亚洲AV鈥檚 popular FOCUS outreach program marks its 10th anniversary this summer and continues to expand its science and tech immersion programs.
FOCUS stands for Females of Color and those Underrepresented in STEM, and when the camp is in session, the middle schoolers and their counselors can be seen moving around George Mason鈥檚 Fairfax Campus in their brightly colored t-shirts as they immerse themselves in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities from coding and building a robotic arm to viewing distant planets at the Observatory.听
For the past decade, FOCUS Camp day programs have invited rising sixth- through eighth-graders to participate in interactive and hands-on workshops. The first year brought 18 girls to campus, with support from donors including the Business Women鈥檚 Giving Circle of the Community Foundation of Northern Virginia. Since then, the program has served more than 460 campers鈥攆illing to capacity each year within hours of opening admission.听
The program鈥檚 founders include George Mason mathematics professor听, forensic science professor听, former biology professor Claudette Davis, and George Mason alumna Danielle Craddock, MAIS 鈥11, the founder of Girls Inspired and Ready to Lead Inc. (GIRL). Knight now leads planning efforts on behalf of the College of Science鈥檚 STEM Accelerator Program and has remained steadfast in the FOCUS mission to introduce young women of color to STEM fields and nurture their scientific curiosities.听
鈥淲e always assess participants the day they begin camp and the day they leave, and it鈥檚 truly rewarding to see how much their interest in STEM spikes,鈥 Knight said. 鈥淥n average, interest rises about 30%, which is huge.鈥
With the program鈥檚 success and an interest from camp alumni wanting to return, organizers expanded in 2018 to also offer the George Mason College of Science FOCUS Academy鈥攁 more advanced and immersive college experience for high school students that further expands STEM topics and incorporates college prep, goal setting, and other classes designed to build their confidence, enhance their leadership skills, and support their social and physical wellness. These workshops cover forensic science, chemistry, bioinformatics, mathematics, and astronomy, which also happen to be听 for George Mason.听
鈥淚鈥檝e had participants tell me that being around other young girls of color affected the way they felt about attending a STEM program and helped them feel more comfortable when participating,鈥 said Knight. 鈥淚t helps them gain the skills and confidence they need when they move on to less inclusive spaces, to know that they can be successful.鈥
And it鈥檚 not only the FOCUS attendees who feel the impact. Knight said the George Mason undergraduate students who serve as counselors feel it too. Some have moved on to teaching careers in STEM subjects, while others have launched their own nonprofits for young girls in STEM.听
George Mason alumna Jade Kirkland said the FOCUS camp is the highlight of her summer. Kirkland had just finished her first year at George Mason as a forensic science major when she received the email about volunteering at FOCUS. Since then, she鈥檚 graduated from George Mason with both her bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in forensic science and now works in a biotechnology lab in Manassas, Virginia. She said she saves her personal time off 听each year so she can take one week off to come back to George Mason to serve as a FOCUS counselor.听
鈥淲hat brings me back every year is the fact that I get to have an impact on these girls at a young age and let them know that STEM isn鈥檛 just for the boys,鈥 said Kirkland, who has worked as a FOCUS counselor since the beginning. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something I didn鈥檛 have when I was that age.鈥
As a FOCUS counselor, Kirkland makes sure each camp participant gets as much out of the week as possible. That includes answering questions in workshops, sharing her own experiences as a forensic scientist, guiding them across the college campus, and ensuring a safe space for them to learn.
鈥淚 have as much fun participating in the activities as they do, and it鈥檚 amazing to watch how they think through things,鈥 said Kirkland, describing a lab she and the campers participated in last year to explore chemistry topics. Each made their own small bottle of perfume. 鈥淚 get a new perspective of STEM every year through these girls, and it makes me fall in love with science all over again.鈥
In 2021, the program expanded further to offer FOCUS MOST, led by Seshaiyer, a professional development program for K-12 STEM teachers that encourages the design of STEM workshops for camp participants that can then be brought back to their schools.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just the 50 girls coming each summer who are impacted,鈥 said Knight. 鈥淚t鈥檚 these teachers who are now taking methods back to their own schools. Along with the counselors mentoring these young girls who choose to continue to work even after they leave George Mason.鈥
So, what comes next? Knight said that there is still work to be done. While efforts to increase an interest in STEM for middle school and high school students have been effective, she said more needs to happen to influence representation at the college and early-career levels.听
鈥淲e need to expand the ecosystem of support for students so that they can continue to thrive in STEM even when they鈥檙e in college or at the professional level,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not seeing enough change in the numbers because there鈥檚 not enough support once students approach graduation and enter the workforce.鈥澨
The next FOCUS program expansion will consider ways to support women of color at the college level as they navigate the STEM fields and choose what they want to do after they graduate. And Knight said she also wants to extend the program鈥檚 reach.听
鈥淭hinking bigger about what it means to have impact on not just students local to Virginia, but on a national and international level, I think is going be another next phase for us for sure.鈥
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