Saturday Morning Engineering Club at Colorado State University Helps Young Girls View Science, Engineering Careers

Note to Editors: Reporters interested in attending the Saturday, March 28 morning program should contact Emily Wilmsen at (970) 491-2336 or (970) 980-6120.

For the past eight weeks, Fort Collins-area grade school girls have turned off their Saturday morning cartoons to make parachutes and flying objects, learn about buildings that withstand earthquakes and build windmills.

On Saturday, March 28, this group of about 40 girls in grades 4 through 6 will "graduate" from the Saturday Morning Engineering Club, an educational program designed to get young women interested in math, science and engineering.

They’ll also make "lotions and potions" in their last class, which starts at 9 a.m.

Female engineering and science students at Colorado State University lead the free program, which is sponsored by Colorado State’s Women and Minorities in Engineering Program and Xcel Energy.

"Through fun activities, such as making cosmetics and building structures, the Saturday Morning Engineering Club is getting girls interested in math and science at a young age," said WMEP coordinator Aaron Benally.

"It’s just fun to get involved with the girls – it’s fun to keep them interested in math and science and engineering," said Gretchen Bohnhoff, a graduate student in civil and environmental engineering at Colorado State.

The Women and Minorities in Engineering Program provides information and resources as well as academic and professional development programs. Through a variety of activities, WMEP enhances students’ academic potential and professional growth while at Colorado State and strives to provide students with opportunities to explore the possibilities that engineering careers can offer.

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