Technology Academy for Girls Launched at QCC

WORCESTER, MA – The Business and Technology Department of Quinsigamond Community College announces the kickoff of its Technology Academy for Girls (TAG) program, on Monday, July 17, 2006.

TAG is a two-week technology-intensive academy for middle school girls ages 10-14.  QCC is hosting 28 girls who attend Worcester’s Sullivan Middle School and the A.L.L. School.  The program is funded through a grant from the Fred Harris Daniels Foundation.

"We are thrilled to host such a vibrant group of young women and hope that we can spark their interest in pursuing a technical degree and career path,” states Kathy Rentsch, Dean of Instruction for the Business & Technology Division for QCC.

When girls reach the middle school age, they are less likely to choose elective courses in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – referred to as “STEM” courses.  The TAG program will encourage the girls to continue courses and pursue their interests in STEM fields.  Students will participate in a hands-on activity in which they will build a working computer, learn to use it, and take it home at the end of the course.  The girls will also be introduced to technology-related careers and study profiles of successful women in technology.

Adds Betty Lauer, Associate Professor of Computer Systems Engineering, “They are building state of the art computers from a pile of parts.  We have also designed the curriculum such that they’ll spend some of their summer in class and attend some follow-up activities in the fall.”

Quinsigamond Community College has been delivering technology-based educational programs for middle and high school girls for five years through their Women in Technology programs.  The two-week TAG program will culminate in an open house on Friday, July 28th at 12:00 noon.