GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Each year, the American Auxiliary of University Women, in partnership with FOCUS, choose 5 young women to represent the communities of Gridley, Biggs and Live Oak at Tech Trek held at UC Davis.

Tech Trek is a week-long STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) camp that takes place at the UC Davis campus during the upcoming 2020 summer months. Seventh grade girls are nominated by Science or Math teachers and go through a rigorous process of applications, interviewing, and essay review.

The AAUW and Tech Trek website states that “Research findings have shown that middle school is a critical time when girls tend to stray from studying math, science, engineering and technology.”

AAUW has been sending girls to Tech Trek since its inception in 1998. Cathy Slota of FOCUS, who works closely with AAUW, shares that sending the girls to the camp costs about $900 for each girl attending. The benefits are worth it and help these young women find confidence in perusing careers in the STEM area.