bring live bees. Last year attendee, Ellen McAllister, said, “One of my favorite activities was extracting the DNA from a strawberry.” Melina Mera, a Cornerstone Elementary student, exclaimed, “I loved the geology session because it was cool to learn about and see different rocks and minerals. Plus, I made a bracelet that I have used all year long.” Mera said she came last year because, “I was excited to have the chance to do hands-on science all day”, and she and McAllister are both looking forward to returning to the conference this year as 6th graders. The local EYH organization has received long-term financial support from the American Association of University Women. Wooster AAUW co-president and a former director of education and school principal, Judy Kastelan, said “Providing young ladies opportunities to explore life career choices in a positive, unintimidating campus environment can only enhance the chance they will arrive at their right life decisions.” Kastelan explained, “This all volunteer program in itself speaks to the energetic outpouring of exemplary instructor/professional women who have been successful themselves and have a fervor to pay it forward encouraging and supporting others to stretch for their dreams in ways they may not have considered.” With AAUW’s mission to help break barriers for women and girls through education, the local group feels that supporting EYH works towards meeting this goal. Brochures have been delivered to schools in Wayne, Holmes, and Ashland counties and can also be viewed on-line at http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/ocamm/images/EYH_2014.pdf Registration deadline is March 29 and is limited to the first 170 girls.


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