LITTLE ROCK—The Girls Learning About Math and Science conference recently was recognized in the 93rd General Assembly of the Arkansas House of Representatives for its 10th anniversary.
Known as GLAMS, the day conference for eighth-grade girls in south Arkansas connects the young students with female professionals in science, technology, engineering and math careers. The purpose of the conference is to provide a model and guideline for the girls to pursue careers in those fields themselves.
The event is a joint effort of South Arkansas Community College and the El Dorado Education Foundation, as well as a host of financial backers and volunteers.
A group of GLAMS Committee members attended the House assembly as Speaker Matthew Shepherd of El Dorado and Rep. Sonia Barker of Smackover presented the resolution, which received a unanimous vote of approval from House representatives.
Since the first conference in 2011, the number of girls’ attending the event has steadily climbed, hitting more than 275 eighth graders from seven south Arkansas counties at the latest conference. Former GLAMS participants even have returned to take part in the event as speakers and volunteers.
Last year was to have served as the event’s 10th anniversary; however, the global pandemic forced the committee to pause the conference. Due to social-distancing guidelines set forth by the CDC, the event will be held remotely this year, but will include all eighth- and ninth-grade girls in participating school districts—a total of about 1,200 students and 100 teachers. They will receive GLAMS promotional giveaways as well as information about female STEM professionals in areas such as veterinary medicine, engineering and forestry.
Community supporters include Entergy, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Albemarle, Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission, Camp Fire El Dorado, DelekUS, the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce, Lanxess, Lockheed Martin, Main Street El Dorado, Mayor Veronica Smith-Creer, the Medical Center of South Arkansas, the Murphy Arts District, Pafford Air One, ProMed Ambulance, South Arkansas Medical Associates, South Point Medical, First Financial Bank and Lawrence and Paul Waschka. Martha McCarty Wells of Dallas is the event’s sponsor.
For more information about the annual event, visit the website at southark.edu/glams. A 10th-anniversary video is available for viewing on the college’s YouTube Channel at youtube.com/southarkcc .
