DETROIT — Wayne State University’s GO-GIRL (Gaining Options – Girls Investigate Real Life) program is accepting applications for the winter 2018 semester. The initiative seeks to increase seventh grade girls’ competence and confidence in mathematics, technology, scientific thinking and communication by engaging them in experiences that promote an interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and build their capacity to pursue related careers. The free Saturday program, which is hosted by the College of Education, will begin on Feb. 10, 2018, and culminate with graduation ceremonies on Apr. 21. Space is limited; interested girls must complete the online application at gogirls.wayne.edu by Dec. 2.
“The program encourages girls to continue taking math and science courses, and we work to make sure participants are confident in their ability to excel in them,” said Sally K. Roberts, assistant professor and GO-GIRL faculty advisor. “Girls learn math and science concepts and get involved in fun, hands-on, interactive activities that help them better understand the ways in which these ideas can be used to solve problems in the real world. Our goal is to increase the number of girls who pursue careers in STEM, which not only diversifies the field but also improves career opportunities and earning potential for women.”
Since its inception in 2002, GO-GIRL has grown from a one-time intervention to an inclusive community that supports girls throughout high school and beyond. Winter program participants will explore STEM careers with Wayne State faculty and undergraduate mentors, gain experience using use library and online research tools, learn HTML, work in teams to create a mobile app, explore Wayne State’s campus, and more. Girls who complete the winter program will be eligible to participate in additional activities, including residential summer academies, hands-on STEM workshops during the academic year and GO-GIRL gatherings.
Past contributors and supporters of the GO-GIRL program include the Michigan Department of Education, RGK Foundation, Wayne State University College of Education and many private donors. To learn more, visit gogirls.wayne.edu or contact Sally Roberts at gogirl@wayne.edu.
For more information, contact Tracy Walker at 313-577-0260 or tracy.walker@wayne.edu.
About the College of Education
For more than a century, the Wayne State University College of Education has prepared effective urban educators who are reflective, innovative and committed to diversity. Its Division of Teacher Education boasts one of the most comprehensive, well-established programs in the country, and all four academic divisions offer a range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in nearly 30 program areas, including learning design and technology, leadership and policy, kinesiology, sport administration, education evaluation and research, health education and educational psychology, and counseling. To learn more, visit coe.wayne.edu.
About Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to more than 27,000 students. For more information, visit wayne.edu.