14 Auburn girls celebrate learning experiences at STEM Camp

Fourteen Auburn middle-school girls are going to report on their summer adventures in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) on Sept. 19 at Pioneer United Methodist Church in Auburn at 6 p.m. Recruited and fully funded by the Auburn Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), they experienced a slice of college life by living in dorms at UC Davis or UC Santa Cruz, or by attending a virtual camp. They collaborated in small groups to solve problems, handled scientific materials and interacted with professional women who are leaders in STEM fields. Local girls who attended UC Davis during the week of July 12-19 were Laila Blackwood (Loomis Grammar School), Roan Dela Cruz (Colfax), Evelyn Lease (Bowman), Keira McCabe (Foresthill), Evie Sippel (Weimar Hills) and Jozelyn Tejeda (Foresthill). Girls who attended UC Santa Cruz during the week of July 12-19 were Mia Luchetti (Placer Elementary), Olivia Picket (Placer Elementary), Bella Reci (EV Cain) and Makenna Rogas (Newcastle Elementary Charter). Girls who attended Virtual Camp during the week of July 21-25 were Arabella Cocchio (Pathways Charter iLearning Academy), Charolotte Dickerson (EV Cain), Sydney Mason (Loomis Grammar) and Olivia Robertson (Weimar Hills). Jozelyn Tejeda thanked the Auburn branch in a letter, writing, "We participated in really fun activities such as Budget Cents (Finance); Crime Scene Workshop (Forensics); Build a Boat (Engineering); Professional Women Forum (STEM Careers); College Application Process; Visiting the Bohart Museum (Entomology); Vet Labs and Surgery Center, and the Mondavi Theatre (Light, Sounds, and Technology). ... One day, I hope to come back as a counselor to help future Tech Trekkers. ... I cannot thank you enough." Tech Trek is a STEM enrichment program, started in 1998 in California. It offers rising eighth-grade girls a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore STEM topics with women role models and to possibly envision a future for themselves in it. Tech Trek is now a nationwide program, organized through AAUW. There are nine camps in California this year, plus 10 camps in other states. For more than 25 years, Tech Trek has opened the eyes of more than 15,000 girls to new worlds and the camaraderie of like-minded campers interested in STEM. AAUW branch members visit middle schools in the fall of every school year to work with science and math teachers to recruit candidates. The application process is thorough, and the goal is to select promising students who might not otherwise get such an opportunity. Middle school science and math teachers, principals and superintendents can send inquiries about next summer's opportunities to auburnaauwtechtrek@gmail.com. AAUW is a nonpartisan nonprofit that was launched in 1881 to encourage women to get a college education and fight for women's suffrage. Once women achieved the vote, branches increased fundraising for scholarships and focused their public policy work on issues that affect women and families. AAUW Auburn opened its membership this year to allies – meaning anyone who supports the AAUW mission is welcome to join. For more information visit https://auburn-ca.aauw.net/.