LAUNCH Program Connects High School Girls to Opportunities in STEM and Leadership

The LAUNCH program, which stands for learn, aspire, understand, navigate, connect and highlight transforms the natural curiosity of high school girls into a voice of leadership in the STEM industry.

Through this comprehensive program, high school girls gain insight into their leadership style and become armed with the confidence to pursue a successful career path in STEM. Our LAUNCH program integrates the Becoming ATHENA leadership curriculum with the Birkman method, professional female mentors working in STEM, the Confidence Code, and the PA Career and Work Standards. Starting with an in-person retreat at Duquesne University and then eight weeks of virtual meetings, job shadowing and field trips, our participants experience growth as leaders and exit the program prepared to create positive changes in their chosen career path. 

In December, 20 extraordinary high school girls brought the fall cohort to a close in our LAUNCH Celebration to showcase their vision for the future of STEM. Along with their LAUNCH mentors, these young women developed plans for advocacy and entrepreneurship that will change the world. The mentors were 20 incredible women, professionals working in some of the top STEM and tech companies in our region, who brought their invaluable insight and expertise to the program. The families of our young women were also in attendance while each young lady of LAUNCH presented themselves as leaders, identified the ATHENA leadership principles that they most connected with, laid out their plan for advocacy and entrepreneurship and reflected on their overall experience. The young women came together as strangers from 14 different school districts and left with strong bonds of friendship forged through a common drive to succeed.

These young women tackled issues facing our community and proposed innovative solutions using the power of tech. Their plans ranged from spreading awareness about mental illness and food insecurity to environmental sustainability through community composting and funding medical research. Through gaining confidence, strengthening their leadership skills and building social capital, these young women are breaking down barriers and creating opportunity.

The growth and impact of this program is best captured in the testimonials from both the young women and the LAUNCH mentors.

From the ladies of LAUNCH:

“The LAUNCH program was very beneficial to me in seeking and seeing different career options that might be suitable for me. Over the past few weeks, I have built many relationships, not only with the other girls participating but with my project mentors as well. I was given the chance of being able to speak up about what I am passionate about and the possibility to start up and deploy my advocacy plan. Along the way, I also got the experience of seeing real-life examples of true female leaders.” - Marlana Howard, 11th grade, Keystone Oaks

“Participating in the LAUNCH program was one of the best decisions of my life. Through LAUNCH, I was able to find my voice and learn to speak up for myself. I gained a much stronger sense of self and confidence, and the energy to bring my ideas to life in the larger world. I now feel I have the tools to create meaningful change and lead others! Not only that, I couldn’t be more excited for the rivers education project that LAUNCH helped me create, and I’m grateful for the network of strong women mentors and other motivated girls my age that I now have.” Roan Hoallander, 11th grade, Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate in such a fundamental program! It has taught me how to be a true ATHENA leader! Not to mention, I’ve learned more about myself through this program than I would have at any other time. I truly benefited from this great program, and I hope for the same for other girls in the future!” Kamsi Odigboh, 10th grade, Moon High School

From our mentors:

“This program was a wonderful experience to participate in. The program was incredibly focused on the young women and teaching them lifetime values. As a mentor, I felt like I got as much inspiration from the girls as they got from me. This program will have a lifetime impact on these young women, feeling supported by this program and their mentors. Thank you for this opportunity and I look forward to participating in the future.” Diane Elinski, Sr. Sales Engineer, Snowflake

“I am so full of gratitude for the opportunity to mentor these young ladies. During this time of uncertainty and remote learning/working/living this program provided an area of hope and excitement that many of us needed. The students were an inspiration providing resiliency, determination and focus I only hope that I was able to provide that much back for them. Time spent in this program was time well spent. Thank you again for this opportunity and I’d be honored to help and give back anyway I can in the future.” Bhavini Patel, Co-Founder & CEO, BeamData.

We are currently recruiting young women and mentors for our spring 2022 LAUNCH cohort, beginning in March. To apply visit www.pghtech.org/events/LAUNCH_1 or email mpelloni@pghtech.org.