More than 90 students recently attended the first Hats Off to Leadership STEM Conference, hosted by the Women in STEM Education (WISE) Institute at Lone Star College-North Harris..jpg)
The conference featured keynote speaker, Sonia Clayton, president and CEO of Virtual Intelligence Providers, LLC. Clayton’s company was recently named the fastest growing woman-owned business by the Houston Business Journal.
Other featured guest speakers included Houston Mayor, Annise Parker, Congresswoman, Sheila Jackson Lee, and former Texas State Representative, Dr. Martha J. Wong.
The HSI/STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) conference was open to LSC-North Harris female college students whose college and career emphasis is in the STEM industry. The conference focused on breaking down barriers for women in STEM fields by highlighting women in non-traditional roles.
Students also had the opportunity to attend interactive breakout sessions that focused on college and career success in the STEM field.
Dr. Steve Head, president of LSC-North Harris, Sylvia M. Martinez, director of the grant, and Shawnica Pollard-Moss, grant coordinator, were each honored with a City of Houston certificate commending their service to the first STEM Hats Off to Leadership Conference at Lone Star College-North Harris.
In addition, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee presented Pollard-Moss, founder of the Lone Star College-North Harris Women in STEM Education Institute a Certificate of Congressional Recognition on behalf of the Constituents of the 18th Congressional District of Texas.
The Women in STEM Education (WISE) Institute connects LSC-North Harris, LSC-Greenspoint Center, and LSC-Victory Center students with faculty and industry leaders in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Students learn directly from experts in the field and are paired with a STEM mentor throughout the year. Events organized by WISE this fall include a meet and greet roundtable, healthcare demonstrations by MD Anderson, motivational presentations, and a stress relief workshop by Massage Pro Houston. The Hats Off to Leadership Conference is expected to be the group’s signature, annual event.
The STEM initiatives are part of the college’s $4.3 million Hispanic Serving Institutions Program’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) grant. The grant is intended to improve students’ success in completion, particularly among Hispanic female students, who don’t traditionally take higher level math classes.
For more information about the STEM program, visit LoneStar.edu/STEM or contact Shawnica Pollard-Moss at 281.618.5415.
Lone Star College-North Harris is located at 2700 W.W. Thorne Drive, one-half mile south of FM 1960 East, between Aldine-Westfield and Hardy Roads. For more information about the college, call 281.618.5400 or visit LoneStar.edu/NorthHarris.
Lone Star College System has been opening doors to a better community for 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSCS remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with 78,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and the fastest-growing community college system in the nation. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, five centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.
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