ELHS Society for Females in STEM Offers "Coding and Cookies" Event December 13

After noticing the gender-based disparity in a potential college’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) program, East Lansing High School junior Samantha White was deeply concerned with the gaping and nearly ubiquitous gap.

Driven to look deeper into the issue, White ended up spending her summer in Washington DC researching, explaining, “I talked with women in STEM fields from the Smithsonian to the White House about how we can increase the number of women in STEM.” Out of all this information, she decided her best path was to lead a club at her own school, and thus ELHS’s ‘Students for Females in STEM’ club (SFS) was born.

Samantha White

The club, which officially started this October aims, according to White, to “encourage and support girls going into STEM” through two venues: education, and advocacy.

For education, club members learn about STEM fields through guest speakers and field trips. Then they spread this education throughout the community to, as White puts it, “advocate for more women in STEM by talking to teachers, parents, and other students.” They particularly hope to engage young girls in fields based around STEM subjects.

According to the founder, student reception of the club has been very positive, with around 30 students attending one meeting. In addition, White reports that she’s received a lot of support and positivity from individuals who don’t attend. Meetings are held biweekly on Friday mornings at ELHS, along with auxiliary gatherings for guest speakers. Members also work hosting community events, such as a Science Night at Glencairn Elementary, and an upcoming coding event, titled Coding and Cookies.

Coding and Cookies is a part of the nationwide “Hour of Code” initiative, in which around 40 Million students have been given basic coding instruction with a goal of creating a tech-fluent youth, and promoting knowledge of computer science. SFS’s event is aimed at all students in grades 1-12, and asks participants to come for as much or as little time as they wish between 12 and 4 PM on Sunday, December 13th.

SFS members will give instruction in coding to participants, who will also receive a cookie and a prize at the end of the event. Club President White emphasizes that “the event is not limited to just the kids; there will be guest speakers and presentations for parents too” and that there will be a drawing for a new Windows tablet.

Coding and Cookies will be held in East Lansing High School’s media center on December 13^th from noon to 4PM. Members of SFS will be available at the main entrance to direct participants to the media center. More information is available by emailing samantha.white2642@gmail.com.

East Lansing High School is located at 509 Burcham Drive.