Nuclear engineer and former Miss America Grace Stanke featured as special guest

Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast (GSWISE) is partnering with MSOE to host its annual STEM Day at MSOE on Saturday, October 19. More than 100 Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts will have the opportunity to explore product design, robotics, engineering, science, entertainment technology, programming, and more as they earn STEM-related badges. This year, special guest Grace Stanke, nuclear engineer and former Miss America, will join to share more about her work and clean, zero-carbon emission energy sources through interactive workshops and presentations.

The day features a full schedule of interactive workshops and events designed for Girl Scouts in grades 2-5, including:

• Create & Innovate: Girl Scouts will learn what it takes to be a maker and innovator through brainstorming how products can help different users, developing logo designs, and creating packaging.
• Designing Robots: Girl Scouts can test their engineering skills and build a robotic hand prototype that helps other people and/or animals.
• Entertainment Technology: Girl Scouts will explore the connections between science, engineering, and entertainment by designing a catapult or exploring stop motion filming.
• Programming Robots: Girl Scouts will design a code and program a robot to complete tasks from helping in a hospital to working in a factory. 

Stanke will host two workshops with attendees to share more about her work as a nuclear engineer: 

• Nuclear Fusion Workshop: Girl Scouts will get to learn more about nuclear fusion in this hands-on workshop.
• “Bringing the Good Energy” Workshop: Stanke will share more about her experiences as a nuclear engineer and former Miss America and how to develop confidence and leadership skills.

“Our annual STEM Day at MSOE is part of our ongoing commitment to providing local Girl Scouts with opportunities to discover their strengths and develop skills that will serve them throughout their lives,” said Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast CEO Ana Simpson. “Partnering with MSOE and welcoming a role model like Grace Stanke allows Girl Scouts of all ages to dream big, be bold, and envision themselves as future innovators and leaders in the STEM field and beyond.”

“While the number of women in STEM-related fields is increasing, women still only comprise 26% of the STEM workforce, according to recent U.S. census data,” said Elizabeth Taylor, director of the MSOE STEM Center. “MSOE is proud to partner with organizations like Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast for programs like our 8th annual STEM badge day. Our goal is to continue to inspire girls and young women to pursue their interests in science, technology, engineering and math.”

STEM Day at MSOE will take place on Saturday, October 19 between 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Stanke will join for workshops and presentations between 11:00 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. Events are open to current Girl Scout members in grades 2-5.

Volunteers from Milwaukee Tool, Husco, Rockwell Automation, Eaton and MSOE’s student chapter of the Society of Women Engineers are helping to support the event.

ABOUT GIRL SCOUTS OF WISCONSIN SOUTHEAST

Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life as they work together to build a better world. Through programs in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha counties, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit gswise.org, email customercare@gswise.org, or call 800-565-4475. To learn more, visit www.gswise.org

ABOUT MILWAUKEE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Milwaukee School of Engineering is the university of choice for those seeking an inclusive community of experiential learners driven to solve the complex challenges of today and tomorrow. The independent, non-profit university has about 2,800 students and was founded in 1903. MSOE offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, business and nursing. Faculty are student-focused experts who bring real-world experience into the classroom. This approach to learning makes students ready now as well as prepared for the future. Longstanding partnerships with business and industry leaders enable students to learn alongside professional mentors, and challenge them to go beyond what’s possible. MSOE graduates are leaders of character, responsible professionals, passionate learners and value creators.