GIRL SCOUTS OF KENTUCKY’S WILDERNESS ROAD RECEIVES $10,000 GRANT FOR LAWRENCE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS STEM PROGRAM
LEXINGTON, KY – June 1, 2021– Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road (GSKWR) received a $10,000 grant from Riverside Generating Company, LLC to provide a Girl Scout STEM program (science, technology, engineering, and math) specifically for high school girls in Lawrence County, Kentucky. The Girl Scout STEM program prepares girls for their careers, while increasing their awareness and interest in applied technology. These programs offer student-driven exploration and experimentation through badge workshops, events and programs that focus on STEM activities.
Riverside Generating Company, LLC is an electric utility company located in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, that generates, transmits, and distributes electric energy to the Lawrence County electrical grid. “Riverside Generating Company wants to attract skilled female workers from Eastern Kentucky to fill positions at our company and have a positive impact on our local community,” said Kim Prater, Business Manager, Riverside Generating. “Investing in girls’ STEM Education will help us meet those goals.”
GSKWR’s STEM initiative gives girls a collaborative community to strengthen their confidence in STEM skills, geared to helping them succeed in these historically male-dominated areas. The Riverside Generating grant funding will provide a variety of activities including sessions on electrical engineering, computer technology, and college and career preparation within the STEM field. The GSKWR program also includes learning experiences, such as GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science), and workshops, such as automotive engineering and STEM in motion. Girl Scout’s progressive programming engages girls in STEM from kindergarten through high school. Through these programs, GSKWR aims to inspire girls to discover their true passions.
“Girl Scouts is excited that Riverside Generating is making this equitable investment in girls in Lawrence County. STEM jobs provide more career options and pay 33% more than non-STEM jobs,” said Susan Douglas, Chief Executive Officer, GSKWR. According to the Girl Scout Research Institute, 3 out of 4 girls say they would participate in a STEM program with Girl Scouts if there were one available. The Girl Scout STEM Program is a successful example of community collaboration to improve girls’ STEM skills and confidence, while increasing girls’ interest in STEM careers. “Riverside Generating is a perfect partner to build the female workforce pipeline in Eastern Kentucky,” said Susan Douglas.
GSKWR is continuously seeking local STEM experts from the public and private sectors who are interested in mentoring and teaching Kentucky girls. For more information on volunteering time, expertise or resources for GSKWR STEM programs, contact Cindi Griffith, GSKWR’s Volunteer Development Director at cgriffith@gswrc.org. To learn more about Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road, visit https://www.gskentucky.org.
About Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road
Recognized as the premier leadership opportunity for female ambition in Kentucky, Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road (GSKWR) serves over 8,000 girls and young women in 66 Kentucky counties and 1 Ohio county. With opportunities around the world, GSKWR advocates creativity and free choice, encouraging girls and young women to explore their passions and cultivate change through a focus on life skills, STEM, entrepreneurship and outdoor experiences. Through corporate partnerships in the State of Kentucky, GSKWR is creating a critical career pipeline of intelligent women leaders. To learn more about how Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road is creating experiential and leadership opportunities for growth, please visit www.gskentucky.org.
–Ann Keeling
