Registration Now Open!

(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Feb. 2, 2015) - - - Columbia State Community College is pleased to announce the return of its Girls Really Love Science event, intended to promote and encourage the success of girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers.

STEM GiRLS registration opens Monday, Feb. 2 for the April 18 event that centers on educating 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade girls about the various career opportunities available to them in STEM fields as they begin to think about their futures.

"We're very excited to bring this event back to Columbia State," said Dr. Glenn Hudson, event director and associate professor of mathematics. "We want to provide an atmosphere of learning and engagement for these young women. We also want to positively influence them and teach them to identify and overcome potential gender barriers, biases and misconceptions in the STEM fields."

The one-day event features workshops designed to engage participants in educational and interactive hands-on activities that will involve agricultural science, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, math, physics and other applied sciences.

This year's keynote speaker is Jessica Fain, adjunct instructor of mathematics and science at Roane State Community College. Fain's specialty is biology, and she is a certified scuba diver, open water diver, aquanaut and underwater laboratory specialist.

Parents and teachers are invited to stay for a complementary adult session that will provide insight on how to encourage and guide young women in STEM classes and careers, demonstrating how daughters and students can have rewarding and high-paying careers in a variety of STEM fields.

Check-in begins at 8 a.m. in the Waymon L. Hickman Building on the Columbia Campus, located at 1665 Hampshire Pike. The event will kick off at 8:30 a.m. in the Cherry Theater, just inside the Hickman Building. STEM GiRLS will conclude at 3:30 p.m.

Those interested are encouraged to register early as spaces are limited. The registration fee is $20 and includes lunch and a T-shirt. For additional information and to register, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/STEM-GiRLS.

Registration is open until filled and is for female middle school students in Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Marshall, Maury, Perry, Wayne and Williamson Counties.

STEM GiRLS is sponsored by General Motors in Spring Hill and Lucas Chevrolet, Parks Motor Sales, and Listerhill Credit Union in Columbia.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, one of the largest higher education systems in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.

Tennessee's Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. We offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tncommunitycolleges.org.