GIRLSTART TO LAUNCH THIRD YEAR OF DESTEMBER, TO EXPAND ON LAST YEAR’S 180,000 UNIQUE VISITORS WITH CURRICULUM ALIGNED WITH NATIONAL STEM STANDARDS, OUTREACH TO EDUCATORS

(AUSTIN) – Last year, Girlstart reached approximately 180,000 unique visitors through its online DeSTEMber program, featuring 31 days of STEM learning activities specifically designed for girls and their families, utilizing common household and pantry items to facilitate STEM learning through winter break. This year, the Austin-based nonprofit organization aims to further expand the program’s reach, particularly in Texas, through the creation of curriculum aligned with national STEM standards for K-12 education, and outreach to educators (which includes making the full month’s curriculum available to educators prior to the Dec. 1 launch date).

Girlstart is also partnering with a number of STEM-centric entities to create daily activities, including the Birch Aquarium, Dallas Zoo, Sylvia Earle Alliance, the Franklin Institute, Space Center Houston, and the Texas State Aquarium. Girlstart will utilize Google Hangouts, allowing presenters to demo activities live, and all presentations will be archived on the DeSTEMber site, joining the already-archived 2011 and 2012 DeSTEMber activities.

“DeSTEMber allows us to use the Internet to bring our STEM activities to a great number of girls and families, during a time of year when student learning is interrupted by several weeks of no school,” said Tamara Hudgins, executive director of Girlstart. “Through making our curriculum available to teachers, and by a more deliberate integration of the curriculum with national K-12 STEM standards, we’re giving them a way to supplement STEM education both inside and outside the classroom.”

DeSTEMber will conclude an eventful 2013 for Girlstart, which included the launch of its inaugural Women in STEM Awards, honoring the contributions of STEM professionals in Texas; the opening of its STEM Studio and Mini- Planetarium, expanding its programming capacity for STEM education at Austin’s Girlstart STEM Center; and being named one of four exemplary STEM programs ready for nationwide implementation by Change the Equation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, CEO-led initiative that is mobilizing the business community to improve the quality of STEM learning in the United States.

ABOUT GIRLSTART

Girlstart, founded in Austin in 1997, is the only community-based informal STEM education nonprofit in the nation specifically dedicated to empowering and equipping girls in STEM, through year-round programming that promotes girls’ early engagement and academic success in STEM, encourages girls’ aspirations and persistence in STEM education and careers, and incubates a talented and diverse STEM workforce. Its innovative, nationally-recognized programs include after-school and summer camps for students, professional development for teachers, and community and online STEM education outreach programs.

Girlstart cultivates a culture where risk is rewarded, curiosity is encouraged, and creativity is expected. As a result, Girlstart girls are connected, brave, and resilient. Girlstart makes girls more successful, and inspires them to take on the world’s greatest challenges.

WHAT:
Girlstart intern Bonnie-Claire Duren, a STEM CREW (Creative, Resourceful, Empowered Women) member and University of Texas at Austin student who works in the Girlstart After School Program, will be awarded the Miriam Tormollan Scholarship by the Austin Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) at the Girlstart STEM Center on Friday.

According to Anita Knight, Austin AAUW President, STEM education is a priority for AAUW in Austin as well as nationally, and Tormollan, the former Crockett High School for who the award was named, worked with the Expanding Your Horizons program (the precursor to the Girls In STEM Conference, one of Girlstart’s annual STEM outreach programs connecting middle school students with Austin-area STEM professionals).

Speaking for Girlstart, Executive Director Tamara Hudgins noted, “We are grateful for AAUW’s commitment to our programs, and now to our STEM CREW, by providing vital scholarship funds to a worthy student who also shares our common goals.”

About AAUW
The Austin Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) was established in 1923 and is a nationwide community of more than 150,000 members and supporters from all walks of life who advise, mentor, and support one another, including 1,000 branches, and 500 college/university institution partners. We believe in the mission of AAUW to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.

About the Miriam Tormollan Scholarship Fund
This fund was established in 2012 to honor Miriam Tormollan upon her death. The Tormollan family designated this memorial fund to be used to help young women in mathematics and science at The University of Texas at Austin as that was one of their mother’s passions.

Miriam was an educator and activist for education of women and girls. She earned her BA ’43 and MA ‘50 in English from The University of Texas at Austin where she was selected for Phi Beta Kappa. Miriam was a teacher of advanced placement senior English at Crockett High School in Austin, Texas for more than 15 years and was recognized for her excellence by being selected twice as “Teacher of the Year.”

In 1974 Miriam became a member of AAUW and was active at both local and state levels. In 2006 she was selected as Woman of the Year for AAUW Texas. For fifteen years she served as the central coordinator for AAUW Texas. Miriam represented AAUW in many capacities including: working with the Austin ISD to create a sexual harassment policy; testifying before the Public Education Committee of the Legislature; serving on the Coalition for Public Schools; mentoring in the Special School for Teenage Pregnant Girls; working with the Lone Star Girl Scout Council; helping with the “Expanding Your Horizons” program (precursor of Girlstart’s Girls In STEM Conferences).