Soar to the Stars Girls STEM Experience and Teacher STEM Experience
REMEMBERING. HONORING. INSPIRING.
The Petit Family Foundation and the Space Foundation are proud to come together for a powerful event
to inspire young people to soar to the stars!
Girls and Teachers from the Hartford area are invited to experience this fun, inspirational event and luncheon for FREE.
Saturday, October 27, 2018
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (7:15 a.m. Check-in and Breakfast)
Connecticut Convention Center
Hartford, Connecticut
Breakfast and snacks will be provided.
Premier Sponsor
Soar to the Stars features a series of hands-on STEM activities and a Women in Science Panel
Mary Lockhart
President and CEO
PEMDAS® Technologies and Innovations
Karolyn Maloney
Senior Director of IT Hygiene
Program and Identity and
Access Management, Aetna
Bridget Oei
Miss Connecticut
Dr. Kathy Thornton
Professor, University of Virginia
Former Astronaut, Space Foundation Board Vice Chairman
Luncheon 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Guest Speaker
Paul S. Lockhart, USAF, Ret.
Former NASA Astronaut
Participating girls, their parents, educator participants and special guests are invited to this memorable FREE luncheon, compliments of the Petit Family Foundation. Registration required for Girls STEM Experience, Teacher STEM Experience and Luncheon. Register no later than Thursday, October 18, 2018.
Soar to the Stars Girls STEM ExperienceLeadership
Schedule of Events
The Petit Family Foundation and the Space Foundation are proud to host a free STEM experience for girls in the Hartford area, with interactive activities to spark their interest in the sciences. Girls age 12 to 18 years will be able to participate in four different hands-on activities, led by Space Foundation accredited and award-winning educators, all of whom are former classroom master teachers.
| 7:15 a.m. | Check-in |
| 8:00 a.m. | Welcome / Breakfast |
| 8:10 a.m. | Women in Science Panel / Q&A |
| 9:00 a.m. | Hands-on STEM Activities |
| Noon | Closing Remarks |
| 12:30 p.m | Luncheon with Guest Speaker Paul Lockhart, USAF, Ret. Former NASA Astronaut |
| 2:00 p.m. | Event Conclusion |
Soar to the Stars Teacher STEM Experience
Schedule of Events
In conjunction with the Girls STEM Experience, a free teacher STEM professional development workshop will be offered. Teachers will be provided a free breakfast and are invited to attend the free luncheon with former astronaut Paul Lockhart.
| 7:15 a.m. | Check-in |
| 8:00 a.m. | Welcome / Breakfast |
| 8:10 a.m. | Women in Science Panel / Q&A |
| 9:00 a.m. | Hands-on STEM Activities |
| Noon | Closing Remarks |
| 12:30 p.m | Luncheon with Guest Speaker Paul Lockhart, USAF, Ret. Former NASA Astronaut |
| 2:00 p.m. | Event Conclusion |
Soar to the Stars Sponsorship Opportunities
Your commitment to Soar to the Stars helps ensure youth and teachers are exposed to world-class STEM opportunities.
Your Soar to the Stars sponsorship will:
- Connect you with prominent Hartford community leaders, NASA representatives and professional space educators at the Soar to the Stars Luncheon
- Elevate your company’s visibility – your organization will be listed on this event website and in digital event signage
- Support two renowned nonprofit organizations that are impacting hundreds of thousands of youth
- Enrich your community by contributing to a pipeline of an educated and equipped future workforce
For more information about sponsorship opportunities, send email to:
[email protected] or [email protected]
We share a passion to make a difference!
By 2023 half of all U.S. jobs will be in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), yet, too few students are pursuing majors in those areas, hindering our global competitiveness. The Soar to the Stars Girls STEM Experience is only the beginning. Through your support we hope to continue providing robust and immersive STEM education programs in the east coast area. In doing so, this further fulfills the Petit Family Foundation’s and Space Foundation’s mission to educate young people, especially girls and women in science.
About The Petit Family Foundation
The Petit Family Foundation is a 501c3 organization that memorializes Jennifer, Hayley and Michaela Petit by continuing the kindness, idealism and activism that defined their lives. The Foundation's funds are given to foster the education of young people, especially women in the sciences; to improve the lives of those affected by chronic illnesses; and to support efforts to protect and help those affected by violence.
About The Space Foundation
Founded in Colorado Springs in 1983, the Space Foundation is the world's premier nonprofit organization to inspire, educate, connect, and advocate on behalf of the global space community. We are a nonprofit leader in space awareness activities, educational programs, and major industry events, including the annual Space Symposium, the largest annual gathering of space professionals in the world. Through our robust education program offerings, more than 46,000 students and teachers received in-person, hands-on STEM education, using the excitement of space to turn young people's attention to the fascinating world of science and technology.