IMAGINE: Your STEM Future launched by GSSWT and AT&T


The initiative, called IMAGINE: Your STEM Future, is funded through a $1 million AT&T Aspire contribution designed to reach 6,000 young women, across the U.S., and introduce them to a variety of career options in the science, technology, engineering and math fields. AT&T's contribution is among the largest gifts ever made to Girls Scouts of the USA going toward STEM programs.

Gabby extracting DNA from a banana.

"Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas has some of the most promising young women eager to learn and make a positive impact in both their personal lives and future careers," said Perez. "AT&T's contribution enables us to expand our focus to help them explore educational and workforce options."

Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas is one of 18 regional councils, selected through a national competitive grant process, to participate in the educational curriculum, provided in a creative kit. The council will receive a $25,000 grant, made possible from AT&T's contribution to Girls Scouts of the USA, to conduct the program from November 2011 through summer 2012. San Antonio's Holmes High School in Northside Independent School District is the first of 10 high schools to commit enhancing STEM-related curriculum through participation in the IMAGINE program. IMAGINE: Your STEM Future will take place throughout the council's 21 county service area, including Kenedy ISD and Karnes City ISD southeast of San Antonio.

The IMAGINE curriculum offers opportunities for high school girls to team up with AT&T employees and other volunteers to participate in interactive activities and visual experiments, such as extracting DNA from a banana. These activities are designed to help students imagine a future STEM career and spark interest in taking additional STEM courses in high school and college, as well as open doors to new career options.

"The STEM disciplines are at the heart of our business and we understand how essential they are becoming to every business and the growth of our economy," said Flores. "We are committed to helping teens succeed and are excited that Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas has been selected to participate in this program and will help these young women develop more skills to enjoy productive and rewarding careers."

Minerva (left) and Clarissa (right) showing Sen. Van de Putte their experiments.

Experts say the country's need for a world-leading STEM workforce will continue to grow.

"It is our responsibility to provide a quality education to today's youth, especially in the fields of science and technology," says Senator Leticia Van de Putte. "I admire corporations like AT&T that partner with organizations such as Girl Scouts to provide enriching experiences for our girls and young women, who have limitless potential."

The contribution was made through AT&T Aspire, a $100 million commitment with the goal of helping students achieve their best possible futures. Launched in 2008, AT&T Aspire is one of the largest-ever corporate commitments to address high school success leading to college and career readiness.

AT&T and the AT&T Foundation have given nearly $87 million to support STEM initiatives since 1995. Projects supported by AT&T contributions range from STEM scholarship programs and science/math focused summer camps for at risk youth to hands-on technology labs and elite robotics competitions at the nation's leading universities.

Read the article in the San Antonio Business Journal here. View the photo gallery of the launch here.

1 Report To The President, Prepare And Inspire: K-12 Education In Science, Technology, Engineering, And Math (Stem) For America's Future; President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology; September 2010

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

  

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Grab the family and join GSSWT at SeaWorld San Antonio for the 2012 Cookie Rally on Saturday, January 21 -- it's going to be bigger and better than ever!

The fun kicks off at 9:30 a.m. with an interactive tailgating party with stations of all types -- including the newest patch initiatives by H-E-B (Healthy Living), CPS Energy (Environmental Awareness), Valero Energy Corporation (STEM), Rackspace Hosting (Girls & Technology), and Wells Fargo (Financial Literacy) -- and girls will earn the patches that day!

Once the park opens at 11:00 a.m. -- exclusively for GSSWT -- enjoy three shows, two rides (Steel Eel and Great White), game center (sorry, no prizes -- just fun!), and much, much more until 3:00 p.m. Cost is $12/person ages 2+. New this year is an all-you-can-eat buffet of hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, cookies, and drinks for an additional $12/person.

Don't miss out on the excitement! Register today!
 

 

Are you ready to rodeo Girl Scout style?! Gather up the young'uns, don yur jeans, boots,and hats and head on down to the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo for the first-ever Girl Scout Day Sunday, February 12!

Experience this long-standing San Antonio tradition with a Girl Scout scavenger hunt on the rodeo grounds and explore the many educational exhibits such as the Rodeo Hall of Fame, Animal Adventures, Little Hands on the Farm, and the Horse Education Building. Y'all will even earn yourself a commemorative rodeo patch!

Cost is $13/person ages 3+ (young'uns 2 and under are free) and includes admission, rodeo performance ticket, and the patch. No worries y'all, the concert is a family-friendly show featurin' Hot Chelle Rae after the rodeo performance. Grounds open at 9:00 a.m. and the show begins at 1:00 p.m.  

 

Let's rodeo y'all -- register now!