Touting the “huge success” of its first cohort of 16 student ambassadors in 2022, Million Girls Moonshot announced in a recent news release the selection of 43 high school-age girls from 37 states for its Flight Crew program this year. Backed by the advocacy and investment group STEM Next Opportunity Fund, members of Million Girls Moonshot’s Flight Crew will receive training in leadership and public speaking from now through August so they can help mentor and inspire other students about opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math. As its namesake suggests, the goal of the Million Girls Moonshot initiative is to enlist 1 million girls in after-school or summer STEM programs by 2025.
“The Flight Crew has proven to be a compelling voice that inspires other young people to pursue STEM and helps STEM leaders and policymakers understand the value of STEM outside the classroom,” Million Girls Moonshot Director Teresa Drew said in a public statement. “Youth voice matters and the Flight Crew is leading this conversation.”
According to the news release, the expansion of the Flight Crew program is also part of STEM Next’s commitment to the White House National Space Council and its goal of promoting space-related careers.
“As national partners on the Million Girls Moonshot, Lockheed Martin is committed to preparing the next generation of diverse STEM talent and inspiring future explorers that could someday ride on the Lockheed Martin-built Orion spacecraft,” Matthew Swibel, vice president of enterprise communications and social impact at Lockheed Martin, said in a public statement. “The teens selected to serve in the Flight Crew embody the problem-solving, curiosity and leadership skills needed most in STEM careers.”
New Flight Crew member Ellyana (Elly) Thorton, a high schooler from Richmond, Calif., said in a public statement that she’s interested in seeing Black women equally represented in the future of STEM.
“I believe that STEM is the future, and I am eager to have a role in its advancement,” she said. “With the guidance of the Flight Crew, my goal is to be a role model for young Black girls and to expand my STEM knowledge and experience while helping others.”
The news release said Million Girls Moonshot will continue working with its partner Afterschool Alliance, which operates a similar STEM Youth Ambassador program of its own, to train its new Flight Crew members.
“The Afterschool Alliance is thrilled to work with STEM Next and its Million Girls Moonshot initiative to strengthen youth voices and amplify the amazing things these young people have to share,” said Leah Silverberg, project manager with the Afterschool Alliance. “The Flight Crew members have so much to share with their peers and adults in creating a real path for all young people to see themselves in STEM.”
