Girlstart Annual Report 2016

WHERE GIRL S GE T INSPIRED 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

WHERE GIRLS GET INSPIRED 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

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L E T T E R F R O M TA M A R A H U D G I N S At Girlstart, we keep girls excited about science, technology, engineering, and math. Every day, we do informal STEM education programs for girls, so that they’ll soon be ready to solve our planet’s challenges.

When you come to Girlstart, you’ll hear a lot of voices. This year, we want to share these voices.

Girls’ voices. Friends’ voices. You’ll hear why you are vital to giving girls a bright future.

For the past several years, we’ve been focused on sharing out numbers. And, to be sure, we have numbers. But now, I would like you to hear from these girls. Hear how you have made a profound impact in their lives. Hear how you make them stronger at school. Hear how you give them a pathway to college and a STEM career. I hope you enjoy our report!

Thank you!

Tamara Hudgins, Ph.D. Executive Director tamara@girlstart.org -----------------------------------B OA R D O F D I R E C TO R S Becky Austen, Chair Bronwyn Blake, Secretary Janet Cinfio Doug Hillary Tera Hogan Arcie Jordan Rick Morales Shantel Norman, Treasurer Arleene Porterfield

Sharon Reddehase Michelle Roebuck Randy Sabbagh Elizabeth Seriff Sara Spivey, Vice Chair Dave Stump Alfred Viehbeck Meg Wilson

“I liked learning about different ways I can use what I’m passionate about (STEM) when I am older.”

----------S O PH I A 8th grade

WHERE GIRLS GET INSPIRED 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

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WHAT DOE S IT ME AN TO BE PAR T OF GIRL S TAR T ?

It means... ...you enjoy math and science.

G I R L S TA R T A F T E R S C H O O L G I R L S . . .

85% say, “I like science!”

98% say, “I feel that I can be myself at Girlstart.”

G I R L S TA R T S U M M E R C A M P G I R L S . . .

99% say, “I enjoy STEM!” 90% say, “I feel that I can be myself at Girlstart.”

...you’re interested in a STEM future.

G I R L S TA R T A F T E R S C H O O L G I R L S . . .

82% say, “ I want more STEM at middle and high school.”

94% say, “If I do well in STEM at school, I am more likely to go to college.”

95% say, “I hope my future job uses STEM.” G I R L S TA R T S U M M E R C A M P G I R L S . . .

98% say, “I’m more interested in STEM after Summer Camp.”

95% say, “If I do well in STEM at college, I am more likely to have a better job.”

81% say, “I hope my job will be in STEM.”

...you’re successful in math and science.

G I R L S TA R T A F T E R S C H O O L G I R L S . . .

Earn higher test scores in math and science.

Attain the ‘Commended’ performance level in math and science.

Take more advanced/Pre-AP math and science courses.

WHERE GIRLS GET INSPIRED 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

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WHAT IS GIRL S TAR T’S IMPAC T ?

Girlstart After School is…

...hands-on STEM activities at partner schools ...designed to foster STEM skills and interest ...continuous connection to STEM careers

Girlstart After School…

...improves girls’ perceptions of science ...increases girls’ academic achievement in math and science ...increases the likelihood of Pre-AP STEM coursework in middle school

Girlstart After School inspires…

...97% of girls want to return to Girlstart in a future year ...93% want to go to college ...93% of girls tell their family and friends about Girlstart

Girlstart girls attained ‘Commended’ (+10%) and ‘Standard’ (+8%) scores on science STAAR compared to nonparticipant girls 34% of Girlstart girls enroll in advanced/Pre-AP science courses after program participation-contrasted with 11% of nonparticipating girls The number of advanced/Pre-AP courses increases over time for Girlstart girls but decreases for nonparticipants

“Girlstart has been influential in fostering the interest and empowering our girl scholars in STEM.” ----------ZO I L A C A R D E N A S Assistant Principal, Pecan Springs Elementary

WHERE GIRLS GET INSPIRED 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

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INSPIRED TO GIV E I am passionate about things. I get that from my dad. He was excited about things like science or the Detroit Red Wings. He earned his doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Michigan.

I am the youngest of three girls. Of the three of us, I was the one that really got into science, and that made my relationship with my dad so special. I would ask for microscopes, telescopes, or science kits for birthdays. My dad and I would always work on these projects together.

It was our thing.

I wanted to be a veterinarian. I took three years of biology, honors chemistry, and honors physics. When I went back to school to become a nurse and midwife, my dad was really excited.

When my dad died, my mom and my sisters wanted to do something to honor his memory. But I didn’t feel any connection to the charities that they were thinking about. So I talked with my friends about doing something that was meaningful to me. And near the time that would have been his birthday, one of my friends reminded me of my commitment and introduced me to Girlstart.

My dad would have been so supportive of Girlstart’s mission! When I saw in person what Girlstart was doing, I was even more convinced. It just felt right. I love knowing that my giving is making a lasting impact. Now, I keep giving every month to make sure that more girls have Girlstart programs, and I ask others to join me to help Girlstart reach more girls with science programs. Girlstart is my charity.

WAYS TO G I V E You make Girlstart possible. When you make a gift, more girls can participate in Girlstart After School, Girlstart Summer Camp, the Girls in STEM Conference, or our community STEM programs. 26% of our annual budget comes from people like you who care about the work that we are doing.

YO U C A N M A K E A G I F T TO G I R L S TA R T: l Make an outright gift of cash or stock.

Like Shelley, you can make a recurring gift to Girlstart each month. l Participate in our fundraising campaigns such as Send a Girl to Camp or the Annual Luncheon. l Make a bequest and include Girlstart in your Will, which will help Girlstart serve future generations. l Give Girlstart oil or mineral rights, or contribute real estate to us.

“Girlstart is my charity.”

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S H E LLE Y M I TC H E LL Nursing Instructor, Austin Community College

WHERE GIRLS GET INSPIRED 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

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“I liked EVERYTHING!!!! (but if I HAD to choose, the video game design!)”

----------BROOKE 5th grade

“My favorite things were doing science and building prototypes! I love Girlstart!”

----------SA R A H 5th grade

“I learned to be brave and creative.”

----------S O PH I A 8th grader Girls in STEM Conference

”Thanks @girlstart for making this young lady love all STEM subjects at best week of summer camp #Austin” ----------@ JA N R A N R A N

WHERE GIRLS GET INSPIRED 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

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GROW GIRL S TAR T In 2014, Girlstart completed an ambitious 3-year strategic plan that charted our growth from a handful of Girlstart After School programs to 50+, and from 8 Summer Camp programs to 27.

During 2014, we put together the current strategic plan. As a reflection of Girlstart’s deep commitment to serving Central Texas, one of our goals is to sustain our current reach and impact there.

However, Girlstart recognizes that its programs and impact are unique; therefore, we aim to reach even more girls. We are scaling up Girlstart After School and Girlstart Summer Camp to reach girls in Houston, the DFW area, and the Rio Grande Valley. In so doing, Girlstart is creating a pathway to grow nationally. Now, Girlstart After School reaches 1,575 girls in 62 programs at 19 school districts across Texas. Thanks to you, we are exceeding our strategic plan’s goals. Please continue to help us #growgirlstart!

“I liked learning new things, doing experiments, having fun, and being engineers.”

----------M A RV E L LO U S 4th grade summer camper

WHERE GIRLS GET INSPIRED 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

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GIRL S TAR T

BY THE NUMBERS

12,259

(FALL 2015 -SUM MER 2016)

757

COM MUN IT Y S TEM PAR TI CI PANT S (68 COMMUN IT Y S TEM EVENT S)

G I R L S TAR T SUM MER C AM PER S (49 % ON SCHOL AR SH I PS, 28 C AMPS)

963

EDUC ATOR S (832 I N -SERVI CE EDUC ATOR S, 131 S TEM CR EW MEM B ER S)

543

G I R L S I N S TEM CONFER ENCE

1,690 G I R L S TAR T AF TER SCHOOL GIRLS (56 PROGR AMS)

16,212 TOTAL R E ACHED

98% PAR TI CI PATED AT NO COS T

WHERE GIRL S GE T INSPIRED...

1997 Girlstart launches

2003 Aiming for Algebra (National Science Foundation)

2006 Project IT Girl (National Science Foundation)

2010 Bought our permanent home, the Girlstart STEM Center 2012 New strategic plan, focusing on growth

2013 Built the STEM Studio and

Mini Planetarium @ Girlstart STEM Center

2014 First After School Impact research report

2015 New strategic plan, focusing on replication 2016 Girlstart Houston office

2nd After School Impact research report

Girlstart 365 (NASA)

1400 W. Anderson Lane Austin, Texas 78757 (512) 916-4775 www.girlstart.org