Dr. Maggie Leysath, assistant professor of art at Stephen F. Austin State University, works with one of the students in her art education session at the Expanding Your Horizons career awareness conference Feb. 29 at SFA. The Nacogdoches branch of the American Association of University Women hosted the annual conference to help 400 middle school girls, who traveled from as far away as Shreveport, Louisiana, explore their career options.
The 400 girls in sixth to eighth grades who attended the conference signed up for this opportunity and traveled from as far away as Shreveport, Louisiana, to learn about careers ranging from agriculture, food and natural resources to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
More than 40 volunteer presenters helped students visualize their future careers.
Dr. Audrey Young, a public educator and politician who presented a session on the election process, said girls need extra support at this age.
“An event like this reassures girls that it’s OK to not know exactly what they want to do,” Young said. “This event presents strong, outstanding, professional women who set an excellent example of what to become.”
Event organizers already are planning for next year’s conference scheduled for Feb. 27. For more information on presenting or volunteering at this event, contact Dr. Susan Reily, SFA assistant professor of elementary education, at reilys@sfasu.edu.
By Jo Gilmore, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.
