Grant supports expansion of Young Women’s STEM Leadership Initiative
Today, the Frontiers of Flight Museum announced that the PPG Foundation made a $10,000 donation for the second consecutive year to support expansion of its science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education program titled Young Women’s STEM Leadership Initiative. The program serves 6th through 12thgrade students from three public all-girls schools in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Visit: http://www.flightmuseum.com/education/initiatives-partnerships/.
The partnering schools are Dallas Independent School District’s Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School and Grand Prairie Independent School District’s Young Women’s Leadership Academy, which emphasize leadership as well as STEM education for students mostly from underserved areas, and also Balch Spring Middle School, which is participating for the first timethis year.
“In partnering with these three schools, the Museum aims to increase the girls’ understanding of aerospace while instilling confidence in STEM education,” said Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Frontiers of Flight Museum. “This is particularly exciting because it may encourage many young women to consider careers in aviation and aerospace. The community as a whole and the aerospace industry in particular will benefit from more young women pursuing STEM careers and aerospace jobs.”
The Museum’s program encourages female students to increase their knowledge of STEM-related principles in aerospace. Now in its second year, the initiative raises awareness of and interest in aerospace and related careers through experimentation and hands-on learning, while also offering them leadership skill-building opportunities.
“PPG and its foundation believe the aerospace industry benefits from educational programs like this one that interest young people in pursuing science- and math-related careers by engaging them in fun activities,” said Kevin Brooks, business manager of PPG's aerospace application support center near Dallas. “We are happy to again support the Frontiers of Flight Museum in helping more girls in the Dallas area develop technical literacy that will help them become better-skilled employees serving companies such as PPG and their communities in the future.”
Young Women’s STEM Leadership Initiative will allow more than 2,000 students to participate in guided tours of the Frontiers of Flight Museum and in on-site and outreach educational programming. The program supports events during Engineers Week and a one-week immersive camp during spring break offering girls an in-depth STEM-focused experience. The initiative also includes paid internship opportunities for 10 upper-class students to assist teachers with spring break camp and 20 internships and 10 scholarships for the Frontiers of Flight Museum’s Aviation & Space Summer Camp.
“Thanks to the PPG Foundation’s support for our Young Women’s STEM Leadership Initiative, the Frontiers of Flight Museum is better able to meet the accelerated demand for STEM education programs,” said Sutterfield-Jones. “Statistics suggest there is tremendous growth opportunity for young women in STEM-related education and careers. In partnering with these three schools, the museum aims to increase girls’ understanding of aerospace and interest in related careers while instilling confidence in STEM-focused skills.”
Currently there is a talent gap of 7 million skilled workers in the United States -- jobs requiring science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills that are not being developed according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, 20.4% of the workforce is currently in STEM positions; over the next 4 years the region is expected to experience the 4th largest STEM growth in the country. Women make up less than 25% of participants in STEM programs nationally and are at particularly low levels in aviation.
The Frontiers of Flight Museum is using the Young Women’s STEM Leadership Initiative to enhance the effectiveness of its current education programs while extending its reach to serve more girls. “This initiative gave us a roadmap with a clear course to enhance our quality STEM programming with new resources and activities that will help us inspire and empower young women across North Texas,” said Sutterfield-Jones.
The PPG Foundation aims to bring color and brightness to PPG communities in the United States. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow today’s skilled workforce and develop tomorrow’s innovators in industries related to coatings and specialty materials. Plus, we empower PPG employees to make an impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving. Learn more at www.ppgcommunities.com and follow @ppg_communities on Twitter.
About the Frontiers of Flight Museum
The Frontiers of Flight Museum, a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate, is a gem in the North Texas community that attracts over 100,000 visitors annually including 30,000 students. The Museum is conveniently located just north of downtown on Lemmon Avenue at the southeast side of Dallas Love Field Airport, north of Mockingbird Lane.
Housed in a modern 100,000-square-foot facility, the Frontiers of Flight Museum provides a focal point to explore the history and progress of aviation, as mankind continues to pursue going higher, faster and farther. Educational classes for all ages are offered throughout the year, designed to excite the imagination in science, technology, engineering, and math through spacecraft design, aerodynamics, model-building, space survival, and other disciplines.
PPG: BRINGING INNOVATION TO THE SURFACE.®
PPG’s vision is to be the world’s leading coatings company by consistently delivering high-quality, innovative and sustainable solutions that customers trust to protect and beautify their products and surroundings. Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and colour, PPG provides added value to customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. Founded in 1883, PPG has global headquarters in Pittsburgh and operates in more than 70 countries around the world. Reported net sales in 2015 were $15.3 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com and follow @PPGIndustries on Twitter.
For information about the Frontiers of Flight Museum’s Young Women’s STEM Leadership Initiative call: (214) 350-1651 or visit http://www.flightmuseum.com/education/initiatives-partnerships/.