HEART + INTELLECT FEATURE THROUGH THE STEM SCHOLARS PROGRAM

By Erin McCarville

Founded by Specialized Studies Department Chair and Mathematics Faculty Connie Farrow and Academic Dean Dr. Heather Mansfield in the spring of 2020, the DSHA STEM Scholars program is designed for motivated DSHA students who are curious about and willing to engage in learning and applying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The program requires rigorous coursework, participation in a STEM-related co-curricular, and attendance at quarterly meetings where they discuss or participate in STEM-related opportunities and offer support to one another. STEM-related research is recommended. The program has grown from twenty-three students enrolled in the 2020-21 school year to sixty-five in the current school year.

Passing Along A Love Of Mathematics

Casey Masterson, DSHA ’23 , has always had a passion for numbers. “I’ve always loved math but I became even more interested in 8th grade when it started getting harder. I liked that there was a set of rules to follow in order to reach a goal,” she stated.

Upon acceptance to DSHA, Masterson was eager to continue to explore the subject. As she started choosing specific classes, she gravitated toward advanced level mathematics courses taking Honors Geometry her sophomore year and Honors Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus her junior year. This year, she is enrolled in both Calculus and AP Statistics.

“AP stats is my favorite class I’ve ever taken,” she expressed. “I really like probabilities and using numbers you already have to predict numbers you can have in the future.” Masterson credits this course to influencing her desired future career—business analytics.

“It’s cool because my dad is an engineer and my mom was a business major,” she explained. “I’m getting to combine both.” Receiving STEM support and encour - agement at home, it was actually Masterson’s father who encouraged her to apply for the STEM Scholars program. “When my dad first mentioned it, I looked into it and realized I was already taking many of the required courses out of my own interest,” she said. Wanting to take advantage of the opportunity, she applied and was accepted.

As she started to attend STEM Scholar meetings, Masterson found it “inspiring to see other girls my age, and even younger, know that they want to do something in the field.” Recognizing that STEM is often a male dominated space, Masterson thinks a program like this is invaluable at DSHA. “It’s so important to foster STEM interest and confidence in girls, especially at a young age.”

Wanting more exposure to women in the field, Masterson had the opportunity to tour HUSCO, International Inc., a privately-owned company that specializes in hydraulic and electro-mechanical control systems, with students enrolled in DSHA's Introduction to Engineering course and the STEM Scholars Program. Girls were given a tour of the facility and listened to female engineers talk about their journey into STEM. While there,