Girls in the Middle Conference Registration Open Until Feb. 9

The annual Girls in the Middle Conference will be held on Sat., March 4, at Otero College from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The theme of this year’s conference is “Rivers of Discovery” and will encourage middle school aged girls to traverse the exciting world of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM).

The theme will be carried out throughout the day in hands-on workshops with collaboration and example from women in STEAM careers. Registration opened for 5th through 8th grade girls on Jan. 23 and closes on Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. All registrations will be taken online at www.girlsinthemiddle.com.

The goal of the conference is to encourage middle school aged girls to continue studying science, technology, and math once they enter high school. In March 2022, 200 girls from 12 local area schools, as well as homeschooled students in southeastern Colorado attended the conference learning about careers that require an advanced education in the study of science, technology, engineering, arts or math. Workshops were presented by professional women who are actively working in their careers. This year’s conference is expected to host at least 18 different career workshops that will be taught by women who are working in the fields of: Aerospace/Rocket Science, Archaeology, Dentistry, ER nursing, Information Technology, Nursing Simulation, Paramedic/EMT, Colorado State Patrol, Veterinarian, Water Engineer, and Water Treatment. Our afternoon session has the exciting return of the Air Force Academy, who presents various hands-on sessions relating to physics.

The Girls in the Middle committee is comprised of an all-volunteer group of professional women from the surrounding communities and Otero College. The $5 fee for the conference for students includes breakfast, lunch, a backpack and a T-shirt. The conference is open to all girls in the area in grades 5th through 8th. Registration will close on Feb. 9 at 5 p.m.

For more information, GIM can contacted through their website www.girlsinthmiddle.com and Follow them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/GirlsInTheMiddleAtOJC/ for the most up to date conference information.