Howard Connect Academy will host one of the 100 Girl Powered workshops that will take place around the world during October. The Howard Connect workshop will be Thursday from 3-5:30 p.m. at the school. The workshop coincides with the United Nation’s International Day of the Girl. Now in its third year, this global initiative was created through a partnership between the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation and VEX Robotics, who are working to "redefine the face of STEM and make robotics reflective of the world we live in, and the one we want to leave behind."
The Girl Powered workshops are meant to engage and inform young women about STEM, connect young women with mentors, highlight examples of how women are changing the world, provide tools for success and offer an environment where all students’ confidence and abilities can flourish.
The TN Valley Robotics Girl Powered event at Howard Connect Academy will feature hands-on activities, robotics demonstrations and STEM guest mentors.
“We’re excited to support the REC Foundation and VEX Robotics by hosting a Girl Powered workshop.
We’ve seen the results of this initiative first-hand, adding more young women to our programs and engaging with them around STEM and robotics with increased confidence,” said Scott Rosenow of TN Valley Robotics. “As a robotics coach/mentor, I recognize the perseverance, teamwork and problem-solving skills that students gain from participating in competitive robotics programs like VEX Competitions. The Girl Powered initiative will help reach many more young women who might have an interest in robotics and STEM, make them feel welcome, show them they belong and invite their creativity to take root and thrive.”
"How is Girl Powered making an impact? The answer might depend on who you ask," officials said. "Across the robotics community, Girl Powered has enabled 500 new teams, captured personal stories from girls in robotics through an expanded online challenge, launched the Girl Powered Pledge, nearly tripled the number of workshops and engaged, dynamic female thought leaders at Girl Powered Connect events hosted at VEX Worlds."