Girl Scouts of Nassau County (GSNC) recently received a $10,000 contribution from AT&T in support of its Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education Initiative. This is the fourth year AT&T has contributed to GSNC’s STEM Education Initiative. Girl Scouts introduces girls of every age to STEM experiences relevant to everyday life and with the financial support from AT&T, girls have the opportunity to attend multiple programs designed to offer a unique opportunity to learn from and interact with professionals in STEM-related career fields.
“STEM is a vital part of the GSNC program, and we are extremely grateful to AT&T for its continued support and generous contributions to our STEM Education Initiative,” said Girl Scouts of Nassau County Interim Chief Executive Officer, Deborah Goldsmith. “This significant support provides Girl Scouts the opportunity to discover STEM related experiences, which will hopefully lead girls to a lifetime of appreciation for science, technology, engineering and math.”
AT&T’s ongoing support of GSNC’s STEM Education Initiative is part of the company’s legacy of supporting educational programs focused on STEM disciplines in New York through AT&T Aspire, its signature $400 million philanthropic initiative that drives innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issue including funding, technology, employee volunteerism and mentoring. With more than 1 million students impacted since its launch in 2008, Aspire is one of the nation’s largest corporate commitments focused on school success and workforce readiness by creating new learning environments and educational delivery systems to help students succeed and prepare them to take on 21st century careers. While career opportunities in STEM and computer science fields are growing, the barriers to accessing the education required to pursue those opportunities remain high, especially for women and children of color. That’s why AT&T has been a long-time supporter of bridging gender and diversity gaps in STEM education—supporting many summer and after school STEM education programs reaching students across the state.
“Tech is one of the fastest growing fields in the country and there are incredible opportunities for women to grow and advance. We continue to support the Girl Scouts of Nassau County STEM program because we know that to empower women to succeed in tech, it is critical to encourage a love of science from an early age. By providing access to STEM skills and nurturing their passion, we hope that they will one day be able to pursue their dream careers,” said Marissa Shorenstein, president, AT&T-East Region.
GSNC designs STEM-specific programs to fit the unique interests and education levels of girls from Daisy to Ambassador. The contribution from AT&T will provide GSNC’s older girls with unique opportunities to participate in a multitude of programs aimed to expand their overall knowledge of STEM related subjects.
Each year GSNC’s hosts an Annual STEM Conference, Imagine Your Possibilities, where future scientists, engineers, programmers, coders, physicians, med-techs and aviation mechanics meet, interact with and are inspired by positive women role models who excel in a wide variety of STEM careers. They also participate in interactive classes on a wide-range of STEM related topics designed to offer interesting and fun hands-on learning experiences. GSNC also has unique STEM partnerships, including the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research at Northwell Health, which offers girls in grades 10 and 11 a unique chance to explore careers in the fields of science and medicine.
