Attendees of the Tech Savvy Conference get hands-on experience in the DSU Finance and Research Lab.CLEVELAND, Miss. — The 8th Annual Tech Savvy Conference, a collaborative effort between Delta State University and the American Association of University Women (AAUW), hosted 274 enthusiastic girls eager to delve into the realms of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Held on campus at Delta State, the conference featured a diverse array of hands-on workshops designed to inspire and empower the next generation of female leaders in STEM fields.
Joi Phillips, Tech Savvy Registration Coordinator, expressed her excitement about the conference’s impact, saying, “We seek presenters that look like them and live in their neighborhoods to inspire and empower them. We ask our presenters to use the girl’s excitement to their advantage with their hands-on activity by letting them take control over the outcome from building their own robots, to global warming and protecting our planet, to singing in the recording studio, to maintaining a particular lifestyle with minimum income.”
Tech Savvy Chairman Dr. Glendscene Williams, emphasized the importance of engaging activities in fostering a passion for STEM, saying, “The hands-on experience at Tech Savvy is grounded in the effectiveness of experiential learning. We take them out of their traditional academic setting for the things they have to learn before they can do them, and at Tech Savvy, they actually learn them by doing them.”
Workshops at the conference spanned a wide range of STEM disciplines, including robotics, engineering, electricity, art, math exploration, physical therapy, environmental health, and financial literacy. Delta State faculty, staff, and students showcased the university’s commitment to excellence in teaching through unique programs such as aviation, the Delta Music Institute recording facility, the Finance and Research Lab, and the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing’s top-rated RN to BSN online program.
Williams said, “Tech Savvy is meant to be an unforgettable adventure of exploration into an oasis of an all-around STEM experience. When the day is over, we want our girls to say they belong in STEM.”
Tech Savvy aims to equip girls with the skills and confidence necessary for success in the 21st century workforce. “In order for these girls to be 21st Century career ready, we must raise the bar. No matter where our girls live, building their literacy in STEM fields is essential,” added Williams.
The conference featured an impressive lineup of workshops, including “Girls in Gear: Building Bot Buddies,” “Engineering, Electricity, and Art,” “Geeked Up 4STEM: Math Exploration and 3D Graphics,” “Physical Therapy 101,” “Mirror Mirror on the Wall,” “Environmental Health Matters,” and “Living Paycheck to Paycheck,” among others.
For more information about the Tech Savvy Conference and future events, visit Delta State University or AAUW. The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is a leading voice in advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.
