The Scobee Education Center, San Antonio College will host two teenage students from the Republic of Kazakhstan at its Girls Camp Challenger taking place July 24-28. Through a partnership with Challenger Center and with funding from the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna, the girls will participate in the weeklong camp focused on engaging and inspiring middle and early high school-aged girls, teaching science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts, exposing them to STEM careers, and giving them the opportunity to learn through hands-on exploration. The girls’ participation is managed by American Councils for International Education.
“We’re excited to have Maya and Aitolkyn join us at Girls Camp Challenger,” said Rick Varner, Director of Scobee Education Center, San Antonio College. “We look forward to providing these girls with a special STEM experience and having them share more about their culture and education with the other campers. This will be an exciting week for all of the students.”
Maya, 16, and Aitolkyn, 15, will take part in all planned programming, including Ozobot coding, solar eclipse activities, LEGO robotics, planetarium shows and flying Lunar Quest, one of the Center’s simulated space-themed missions.
The week will conclude with a Girls STEM Summit on Friday, July 28, featuring women in the STEM industry sharing their knowledge and experiences. The summit will provide opportunities for Challenger girls to interact with professionals in STEM careers and investigate careers in engineering, physics, astronomy and geology.
Maya and Aitolkyn were competitively selected from a national application pool across Kazakhstan by American Councils for International Education to participate in the U.S. and Girls Camp Challenger. The two girls will be hosted by a local San Antonio family during their stay. In addition to the camp, San Antonio College will provide the girls with a special tour of its campus.
For more information or to schedule an interview or photo opportunity, please contact Natasha Sobers at 210-486-0956 or nsobers@alamo.edu.
Scobee Education Center
Natasha N. Sobers
nsobers@alamo.edu
American Councils for International Education
Benjamin Gaylord
Gaylord@americancouncils.org
U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna, Austria
Kathryn Holmgaard
Holmgaardkl@state.gov
About Challenger Center
As a leader in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, Challenger Center and its network of Challenger Learning Centers provide more than 250,000 students annually with experiential education programs to engage students in hands-on learning opportunities. These programs strengthen knowledge in STEM subjects and inspire students to pursue careers in these important fields. Challenger Center was created to honor the crew of shuttle flight STS-51-L.
About American Councils for International Education
American Councils is an international nonprofit that strives to increase access to educational opportunities for individuals and institutions across the globe. Over a 40-year journey, our mission has guided us through 80 countries as we have built a community of 75,000 alumni — from high school and college students to ambassadors, diplomats, nonprofit leaders, journalists, educators, artists, entrepreneurs, scientists, and other professionals.
From developing the first exchanges of Eurasian and American students and teacher scholars, to current initiatives supporting collaborative education between the U.S., Middle East, South America, Asia, and Africa, American Councils designs and implements educational and academic programs in regions of the world deemed critical for U.S. economic competitiveness and national security. These programs are underpinned with thorough research that ensures their quality and integrity.
About the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna
The U. S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna, Austria works advance U.S. national interests with seven major organizations of the United Nations system based in Vienna, including the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs. The Mission is pleased to support the Trump Administration’s efforts to create new opportunities for girls and young women interested in pursuing careers in STEM fields.
