ROME, NY – The Project Fibonacci® Foundation held its second annual Women & STEAM Symposium on Thursday, March 7 at the Beeches Manor to an audience of over 150 high school students, teachers, business leaders and political representatives. The symposium was sponsored by the New York State Technology Enterprise Corp. (NYSTEC) of Rome and supported by over 20 local small businesses and other organizations.
The event drew participation from over a dozen high schools and school districts, including Rome Free Academy, Adirondack, Bishop Grimes, Camden, Hamilton, Mt. Markham, Oriskany, Thomas Proctor High School, Westmoreland, among others, and brought together 130 students and their teachers for a day dedicated to empowerment and inspiration across an array of STEM+Arts (STEAM) fields.
A highlight of the symposium was a panel discussion featuring local female business owners, community leaders, and STEM experts. The panel members shared their success stories and experiences, including challenges they faced in pursuit of their professional career achievements. An interactive questions and answer session followed that engaged panel members and audience participants. Panel moderator, WSYR Newschannel-9 meteorologist Kate Thornton, asked pressing questions on work and family life balance to challenges faced when in male-dominated professions. One teacher in attendance stated, “I honestly do not think it could have been any better. I was blown away! It was one of the best panels and discussions I’ve attended in 20+ years of being in education.”
A post-event survey concluded that over 96% of the participants would recommend the event to a friend. “It was incredibly inspiring to see successful women in STEAM encouraging the next generation of us to pursue our dreams,” said one student.
Company representatives from First Source Federal Credit Union and Assured Information Security presented first-round scholarships to eligible students from Thomas R. Proctor High School and Rome Free Academy as part of the Project Fibonacci® Foundation’s Corporate Adopt-a-Scholar Challenge. The corporate campaign continues through April 5. Students eligible to attend the 6th Annual STEAM Leadership Conference and who are awarded scholarships will have their tuition fully covered by sponsoring organizations.
Additionally, a Creating Connections Fair was held as part of the one-day event showcasing 18 local companies and organizations, each sharing information on the wealth of opportunities available for young girls in the region.
“The most valuable takeaway I got from attending the symposium was the insight the women provided when it came to trying new things and changing their career pathway. As a senior, the thought of changing my major in college is really scary, but the women on the panel normalized the idea of change,” said a student. The event served as a platform for fostering interest and enthusiasm for STEAM subjects among the future generation, emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusion in these fields.
The Project Fibonacci® Foundation extends its gratitude to all participants, sponsors, and supporters for making the second annual Women & STEAM Symposium a resounding success. The team is looking forward to the third annual symposium planned for March 2025 and is exploring ways to increase the upper capacity for attendance and to further expand the program.
