News and Events

Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2008

MEDIA CONTACT:
Jennifer Hill Robenalt, Hoopla Media & Communications
512.653.9656 or 512.382.0303
jennifer@hooplamedia.com

AREAS OF INTEREST: Education, Women, Non-Profits, Calendar, Family-friendly events, Metro, Life/Arts, Features, Science and Technology

VISUAL OPPORTUNITIES: Interviews with Girlstart Project Manager Zakiyyah Kareem and Technology and Program Coordinator Clare Richardson, high school girls demonstrating visually dynamic, original educational video games in a public setting

(Austin, TX —April 8, 2008) Girlstart, an award-winning Austin-based non-profit organization dedicated to empowering girls in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) has announced that it will be hosting a rare opportunity for the public to see educational video games created exclusively by high schools on Saturday, April 26, 2008 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the lobby of Silicon Laboratories located at 400 West Cesar Chavez.

Predominantly considered a male professional calling, these exceptional young women have enthusiastically embraced video game design by creating fun and challenging games that tackle topics including math literacy, biotechnology and much more.

The Computer Showcase is a free, family-friendly exhibit and part of Project IT Girl, an ongoing Girlstart program. The program participants will be on hand to demonstrate and discuss their projects with members of the technology community and the public at large before submitting their game designs to the One Laptop Per Child program for consideration in that project’s distribution of educational video games to schools around the world.

According to Technology and Program Coordinator Clare Richardson, Project IT Girl is inspiring a new level of problem solving, creativity and service in program participants. “It’s becoming clear that through the development of these games, the girls in this program are gaining incredible insight into not only what they are capable of producing, but they have a much deeper appreciation of what it means to give back to students that simply don’t have the same advantages,” Richardson said. “We’re confident that some of these games will one day serve students in another part of the world, and that’s very encouraging.”

Project IT Girl is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and is dedicated to introducing high school girls to information technology by engaging them in making real world connections to math, science and technology.

To request an interview with Ms. Richardson, please contact Jennifer Hill Robenalt at 512.382.0303 or 512.653.9656, or simply email jennifer@hooplamedia.com. High-resolution images are available upon request.

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ABOUT GIRLSTART

Girlstart is a non-profit organization created to educate and empower girls in math, science and technology. Founded in 1997 in Austin, Texas, Girlstart has an enviable record of engaging, educating, and motivating girls to enjoy and become more proficient in mathematics and science in elementary school, middle school, and beyond. Child Magazine named the organization one of the top five programs for girls across the country. Girlstart offers a variety of educational formats designed for girls ages 9-15 through after-school programs, Saturday camps, and summer day camps. Girlstart serves a population that includes at-risk and minority girls. For more information, please visit www.girlstart.org.