Tahoe Nevada Branch of the AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN
EXPANDS GIVING PROGRAM TO FUND STEM FIELDS

by Peggy Poindexter & Millie Szerman

INCLINE VILLAGE, NV (May, 2022). . . The American Association of University Women,
Tahoe-Nevada Branch (AAUW Tahoe-NV), located in Incline Village, recently expanded their givingprogram to fund school identified needs in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).  This is part of the organization’s strategic planning initiative to invest in school identified STEM education requirements in the earliest possible grade level.
In addition to awarding four year college scholarships to graduating senior girls at Incline High School, AAUW Tahoe-NV systematically looks for other STEM related opportunities and has partnered with the Incline Educational Fund (IEF) to identify and choose such efforts. This year three specific initiatives have been chosen from a list of high priority requirements. These include:
• A 3D printer and supplies for Makerspace at the Incline Elementary School. Makerspace is a classroom that is available to all elementary grade levels, where students learn about digital citizenship; how to protect private information and stay safe online; learn computer science standards; modeling and programming; and how to identify and fix (debug) programming errors, starting in kindergarten! A very high priority identified need for the Makerspace classroom was the purchase of a 3D printer and filament build sheets (highly flexible plastic) that can be physically heated and molded to transform student developed concepts into 3D models. AAUW Tahoe-NV funded this.
• Equipment for an Incline Middle School Culinary Club. The Incline Middle School Culinary Club is an initiative led by the school’s science teacher. It is an after-school program that teaches healthy nutritional habits, as well as science and math skills. AAUW Tahoe-NV provided kitchen equipment and supplies for the program. This is a collaborative project with the IEF that will cover the cost of the after-school instructor and an assistant.

• Star Math is a middle school math assessment tool that will aid math teachers in identifying learning needs of their students.

Along with other Tahoe Basin AAUW Branches, AAUW Tahoe-NV is also co-sponsoring a STEM
Trek Day. STEM Trek is for middle and high school girls and will be held on June 4th. Applications are being taken NOW!
In addition, AAUW Tahoe-NV will provide bus transportation for Dean’s Future Scholar students to travel to the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) this summer, and will sponsor one student to attend UNR’s summer math camp.
AAUW Tahoe-Nevada Branch sponsors a monthly dinner meeting in Incline Village that features speakers on a broad range of subjects of interest to its 145 members. The Branch also has many interest groups (Outdoor Enthusiasts, Book Club, and a Great Decision discussion group, to name just a few).
The AAUW Tahoe-Nevada Branch is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation registered with the Nevada Secretary of State (Federal Tax I.D. #943055754), whose purpose is to further AAUW’s mission in advancing equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy. Contributions to the Scholarship Program and Community Action Grant efforts qualify for a federal tax deduction pursuant to the provisions of Section 170.c. of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 USC 170c. For further information on the AAUW Tahoe-NV organization or to contribute to their efforts, please go to their website: https://tahoe-nv.aauw.net