By KJ MUSHUNG
Potomac Local News
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Council on Women, in collaboration with the Science Museum of Virginia will hold a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) essay contest for high school junior and senior girls.
According to a press release, the council will award one $5,000 scholarship to a female junior or senior who will be pursuing a STEM career at an institution of higher education. Other smaller scholarships may be awarded at the discretion of the council.
First launched in 2012 with Virginia First Lady Maureen McDonnell serving as Honorary Chair, the Council raised $10,500 from SKANSKA, MeadWestvaco and NewMarket to support the STEM Essay Contest. Scholarships were presented to the recipients at the Science Museum’s Up & Atom Women’s Leadership Breakfast.
Tracy Key, Chair of the Council, presented the STEM Scholarships to three award recipients.
“The Council believes opportunities offered to women early in life will help lead to their future successes, and supporting young ladies who want to pursue a career in STEM is critical to our future workforce,” said Key.
Governor Bob McDonnell said in a press release, “We received an enthusiastic response from all over Virginia to last year’s inaugural STEM Essay Contest… So many of the future jobs that will be available to our young people in the years ahead require a strong background in STEM, and this is a great way to help inspire young women to pursue those interests as they finish high school.”
More than 170 STEM Essay contest entries were submitted in 2012.
To be eligible, one must be a female who resides in Virginia, be enrolled as a junior or senior in high school and hold at least a 2.5 GPA. Entrants should follow guidelines available online.
Entries must be submitted to women[at]governor.virginia.gov by 5 p.m., on March 1, 2013 to be considered.
The winning essays will be selected by a panel of judges who each hold a degree in or work in a STEM field.
Winners will be notified by April 15. The Scholarship Award(s) will be presented at the 2013 Up & Atom Women’s Leadership Breakfast on May 15 at the Science Museum of Virginia, which is located at 2500 West Broad Street in Richmond.
The purpose of the Virginia Council on Women is to help women reach their potential and maximize their contributions to society and the Commonwealth as wage earners and citizens.
