Annual conference explores new roles for future women leaders
What do sidewalk construction and skin-type analysis have in common? Both were topics covered at the 16th annual Girls + Math + Science = Success Conference to help young women break stereotypes while exploring a variety of career possibilities.
The all-girls conference brought together more than 200 participants from Prince William County, Manassas City, and Manassas Park, giving students in grades 5 through 12 an opportunity to explore a variety of jobs as they begin to plan for their academic future.
“It’s a great program to get girls involved in careers they might not have thought about for the future,” says Heather Martinsen-Hill, who coordinated the conference.
The conference emphasized math, science, and technology, focusing on fields which have 
historically been dominated by males. Engineers, geologists, and police officers were on hand to share their work experiences and encourage girls to pursue their dreams as they choose a career.
Students took a personal inventory to narrow down their areas of interest by checking off hobbies and academic courses that they enjoy. After completing the personal assessment, the women attended workshops that varied in topic from hard hats to rocket ships.
Officer Sherrie Farley with Prince William County Police was one of the many professional volunteers who led a break-out session at the conference. She notes that as female law enforcement officers continue to increase in number, people are becoming more aware of the skills these women lend to the force.
“We are getting more and more women in police work today… and statistics show that women do very well in this field,” says Farley. “Women are very good communicators, good talkers, and very good at leadership roles and that is important when it comes to this job.”
Many of the students have found the conference to be invaluable. Some, like Tyler Bastain, have even come back for a second round. “I went last year and thought it was a lot of fun, and I thought it was exciting,” says Bastain. “Last year it helped me decide [better] what I want to be when I grow up.”
Amelia Love, another student, says that the conference was well worth her time. She encourages other young women to take advantage of similar opportunities as they arise. “I think other girls should come because they could learn more about what is out there,” says Love. The conference helps girls like herself “have more options and be more open minded.”
To learn more about the Girls + Math + Science = Success Conference, watch the School Focus feature coming up on Comcast Channel 21. Go to PWCS-TV's Web site for show times and details.
4/3/06
