SOUTHFIELD – Up to $20,000 in scholarships and stipends for laptops are available for female senior high school and college candidates pursuing technology education courtesy the Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation.
The deadline for completing applications for the funds is February 28th.
?Gender disparity in the high technology industry is a documented fact, and the overall decline in university enrollments in technical fields is of tremendous concern nationally,? said Rosemary Bayer, President of the Foundation. ?That is why the Michigan Council of Women in Technology is dedicating so much time and resources to encouraging women to increase their technology skills, and obtain additional credentials.?
With many of its members noting a paucity of qualified women candidates for openings in their own companies, MCWTF (The Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation) delivered a breakthrough study in late 2005 outlining the best practices for retention and advancement of women in technology-related roles.
The study, supported by a number of well-known Michigan corporations, encapsulates the 5 best practices for retention, and the top 5 practices for advancing women in technology careers. The Foundation also recently collated and published a set of practices designed to help parents and teachers of girls to combat early prejudice and lack of exposure to technology.
?The first step is education,? said Pat Amaranth, volunteer Director of University Programs for the Foundation, and full-time Vice President of Systems Operations for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan, one of the study?s supporting companies. ?Women need to understand how exciting and fulfilling a technology career can be; and that process starts in the classroom.?
In addition to its scholarships, The MCWT Foundation also delivers an annual technology camp at Lawrence Technological University where 4th-7th grade girls design web pages, take apart computers, build and program robots, and learn about digital photography.
?We find that kids enjoy the interactive sessions so much that by the end of the camp, they ask to stay another week. By demonstrating that technology is fun and that everyone can do it, we encourage more girls to consider and view the sciences as exciting career options,? Bayer said. Other MCWTF programs include sponsoring all-girls Robofest teams as well as Student Interest Groups at both the University and High School levels.
For more information, click on MCWT.Org
