Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland Council and Columbus City Schools will hold the 2013 Keep the Promise-Young Women's Empowerment Conference on Fri., May 10, 2013, from 8:00 a.m.-1:45 p.m. at The Ohio State University in Columbus. This power-packed day has been designed exclusively by girls, for girls in grades 6-12. The day will feature a college and career fair, interactive workshops that focus on careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and topics that include public speaking, real world experiences, and ways you can make a difference in your community. You'll hear prominent speakers and enjoy lunch with professional women from diverse careers. You will take away great resources and a new network of social and professional connections! All girls will have the opportunity to participate in a Bridge Competition and compete for a college scholarship through entering an essay contest.
All participants are encouraged to participate in the essay competition sponsored by The Ohio State University College of Mathematical and Physical Science. There will be $3,500 in scholarships awarded to the essay contest winners to attend The Ohio State University.
All participants are invited to participate in the Toothpick Bridge Design Competition sponsored by The Ohio State University College of Engineering. The project is designed for a team of three to five girls. Each team will build and design a model bridge of wooden toothpicks and submit a written report.
This year's keynote speaker, Ruthe Farmer, has focused her efforts on increasing girls participation in technology and engineering since 2001. As Director of Strategic Initiatives at the National Center for Women & IT (NCWIT), she provides strategic planning and direction and cultivates new partnerships for NCWIT. Ruthe was on the founding committee of the Oregon Robotics and Tournament Outreach Program, now the largest and most successful Lego Robotics program in the U.S. and the second largest in the world.
She developed "On the Road: the Savvy Girl's Guide to Cars," a comprehensive program on automotive careers, safety, and maintenance sponsored by Firestone and the U.S. Department of Labor. She received the 2007 Education Publisher's Award for the program guidebook.
