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"Girls Inc. strives to keep them
engaged, expose them to a variety of
careers, and build their confidence so they can
stay on track academically."
- Victoria Waterman
Girls Inc. has found success in combining
research-based curricula, mentors, and role models
from the field, in addition to training its own staff.
"Collectively, of more than 50 high school stu-
dents who have graduated from the Girls Inc.
Eureka! program in the last three years, 70%
selected STEM-related majors in college,"
Waterman said.
Girls who participated in Eureka! were accept-
ed at nearly 250 colleges (including seven in the
Ivy League), received more than $3.5 million in
scholarships (including 16 full rides), and nearly
50% were first generation in their families to go
to college.
"With an R.O.I. that strong, we need to contin-
ue providing access to the girls in our communi-
ty," Waterman said.
Problems of perception may stem from the fact
manufacturing hasn't always been on the
upswing. Many Gen-Xers, born between 1965 and
1980, recall entering the job market 30 years ago
when, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
more than 5 million more manufacturing jobs
existed than today.
Programs like the one at Girls Inc. will contin-
ue to alter Gen-Z's view of sophisticated manufac-
turers in the fields of robotics, defense, medical
equipment and space travel.
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