Kee High School junior attends Girls in STEM event ...

Three high school student participants in the Career Learning Link Partnership through Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) attended a Girls in STEM event in Johnston Monday, January 29 to learn more about high-demand, high-paying careers for women. The students visited interactive Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) booths taking guided notes about the training and education needed for specific careers. The event was sponsored by Iowa Public Television and Million Women Mentors Iowa.

NICC Career Coach Amanda Reddick-Gilson accompanied the three high school juniors pictured at right to the Girls in STEM event. Those students included (left to right in accompanying photo) Amanda Fahey of Kee High School in Lansing, the daughter of Joe Fahey and Amy Wiemerslage; Adriana Reese of Oelwein High School​, the daughter of Melissa Reese and Chris King; and Morgan Vorwald of Edgewood-Colesburg High School, the daughter of Lynne and Ken Vorwald.

The Northeast Iowa Community College Career Learning Link group was the only school in northeast Iowa selected to attend the event and one of only 10 school districts statewide. More than 40 schools applied to attend. The following STEM organizations provided interactive booths at the Girls in STEM event: General Mills, Rockwell Collins, Million Women Mentors, South Central STEM Hub, Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, John Deere, Women in Science and Engineering, UnityPoint Health - Des Moines, Central Bank, Stine Seed Company, Measured Intentions: Elevate Iowa, DuPont Pioneer, Vermeer and EMC. Northeast Iowa Career Learning Link (CLL) is a program that exposes students to high-demand career areas and sets them on the pathway to career and educational success beyond high school. The program provides work-based learning opportunities for students in partnership with local businesses. Submitted photo.