EXTON, PA — A trio of young women from Owen J. Roberts High School in Pottstown are the 2023 winners of an international competition showcasing women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) after partnering with the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) and its STEM Innovation Youth Career Exploration Programs. The news comes as CCEDC announces it has just agreed to hold its annual Girls Exploring Tomorrow’s Technology (GETT) program at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, expanding to this location for the very first time to connect more girls and STEM companies than ever.
GETT will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2023, providing the opportunity for girls in grades 5-10 to explore STEM careers and educational pathways at a free, expo-style event. The GETT expo includes more than 100 exhibits featuring hands-on STEM activities staffed by women leaders from the region’s most high-profile STEM-based companies.
Partnering with CCEDC, the Owen J. Roberts students were among high school girls from across the globe who submitted a 60-second video on how STEM is making an impact on the futures of young women in their communities. The winning video from Owen J. Roberts High School made its world premiere last Tuesday at the I Wish International Conference in Dublin, Ireland before an audience that included keynote speaker and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, as well as thousands of girls in grades 9-12 who attended in person and through a digital broadcast.
“Connecting local young women to leaders in STEM is a major part of our ongoing efforts to develop the next-generation workforce here in southeastern Pennsylvania. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to go global with the young women of Owen J. Roberts High School, and we congratulate them on this amazing accomplishment,” said Tracey Oberholtzer, CCEDC Events Director. The winning video can be found at https://youtu.be/r9DPWMHzyVg, created by students Riley Haring, Maya Evans and Eliana Crew while collaborating with CCEDC, East Vincent Elementary, OJR Middle School and TCHS-Pickering.
“We are very honored to work with CCEDC, GETT, local schools and the I Wish organization to help spread the message of early and consistent STEM education for girls and young women,” said Owen J. Roberts High School Advisor Mary-Rita Bonner. “These ongoing opportunities for my students to connect with STEM leaders, both locally and around the world, provide role models and encourage them as they pursue their own interests in STEM fields.”
GETT is presented by the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) via its Innovative Technology Action Group (ITAG). Driven by the volunteer efforts of numerous public, private and educational organizations, along with public and private investments, GETT began in Chester County, Pennsylvania in 2001 as a response to the under-representation of young women in STEM-related industries. Since that time, GETT has expanded its geographical footprint to include Southeastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey, northern Delaware and beyond.
For more information about how your company can participate in GETT and CCEDC’s STEM Innovation Youth Career Exploration Programs, contact CCEDC’s Tracey Oberholtzer at toberholtzer@ccedcpa.com
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