by Wendy Harrison

FRANKLIN
This summer, Verizon Innovative Learning launches its first program addressing the need for more girls, especially those in rural America, to be prepared for the science, technology, engineering and math careers of the future. The three-week summer learning experience will take place at Paul D. Camp Community College in Franklin, one of five community colleges piloting the program in rural areas across the country in partnership with the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE.)

The program will expose 50 middle school girls from the service areas to the fundamental principles of augmented reality, coding, 3D design, entrepreneurship and design thinking principles, as well as to female mentors. Leveraging an augmented reality interface and app, students will create a culminating project that identifies and solves a community problem that aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Following the summer program, students will continue to participate in monthly courses in person and virtually to build upon what they’ve learned and complete their final augmented reality products at Paul D. Camp.

According to data gathered by Change the Equation, a coalition of corporate members leading a movement to promote STEM among American girls, and the Carnegie Science Center, women continue to be underrepresented in STEM careers. A staggering 86 percent of engineers and 74 percent of computer professionals are men. The percentage of women in STEM careers has not improved since 2001, specifically within the engineering (12 percent) and computing (26 percent) workforces

The inaugural STEM summer camp will run from July 10-28 at the Franklin Campus, 100 North College Drive.

The program was developed under Verizon Innovative Learning, an initiative of the Verizon Foundation to bring free technology, access and hands-on immersive learning experience to kids in need to prepare them to thrive in a digital economy.  With a commitment of $160 million, Verizon is impacting 300,000 students and 7,400 teachers nationwide.

This year, Verizon launched #weneedmore, an effort to bring more attention to the STEMcritical need for more kids to see the world of possibilities waiting for them in STEM fields. Learn more at www.weneedmore.com