YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - After a two-year hiatus, the 8th Grade Girls STEM conference is returning.

On Monday, March 28, 2022, 489 8th grade girls from 17 schools in the Yuba-Sutter area will descend upon Yuba College in Marysville to learn more about the opportunities in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) professions. The Marysville/Yuba City branch of AAUW began offering the conference in 1985.

The committee has been working diligently with the local middle schools to get students enrolled and securing speakers, presenters and facilitators. Currently there are 17 different fields of study that the girls will be able to choose from including agriculture, criminology, forensics science, finance, health careers, and civil engineering, just to name a few.

The keynote speaker for the morning will be inspirational local leader, Preet Didbal, former mayor of Yuba City. She was elected in 2014 and was the first Sikh female mayor in the United States. 

At the conclusion of the half day conference, students have the option of taking a tour of the Yuba College campus. Most students take advantage of this opportunity where they can hear directly from current Yuba College students about what the college experience is like. 

The Marysville-Yuba City AAUW Branch was founded in 1955 and currently has 87 members. Activities are linked to the AAUW National Mission Statement: to advance gender equality for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy. 

AAUW is open to college or university graduates (including men) with an Associate, Baccalaureate, or higher degree. Affiliate memberships are available for students and non-graduates.