McAllen ISD is proud to announce that 100 of its middle and high school girls will be participating in the third annual GIRLS in STEM Conference, hosted by the Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation. The event will feature keynote speaker Kathy Lueders, Director of SpaceX, who will share her journey as an engineer in a male-dominated field.
Running from 9 a.m. - noon, the event will be Friday, October 11 at Port Isabel High School, where more than 700 students from across the region will gather to explore future careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
With a focus on bridging the gender gap in STEM fields, the event provides valuable insights and opportunities for girls to envision themselves in these industries. The gender disparity in STEM begins as early as middle school, with fewer girls than boys expressing interest in related careers. Women remain underrepresented in these fields, making up only 28 percent of the US STEM workforce in 2023, with even lower representation among women of color.
Women engineers from NASA will share their experiences navigating their careers in STEM. These inspirational leaders aim to encourage students to pursue their passion and break through barriers in STEM industries.
McAllen ISD students will be joined by attendees from Brownsville ISD, Matamoros’ St. George Prep, and other regional schools for this extraordinary opportunity. The GIRLS in STEM Conference not only showcases the importance of STEM education for young women but also emphasizes the value of community collaboration in shaping the future workforce.