We are pleased to announce the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) has approved a $4,000 sponsorship award to fund the 2018 Summer STARS (STem Aerospace Research Scholars) Program for Hawaii high school girls.
HTDC also sponsored the STARS Program in 2017, providing critical funding for meals, transportation and student supplies. We’re grateful and excited to receive HTDC’s support again this year to continue growing and building upon the success of previous STARS events.
STARS is a free, week-long summer program designed to encourage young women to pursue careers in STEM. We accept up to 12 students based on interest and academic merit. Statistics show that young women need more encouragement and role models to succeed in STEM fields, and we hope to address this need while strengthening the future of Hawaii’s skilled, high-tech workforce.
This year, we intend to expand the program by providing overnight accommodations throughout the week and engaging students with more local organizations and female scientists. We are encouraged to see so much enthusiasm from local organizations in support of STARS, and we look forward to having our best program so far. By giving high school girls a behind-the-scenes look at STEM careers and the women who work in them, we hope to show young women that their dreams of becoming a scientist, researcher, or engineer are entirely possible—and that they have support and encouragement to pursue them.