Young women interested in the STEM field have a chance at a $5,000 scholarship.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe and the Virginia Council on Women, in collaboration with the Science Museum of Virginia, have announced the third annual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Essay Contest for high school junior and senior girls.
The Virginia Council on Women works to help women reach their potential and maximize their contributions to society and the Commonwealth as wage earners and citizens. They started the STEM essay contest in 2012.
This year, the Council will award one $5,000 scholarship to a female junior or senior who will be pursuing a STEM career at an institution of higher education. Other scholarships may be awarded at their discretion.
“Encouraging all of our students to learn and succeed in high demand STEM fields is critical to Virginia’s ability to compete in the 21st Century economy,” said McAuliffe in a news release. “I am pleased that the Virginia Council on Women and the Science Museum of Virginia are offering this contest yet again, and expanding their efforts to encourage Virginia’s young women to lead the future in these key areas. Innovative ideas like the STEM Essay Contest help open our students to new learning experiences and strengthen Virginia’s ability to prepare our children for future success.”
The scholarship competition is open to female residents in Virginia enrolled as a junior or senior in high school, with at least a 2.5 GPA. Applications and guidelines are available online.
Submissions are due by 9 p.m. March 30. Winning essays will be essays will be selected by a panel of judges who hold a degree in or work in STEM fields, and winners will be notified by April 25.
The scholarship awards will be presented at the 2014 Up & Atom Women’s Leadership Breakfast on May 7 at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond.
