Free event for girls in third grade through high school

Girls in third grade through high school are invited to learn more about STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) at the “STEM for Girls” event to be held on the campus of West Kentucky Community and Technical College in the Emerging Tech Center on Thursday, November 12 from 5:30-8 p.m. Refreshments and on-site registration will be available from 4:30 until 5:30 p.m. and the program begins at 5:30. There is no charge for students to participate but pre-registration is suggested at www.paducahchamber.org. A special session for parents will be offered during the student program. The presenting sponsors are H.B. Fuller, West Kentucky Community and Technical College and Murray State University Regional Outreach.   

Students will have the opportunity to explore exciting hands-on activities and demonstrations presented by area professionals in the STEM fields. Each student will attend the opening session with keynote speaker WPSD Local 6 Chief Meteorologist Jennifer Rukavina and then rotate through three of the breakout sessions. The breakouts will be grouped by age:  elementary, middle school, and high school. Area female speakers will focus on a variety of programs. These include: 

            Emergency Management - April Tilford, Fluor

            Advantages of Robotic Surgery - Dr. Amber Savalls, Baptist Health Paducah

            Duck Banding - Jody Swain, Wildlife Biologist with KY Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

            Challenger Center - Mellisa Duncan, Challenger Center

            Veterinarian - Dr. Rennie Church, Ceglinski Animal Clinic

            Optometrist - Dr. Jennifer Gibson, Eye Center of Paducah

            Information Technology - Anna Berlekamp, Kalleo Technologies

            Medical Careers - Dr. Mirriam Slatter, Lourdes Hospital

            Careers for Women – University of Kentucky College of Engineering Paducah Campus Society of Women Engineers

            Radiological Control Technicians – representatives from Fluor

            3D Printing – Stephanie Milliken, West Kentucky Community and Technical College

            Discover Engineering – local female engineers Rachel Draffen and Miranda Webber, Arkema; Christina Trammell, Westlake Chemical; and Dannielle Ramage with Morsey Constructors                    

The parents' session will include a panel discussion to learn about ways to involve their children in STEM opportunities, how to prepare their children for these careers and how to prepare for college expenses. Speakers include representatives from West Kentucky Community and Technical College, Murray State University, Commonwealth Middle College, University of Kentucky College of Engineering Paducah Campus, McCracken County Schools and Paducah Public Schools.  

Each participant will receive a drawstring back pack and be eligible to win door prizes. 

The STEM for Girls event is coordinated by the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce Business Education Partnership with presenting sponsors H.B. Fuller, West Kentucky Community and Technical College, Murray State University Regional Outreach. Additional sponsors include: Gold:  Baptist Health Paducah, Fluor Federal Services, Ingevity, Lourdes Hospital, UK College of Engineering, Wellsprings Dermatology/Dr. Evelyn Jones; Silver:  Arkema, Inc., HDR | ICA Engineering and Paducah-River City BPW. Other:  Sylvan Learning Center and Turner Communications. 

Register online at paducahchamber.org or by calling the Paducah Chamber of Commerce at (270) 443-1746.