This content was published: April 26, 2007. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
PAVTEC hosts another successful Middle School Girls Conference
Photos and story by James Hill
State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Susan Castillo, visited the PAVTEC 12th Annual Math, Science and Technology for Middle School Girls at the PCC Rock Creek Campus earlier this month. 
The event involved approximately 650 pre-registered girls from 28 middle schools mostly from within the PCC district. The girls attended a general session at the beginning which featured Sandra Flint, Special Agent, Portland office of the FBI, as the keynote speaker. Throughout the day, the girls attended three break-out sessions presented by 35 presenters (and their teams) who provided hands-on activities related to their careers.
Represented career fields included forensics, fire fighting, fish and wildlife, welding, computer technology, animal science, medicine and health care, engineering, environmental science, architecture, geology, electronics, microbiology, robotics, filmmaking, and construction.
Presenters also included Nike, City of Portland Environmental Services, several PCC professional technical programs (welding, vet tech, microelectronics), US Army Corps of Engineers, Oregon Primate Center, OHSU, FBI, Oregon Zoo, Oregon Tradeswomen, Tektronix, Tualatin Fire and Rescue, ITT Technical Institute, OSU School of Engineering, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, NW Film Center, Hillsboro Police Department, State Department of Geology and several private firms.
The purpose of the conference is to encourage middle school girls to aspire to high achievement by having successful female role models present information and hands-on activities related to their careers. Also, it encourages girls to continue to successfully complete classes in math, science and technology in order to keep their career options open for careers that might require that background.
The conference is sponsored by PAVTEC and a grant from the Oregon Department of Education. The PAVTEC Gender Equity Team, composed of some educators (current and retired) and community volunteers, coordinates the event. For more detailed information, visit www.pcc.edu/pavtec/girls.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »