Bethany Butler, a Tennessee Valley Authority transmission line engineer, discusses line tension during the STEM summer enrichment program at the TVA headquarters on Tuesday, June 13, in Chattanooga, Tenn.A group of high school girls is getting some valuable hands-on work experience through a Tennessee Valley Authority summer enrichment program.
The science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) program gives girls an opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge they’ve learned in class to a professional work environment. This is the second year TVA is hosting the STEM program.
“We had challenges finding girls who wanted to participate in our other school-to-work programs,” said Janice Horn, organizer of the STEM program.
Nine girls from four high schools – Center for Creative Arts, Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences, STEM School Chattanooga and Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy – participated this year. The girls, most age 15, had to apply and meet certain requirements, in addition to having two recommendation letters to be accepted into the program.
“TVA helps them see how science and math is applied in real-life situations,” Horn said. “Knowledge and exposure is key in getting skills to help you find a job.”