Sunset Students Help Lt. Governor Launch STEAM Portal for Girls
Eight Sunset Ridge Middle School students were selected to help the Lieutenant Governor launch a new initiative. These young women who have interests in the STEAM fields are exactly the type of students Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz is aiming to support with the new ct.gov STEAM portal. The portal was created to keep young women and girls engaged with science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics throughout their lives by connecting them with opportunities to nurture their interest whether it be through camps, classes, internships, and/or other online resources.
During the portal launch event at Sunset Ridge on June 1, these students spoke with Lt. Governor Bysiewicz and Office of Higher Education Executive Director Timothy Larson about their current interests and future goals.
"Throughout my teaching career I've had countless students with a genuine interest in science, technology engineering, arts, and math. One of the major challenges I face every year is trying to find the right opportunities for them to pursue those passions outside of the classroom,” said Amanda Cooper, Science Teacher at Sunset Ridge Middle School. “I am thrilled about the launch of this STEAM portal because it will allow me to spend less time researching, and more time connecting students and families to the resources and opportunities that will make a lifelong impact."
The STEAM Portal includes individual pages that explain and highlight “what is STEAM?,” sourced content that analyzes the ways in which the “STEAM Gap” can occur, female pioneers in STEAM fields, lists of camps and other resources students can access, lists of scholarships, lists of DIY resources, and an interactive map of Connecticut that shows where STEAM-related programs are located.
“As chair of the Governor’s Council on Women and Girl’s, one of our main priorities is getting more students, particularly women and girls, involved in the STEAM fields,” said. Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz. “This centralized portal will act as a one stop shop for all things STEAM throughout the state of Connecticut, providing information along with important resources that can help parents, teachers, students, and researchers. Accessibility creates opportunity, and I’m thrilled that our students will now have this portal to continue their exploration of their interests in STEAM.”