AAUW’s 4 Arcadians to Tech Trek

Four Arcadia middle school girls are among ten from four San Gabriel Valley school districts who are being sent by the Arcadia Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) to attend this month’s annual Tech Trek Science/Math Camp for Girls at Whittier College.

Off to AAUW California’s Tech Trek Science/Math Camp at Whittier College: Front row (l. to r.): Ann McGeeney, Monrovia; Kristi Hsi, Temple City; Victoria Torres, El Monte City Schools; Carly Kano and Sabina Chen, Arcadia. Back row (l. to r.): Amaryllis Covarrubias, Alexandra Martinez, and Lorraine Gomez, El Monte City Schools; Ashley Cheou and Jenny Romey, Arcadia.

Representing Arcadia are Ashley Cheou and Jenny Romey from First Avenue Middle School as well as Sabina Chen and Carly Kano from Dana Middle School. El Monte City Schools are sending four girls:  Amaryllis Covarrubias, Columbia School; Victoria Torres, Wright School; Alexandra Martinez, Potrero School; and Lorraine Gomez, Rio Hondo School. From Monrovia is Ann McGeeney a student from Santa Fe Middle School. Representing Temple City is Kristy Hsi of Oak Avenue Intermediate School.

AAUW-California has sponsored this program since 1998 to interest girls in careers in science, math, technology, and engineering.

“Let’s send ten in 2010!” was the goal for AAUW at the start of the year.

These young women will get a preview of college life while learning that math and science can be fun. They will live in dorms on the Whittier College campus for a week and attend classes taught by credentialed middle-school teachers and enjoy hands-on experiments. Women who are professionals in the fields of math and science will be guest presenters. Highlighting the activities will be field trips to Jet Propulsion Lab, forensic labs, and other science and technology centers. AAUW volunteers will serve as camp directors, nurses, and chaperones.

Students are nominated by teachers to attend Tech Trek Camp. The local branch of AAUW that provides the funding for the students to attend makes the final selection of “campers.” AAUW Arcadia Branch members are supporting this endeavor, along with contributions from parents, friends, and the Arcadia Chinese Business Association and other community donors.

The first Tech Trek Camp was held at Stanford University in 1998, with initial funding from the AAUW Educational Foundation. This year there will be eight camps:  CSU-Fresno, Sonoma State University, Stanford University (two weeks), UC-San Diego, UC-Santa Barbara, UC-Irvine, and Whittier College. Tech Trek is continuing proof that AAUW puts its mission—to support equity and education for all women and girls—into action.

To support programs like Tech Trek or to learn more about the American Association of University Women, please contact Tech Trek Coordinator Phyllis Howard at (626) 359-3525.