 Chloe Woodard is among more than 200 girls who attended the 25th annual Reach for the Stars event, Nov. 1, 2014 at Brookhaven College. Photo by the author. She said she learned about the 25th annual Reach for the Stars Conference, which cost her $10 and was held Nov. 1 at Brookhaven College, during a library assembly at her school. “It was interesting and they gave you choices on jobs you would do in real life. [They explained] how many years of college you will have to go. They gave us different choices on workshops depending on our interest in math and science,” said Woodard, who attended a “Fashion Math” workshop taught by employees of the retailer, American Eagle Outfitters. “Fashion Math” taught attendees how to calculate the cost of designing a T-shirt from various profit templates. Woodard and her aunt, Cheryl Woodard, a recent Texas transplant from Tennessee, attended the workshop together and co-designed a paper T-shirt. | Chloe Woodard, who “loves Algebra,” has started to think about which college she will attend. Woodard, 13, has some career options, too, after attending an annual mathematics and science conference for 7th- and 8th-grade girls in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District and Coppell East Middle School. “I have thought about going to college and I really want to go. You can get a better job with a degree,” said Woodard, who attends Barbara Bush Middle School. “I’m not sure [which one I will attend because] there are so many good colleges—Harvard, Yale, and Brown. I have been looking at them because they are worldwide schools.”  Cheryl Woodard (left), who recently moved to Texas from Tennessee, attended the "Fashion Math" workshop with her niece Chloe Woodard during the 25th annual Reach for the Stars event, Nov. 1, 2014, at Brookhaven College. Photo by the author. |
[On a personal note, I gave the keynote speech “Designed for Success: A Thank-You Letter to Ma Dear” at this year’s event, for the second time. The first was at the 15th annual event in 2004. Lots of fun—both times.]
 Enjoying the event with AAUW organizers Dr. Julie Moore and Mary Lovell, Nov. 1, 2014 at Brookhaven College. |  Meeting future scientists and mathematicians and a supportive parent (right), at the Reach for the Stars event, Nov. 1, 2014, Brookhaven College. |
Sixteen workshops were available to students including: “Tomorrow’s Pharmacist,” featuring University of Texas College of Pharmacy students Brianne Strong and Sara Hembith, who led students through the RX Bingo game. “A Vet for Your Pet” gave attendees a chance to hear real-world information from veterinarian Dr. Lynda VanAntwerp and to meet some cute animals, courtesy of two Petco locations.
Reach for the Stars is organized by the Farmers Branch-Carrollton branch of American Association of University Women, along with professionals and businesses, Brookhaven College and the school districts that sent students, according to AAUW representative Mary Lovell.
To learn about Brookhaven College’s Geotechnology Institute, including the BCGI TexPrep Scholarship, visit: https://www.brookhavencollege.edu/programs/geotech/texprep/Pages/default.aspx.
For more information about AAUW’s national STEM initiative, go to: http://www.aauw.org/what-we-do/stem-education/.
Contact AAUW Farmers Branch-Carrollton President Delryn Fleming, delryn@verizon.net, to get involved with the organization.
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