An Extension and Public Outreach Grant lead by Shepherd University faculty member Dr. Kay Dartt, was named a recipient of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine’s 2021 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award.
Seeding Your Future Initiative (SYFI) seeks to address issues of inequity in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) career fields by sparking and maintaining the interest of young Appalachian learners, specifically those from marginalized communities and underrepresented groups. The initiative does so through two components: an annual conference for middle school-aged girls and a workshop series for high schoolers. The day-long conference provides positive role models, including a panel of successful women in STEAM related professions and female workshop presenters, as well as hands-on laboratory experiences and STEAM workshops.