The 14th annual Girls in the Middle Conference (GIM) was held on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at Otero Junior College from 8:45 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The theme of the conference this year was “SOAR!” and encouraged middle school girls to “Go Above and Beyond” to reach their goals. The theme was carried out throughout the day in workshops for the girls.  The goal of the conference is to encourage middle school girls to continue studying math, science and technology once they enter high school. This year over 180 girls from 8 schools in southeastern Colorado attended the conference to learn more about careers that require an educational background in math, science, or technology.

Middle School girls engineer, construct and test a bridge in the Engineering workshop presented by Colorado School of Mines

According to Pam Denahy, 2012 conference co-chair, this year’s conference hosted 20 different career workshops that were taught by women who are working in those careers.  A few of the workshops at this year’s conference included: Archeology, Digital Arts, Engineering, ER Nursing, Forestry, Information Technology, Nursing Laboratory Simulation, Physician, Nurse Practitioner, Pilot, Radiology, Surgical Technician and Veterinary Science.  In addition the Air Force Academy presented Physics workshops and provided Air Force Cadets to assist in guiding the girls through the conference and representing leaders to the younger generation.

Physics Lab with US Air Force Academy cadets

This year’s conference had an additional special appearance by Antja Chambers from the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.  Ms. Chambers is a Senior Systems Engineer in the Space Suits Development Office at NASA and was the Keynote speaker for the 2012 GIM Conference delivering a motivational speech for the girls as well as conducting three workshops during the day about aerospace engineering. 

Surgical Simulator with Nurse Instructors and Nurses from Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center

Project Resources Group Director of Operations, Deb Dufour has served on the hosting committee for six years, serving as Chair for two years and Co-Chair for two years.   “The conference provides the opportunity for middle school girls to meet women who are working professionals in careers that require an educational background in math, science, or technology, and to experience hands-on activities associated with those careers.  I feel this is very important to increase the female ratio in technology related fields which tend to be higher wage professions and are currently male dominated.  In 2010 the American Association of University Women (AAUW) documented a troubling shortage of girls and women preparing to work in science, engineering, technology, and math. In order to close this gap, AAUW supports efforts that train teachers to encourage girls and other underrepresented groups to pursue careers in these fields.  The Girls in the Middle program is funded through grant support along with support from Otero Junior College; strives to assist in the efforts to close the gap.  I can attest being from a technology background and company myself, it is a good initiative to support,” said Dufour.

For more information on the Girls in the Middle Conference visit: http://www.ojc.edu/girlsinthemiddle.aspx

Veterinary Medicine presented by TLC Vet Clinic (pictured far right – Ariana Dufour, PRG Trouble Ticket Agent, who participated as a Team Leader for a group of ten middle school girls)

Management team members from PRG attended the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) Tech
It Out event.

The Rocky Mountain Chapter of Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) and Communications Technology Professionals (CTP)
partnered this year again for the award-winning Tech It Out (TIO) event at The Cable Center in Denver on November 10, 2011. The
2011 Tech It Out (TIO) initiative on November 10th was considered by attendees, speakers and sponsors a “Must Attend” event
for the WICT Rocky Mountain region chapter. It sold out in record time – as past attendees knew that space would be limited. A
new record was hit with 240 attendees, including 16 college and high school scholarship students, 24 esteemed speakers and 20
sponsors.

Tech It Out 2011 featured Teresa Taylor, a distinguished veteran in the telecommunications industry.

(L-R)Mike Dwyer, Mark Weibe, and Dean Flora at Adam's Camp Annual Golf Tournament 2011

Every year for the past five years, representatives from PRG have participated in an annual golf tournament that benefits a wonderful organization named Adam’s Camp. Adam’s Camp is a Colorado-based non-profit organization providing a variety of intensive, personalized and integrated therapeutic programs for children with special needs and their families, as well as recreational programs for youth and young adults with moderate developmental disabilities. The organization provides much needed therapy to children with such diagnoses as autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other developmental disabilities.

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