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Connecting girls and their dreams

| 21 Sep 2016 | 01:25
    Learning about chemicals at the Bayer Pharmaceuticals exhibit Photos by Meghan Byers
    Learning about chemicals at the Bayer Pharmaceuticals exhibit Photos by Meghan Byers
    Middle school student Gracie, age 11
    Middle school student Gracie, age 11
    Gathering at the coing maze
    Gathering at the coing maze
    Volunteer guides, from left: Zoe Abrams, Alexandra Porete, Juleanna Green, Allison Bottoni and Isabella Baptista.
    Volunteer guides, from left: Zoe Abrams, Alexandra Porete, Juleanna Green, Allison Bottoni and Isabella Baptista.
    More instruction and discovery at the Bayer table
    More instruction and discovery at the Bayer table

BY Meghan Byers
SPARTA – Approximately 100 middle and high school girls attended the first Dream Day workshop last Saturday at Sparta Middle School, where they explored topics ranging from flavor chemistry to computer coding basics. The event was sponsored by the DreamGirls Initiative, an organization created this past January to encourage girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
"Girls need to know that their dreams for a better world can be achieved through STEM," said founder Rashmi Drummond, a local Sparta resident whose youngest child just graduated from Sparta High School. "There just aren't a lot of role models for girls," she explained. "We want to show them how women in STEM fields can impact the world, and how their jobs really work. We want to change the face of who scientists and engineers are."
Representatives from Selective Insurance, Estee Lauder, Pepperidge Farm, Firmenich, and Bayer Pharmaceuticals filled the Sparta Middle School cafeteria with hands-on experiments and demonstrations that aimed to do just that. The girls were split into groups and moved from station to station, where they navigated a computer coding-based maze, extracted essential oils from lemons, and learned about topics like "scratch and sniff" technology and the engineering involved in product packaging. Each group had a volunteer student from Sparta High School acting as group leader.
"It's great to be able to empower other girls to enjoy science," said Isabella Baptista, one such volunteer, who would like to become a neurosurgeon one day.
"I've loved science my entire life, so I like being able to inspire other girls," agreed fellow high school student volunteer Allison Bottoni, who said she would like to study material science and one day work for Apple.
Sarah Hoffman, another high school volunteer, added, "There's so many possibilities in science; it's so open. You can try new things and solve problems in the real world and make a difference."
The response from the middle school students was equally enthusiastic. "I love science," said Gracie, 11, a middle school student. Annika, a fellow classmate, added, "I like how everything has an answer, everything has a reason."
Drummond said that the Dream Day workshops will be held annually, with the response from this past Saturday being used to decide if the DreamGirls Initiative should pursue developing more programs, such as extracurricular clubs and activities.
For more information on the DreamGirls Initiative, Drummond can be reached at dreamsneeddoing@gmail.com.