Abstract
<p>The purpose of this study is to find out if a STEM role model increases girls' interest in pursuing a science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) career. This study focused on the following questions: Does having a STEM role model increase interest in science, technology, engineering, and math? Does having a STEM role model increase interest in pursuing a STEM career? Are there statistically important gender or ethnicity differences between the treatment and comparison groups?</p>
<b>The girls in this study confirm some of the theories found in the literature review. Having a STEM role model increases interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. In some cases, having a STEM role model increases interest in pursuing a STEM career. There was relatively little difference between the treatment and control groups. However, the qualitative data demonstrated that though girls who attend a STEM academy have high interests in STEM, high sense of belonging in STEM and low sex role stereotypical views of STEM occupations based on gender, benefited from having students correspond with STEM role model pen pals. Students who form a personal relationship with a STEM professional gain insight into STEM occupations which may inspire them to pursue career paths for which they have not been previously exposed. The Next Generation Science Standards curriculum has a positive influence on students’ science identity.</p>