| Math Options History |
Math Options is a math and science career day for young women at Penn State Abington. The goal of Math Options is to interest young women to continue studying mathematics and science and to pursue careers involving mathematics, the sciences, technology and engineering by offering role models and mentors.
Math Options has grown tremendously since it started 15 years ago, when 150 seventh-grade girls and 30 teachers came to the Penn State Abington campus. Since then, the program has served more than 3,500 seventh-grade girls who participated in a day of hands-on workshops, panel discussions, and presentations by women professionals.
Over the past few years, the Math Options Advisory Committee has re-engineered the program to adapt to changes in Pennsylvania educational trends and policies. The most important change is a focus on providing information for young women in tenth and eleventh grades. A pilot program was held on Friday, October 25, 2002 and the first new program was held on Friday, October 24, 2003.
The annual Math Options Career Awareness Day currently invites sixty young women accompanied by a teacher from 10 area high schools to attend the program. They are divided into small groups and throughout the day participate in several workshops, a panel discussion and career fair.
An important issue for Math Options has always been the careful selection of participants. Schools are specifically asked to select students who have demonstrated a keen interest in and have shown an aptitude for math and science, but who may benefit some extra support or guidance in their education and career plans. We also stressed the importance of including an ethnically diverse group of young women. Furthermore, it is suggested that the participants be given the opportunity to share their experience with friends and classmates.
We know by the students' and teachers' evaluations that our programs were very successful. We also plan to follow the participants in the near future to see how Math Options 2002 and 2003 may have influenced their education and career decisions. In October 2005 we held a special 15th Anniversary celebration, of this is an annual event. We are now in the process of planning our October 2008 event!
More information, contact Deanna Bosley, 215-881-7339.