LA HABRA : Guiding Girls Into Math, Science Lauded

The Brea-La Habra Branch of the American Assn. of University Women has been honored for its efforts to encourage young female students to strive for careers in science and math.

The association awarded the local branch first place in the state and third place in the nation for its work in raising awareness to the shortage of women in science and math fields.

“We put on an awareness program to encourage girls to get into math and science and won,” branch President Wilma Sauer said.

The program came in the form of a conference, which included superintendents, teachers, students and parents from high school and elementary school districts in La Habra, Brea, Fullerton, Placentia and Yorba Linda in a discussion about the problem, Sauer said.

“It’s typical in the classroom to see boys more assertive about the subjects and see girls not participating,” she said. “So, we discussed what can be done to encourage the girls but it wasn’t a teacher-bashing thing. It was just an awareness program.”