ChickTech Receives $20,000 Grant from AT&T Oregon to Support Rural-Area STEM Programs for Girls

Second grant will be used to expand and refine programs for school-aged children and teens

Portland, Ore. –  May 24, 2018 –  ChickTech, a national 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to retaining women in the technology workforce and increasing the number of women and girls pursuing technology-based careers, has received a $20,000 grant from AT&T Oregon to continue expanding its science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs for school-aged girls and teens in rural communities. This is the second year in a row that AT&T Oregon, through its AT&T Aspire mission, has awarded a grant to ChickTech to support the expansion and refinement of its programs.

According to the National Center of Education Statistics, one in five public school students attend a rural school. Almost half of these students live in moderate to extreme poverty and often lack access to the internet, while schools in these areas also have trouble recruiting and retaining teachers, particularly in science, mathematics, and special education.

In response to these challenges, ChickTech launched ChickTech: Rural to meet the technology education needs of girls in these underserved communities. The initiative provides students and teachers with community support, resources and materials, and a network to help girls excel in and out of the classroom in their pursuit of a STEM career. The funds to support these programs were generously donated through AT&T’s Aspire mission, which focuses on creating connections that drive innovation in education.

“At AT&T, we know it’s crucial to ensure students from all backgrounds have the access and opportunity to pursue a STEM-based career path,” said George Granger, AT&T Oregon president. “That’s why we decided to award ChickTech with a second grant. The work they do in these rural communities is invaluable in securing a brighter future for the technology industry by creating a next-gen workforce full of diverse perspectives.”

The contribution made by AT&T Oregon will help ChickTech continue offering opportunities to girls who would otherwise have no real exposure to STEM.

“As someone who grew up in a rural area, I know how important it is for these girls to have access to these kinds of programs,” said Janice Levenhagen-Seeley, founder and CEO of ChickTech. “Many young female students don’t even realize they have the potential to pursue careers in technology, and our goal is to change that. These rural initiatives are just one way we work towards our mission of retaining more girls and women in STEM-based career paths.”

To learn more about ChickTech and its various programs for women and girls, please visit: https://chicktech.org/.

About ChickTech

ChickTech is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to retaining women in the technology workforce and increasing the number of women and girls pursuing technology-based careers. With 27 chapters in the U.S. and Canada, ChickTech offers interactive and educational workshops, mentoring, and internship opportunities for high school girls who aspire to pursue technology careers. Additionally, ChickTech provides career events for women in technology fields to create a supportive community of professionals to network, grow their skills, and discover employers looking for exceptional talent. For more information, visit http://www.chicktech.org.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChickTechOrg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChickTech/  

Media Contact – ChickTech
Jackie Blundell
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
[email protected]
1 857 217 2886

Media Contact – AT&T
Alysa Schols
Quinn Thomas
[email protected]