PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (Oct. 27, 2023) – Prairie View A&M University is home to excellence, pioneers, and changemakers. This month, the three ideals came together in a transformative collaboration, and the PVAMU family was thrilled to be part of it all!
PVAMU’s Honors Program proudly welcomed troops from the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council community to the 1,400-acre campus. The mission was clear: help these aspiring young girls earn two badges in STEM activities.
Prairie View A&M Honors Engineering students Tori Watson and Nadia Higgins helped lead the scouts on this journey to discovery.
PVAMU’s campus was the perfect setting for the Girl Scouts to experience the power of student leaders in action while gaining greater insight into the world of engineering studies. While earning the badges was the ultimate goal, the girls gained exclusive access to a collegiate atmosphere characterized by cultural enrichment, academic excellence, and, notably, female presence in leadership roles.
Chelsee Young, assistant director of the Honors Program, explained that the project, which was a year in the making, aligned with the Girl Scouts of the USA statement, “We believe that one girl can make a difference and that girls together can change the world.’’ Chelsee adds, “I have a great admiration for our students, and I encourage them to use their skills, talents, and intellect to help others when the opportunity arises.”
Chelsee’s dedication supported the underlying purpose of the event, which was to encourage investment in academic excellence and offer the young Girl Scouts an in-depth look into various disciplines of study in professional and scholarly settings.
Tori Watson
For Tori Watson, a senior majoring in computer science, this event marked the beginning of her journey. “The Honors Program and [Roy G. Perry] College of Engineering have always pushed me to go above and beyond, and with this event, I have.”
For Tori, the experience brings her life full circle and reminds her of the influential role the women in her life have played in shaping her future. “Because of my mom putting me in Girl Scouts and many other women in my life, I have been blessed to work with so many leaders who have influenced me to be confident in my abilities as a woman. Teaching a younger group of girls the world of computer science helps them to see what inspires me every day.”
Games like Simon Says and the coding robot Botley introduce the fundamentals of coding, including building sequences, creating algorithms, and implementing loops to the wide-eyed group of young girls. Through these demonstrations, they witnessed, firsthand, a host of women who make significant contributions to the field of computer science.
Nadia Higgins
Nadia Higgins, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, shared her feelings in the form of a thoughtful question. “As I reflect on my actions, I often ask myself, ‘If a younger version of me were to witness what I’m doing, would she be proud?’ When it comes to this event, I believe she would be absolutely delighted.”
Nadia’s badge immersed the girls in the world of creating alternatively fueled vehicles, a project that provided invaluable lessons in problem-solving, innovation, and working under constraints.
Both Tori and Nadia’s experiences at PVAMU and their involvement in this transformative event have fueled their determination to continue giving back.
They’re driven by the idea that a single person can make a significant impact, and together, they can change the world.
The event demonstrates the potential for academic institutions to partner with community organizations to enrich the next generation. PVAMU’s Honors Program, with its commitment to inspiring young minds and empowering female leaders, has set a shining example for the broader community and shows us that investing in our youth and exposing them to diverse opportunities can truly change the world (in this case), one girl at a time.
By Liz Faublas-Wallace
-PVAMU-