Following New STEM Report, Hagan Speaks to Future Female Leaders of Technology

Press Release

Following the U.S. Department of Commerce's announcement that the number of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) jobs is rising, U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (NC) today delivered the keynote address at Microsoft's DigiGirlz High Tech Camp. The camp works to dispel stereotypes in the high tech industry and inspires high school women to pursue careers in technology.

"The race to innovate and the great challenges of our future - improving our communication capabilities, curing global diseases and developing clean energy technologies - lie within the STEM fields," said Hagan, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. "STEM jobs are expected to increase by 17 percent by 2018, but women currently only hold 25 percent of mathematical and computer science jobs and 11 percent of engineering jobs. These are the careers of the future. We need to encourage our young women to pursue their interest in the STEM fields so they can fill these jobs and tackle our country's most pressing challenges."

In a report released last week, "STEM: Good Jobs Now and For the Future," the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that STEM jobs grew three times as fast as non-STEM jobs in the last ten years. The full report can be viewed here.

The DigiGirlz Camp is part of Microsoft's commitment to help improve student skills in STEM. Approximately 100 high school women are participating in the 3-day camp, where they will listen to executive speakers, participate in technology tours and demonstrations, and learn through hands-on experience in workshops. During the kickoff ceremony this morning, Hagan received the "Girl Power Award," along with North Carolina State Superintendent Dr. June Atkinson; Marilyn Richards, Regional Development Director of the United Negro College Fund; and Janet Manzullo, a Vice President of Time Warner Cable.

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