Girls from K-12 Will Use the Center Year-Round
AAMU Donates New STEM Learning Center for Girls Inc. of Huntsville
Alabama A&M University President Dr. Daniel K. Wims and members of his cabinet attended the ribbon cutting for Girls Incorporated of Huntsville’s new STEM Learning Center on the AAMU campus.
“Alabama A&M has been a champion for girls and is such a valued partner in the work that we do, primarily for girls from under-resourced communities,” says Girls Inc. of Huntsville Executive Director Stephanie Malone. “We asked, and Dr. Wims and and his cabinet delivered. This is a true partnership that spans across the University to make our STEM Center all that it is.”
Along with AAMU, Malone says the Tennessee Valley Authority and Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation donated $45,000 in STEM products for the center, including a 3-D printer, tables and chairs, Ozobots, little robots designed to introduce students to coding.
Girls Incorporated has been in Huntsville for 52 years. Malone has been the executive director for 24 years and says the generous donations will benefit local girls from K-12 year-round.
“This is a win, win,” says Malone. “It’s so beneficial to have a lab on a college campus so our girls can see themselves as future college students. They will see male and female STEM majors and that will plant a seed within them.”
Malone says the STEM Center will be open on some Saturdays, three days a week during the school year, and five days a week during their Summer Camp.
“Alabama A&M propagates STEM education as indicated by the high number of STEM graduates annually,” says AAMU Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. John D. Jones. “As such, we support STEM education and the development of STEM scholars throughout the educational pipeline. This initiative is one of the strategies for this important work.”
Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon and Commissioner Violet Edwards were also on hand for the ribbon cutting.