"Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is" - Two High School Girls Receive Full, 4-Year Scholarships to Roger Williams University at GRRL Tech 2008.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Over 350 sophomore and junior girls from 22 Rhode Island high schools explored opportunities in science and technology this past Friday during the seventh annual GRRL Tech Interactive Technology Expo. Two girls also walked away with full, four-year Roger Williams University scholarships, after a surprise announcement by University President, Roy J. Nirschel. "It is time," Nirschel stated, "for [education institutions] to, literally, put their money where their mouth is."

Keynote speaker, the Honorable Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts, commended President Nirschel for his generosity. She continued on to discuss the triumphs and challenges of being a woman first in the biology and healthcare industries, and then in politics and public service. Enthusiastically engaging the girls, the Lt. Governor entertained their questions, which included "what does it mean to be Lt. Governor?" and "Are you planning on running for Governor?"

Roberts complemented the girls on their thoughtfulness and remarked jokingly, "Wow, this is tougher than a press conference!"

While the event, orchestrated by Tech Collective in partnership with Roger Williams University and Junior Achievement, focused on engaging young girls into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, it was also a demonstration that girls have the opportunity and ability to accomplish anything. "Break through that glass ceiling," Roberts said with accomplishment, "and others will follow." Roberts should know - she is the first female Lt. Governor to be elected in Rhode Island's history.

Prefacing the effects of that glass ceiling, Tech Collective's Jo Ann Johnson, Manager of Education Partnerships, reported to the crowd, "Technology fields are among the highest paid and fastest growing industries in the United States. Women are larger consumers of technology than men. More women graduate from college than men. Yet, despite these facts, only 25% of technology professionals are women. Think about that... that's one in every four of you."

More than 40 female technology professionals from companies including Verizon, Raytheon, Amgen, Gilbane Building Company, Cisco Systems and Atrion Networking Corporation co-conducted GRRL Tech's 20 workshops, focusing on STEM topics such as crime scene forensics, computer animation, computer programming, environmental engineering, architecture, biotechnology and marine biology. A panel of six females continued on to address the girls and their questions.

Alana Mercurio from Scituate High School and Samantha Curran from Cumberland High School were the stunned recipients of the Roger Williams University scholarships. Shannon Donovan, a Scituate High School science teacher was just as surprised. "This is a tremendous opportunity. This is an amazing commitment that the University has made to support women in science and women in technology."

GRRL (Girls Reaching Remarkable Levels) Tech was organized by Tech Collective, the industry association for information technology and biotechnology in Rhode Island. Roger Williams University cosponsored the event with the Governor's Workforce Board, Junior Achievement of Rhode Island, EpiVax, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, Verizon, Atrion Networking Corporation and Cisco Systems, Inc.

A great advocate of the GRRL Tech, Johnson says, "Many young women are simply not aware of the career options available to them in these fields. We're attacking the gender equity problem by making technology careers genderless."

For more information, visit www.tech-collective.org or Jo Ann Johnson at [e-mail]