Youth ambassador program gives young leaders the skills to advance the national conversation about STEM learning in afterschool.
STEM Next Opportunity Fund announced Million Girls Moonshot Flight Crew – a youth ambassador program championing access to STEM learning opportunities in afterschool and summer for all youth across the nation.
The 2024 cohort includes Peyton Rogers , a 13-year-old from Brentwood, Tennessee.
Motivated by their impactful STEM experiences beyond the classroom, Rogers and other Flight Crew members will elevate youth voices to break down stereotypes and spark their peers’ curiosity in STEM. These young leaders embody the Moonshot mission to engage millions more girls in STEM learning opportunities and inspire more youth to pursue a STEM career.
The 2024 Flight Crew cohort includes 51 youth, ages 13-18, from all 50 states. Having worked to solve challenges in their communities and participated in hands-on STEM experiences outside of the classroom, the Flight Crew were selected to share their life-changing experiences in afterschool and summer programs. Seeking to reimagine what builders, inventors, and engineers look like, Rogers will serve as a role model for youth in Tennessee and the nation, showing other young people what is possible with STEM. Learn more about the 2024 Flight Crew members here.
Eight months of leadership development and public speaking training will be provided, as the Flight Crew simultaneously acts as champions of afterschool STEM. Skill building will include resume and interview coaching, connections with STEM professionals, and social media training for the members to gain life-changing social capital.
““A piece of advice I would give to a person who feels unwelcome in STEM,” said Peyton, an 8th-grade student from Brentwood, Tennessee and 2024 Flight Crew member, “is if you really like STEM don’t let anyone bring you negativity. Don’t doubt yourself and your knowledge – at the end of the day it’s only you.”
“We are excited to implement new training and ideas to amplify the experiences and voices of these inspiring young people. The Flight Crew is a part of STEM Next’s strategy to grow STEM leaders so that we can make out-of-school STEM opportunities a reality for millions of young people to help them thrive for whatever comes next in their lives. We have so much to learn from these students,” said Teresa Drew, Deputy Director of STEM Next Opportunity Fund and Executive Director of the Million Girls Moonshot initiative.
Launched in 2020, the Million Girls Moonshot builds field capacity for afterschool and summer programs and educators to prepare students for a future fueled by science, technology, engineering, and math. To achieve the ambitious goal of reaching millions of girls in five years, the Moonshot partners with the robust 50 State Afterschool Network to empower and support afterschool and summer STEM programs in every state across the country.
About STEM Next Opportunity Fund As a national leader, strategic guide, policy advocate and investor, STEM Next is making out-of-school STEM opportunities a reality for millions of young people to help them thrive in STEM and beyond. In September 2020, STEM Next launched The Million Girls Moonshot, which inspires and prepares the next generation of innovators by engaging millions more girls in STEM learning opportunities through afterschool and summer programs over 5 years. By investing early in the lives of our children, STEM Next is transforming their lives and preparing them for the 21st century economy. Learn more at STEMNext.org. Connect with STEM Next on Twitter and LinkedIn. Learn more about the Million Girls Moonshot at milliongirlsmoonshot.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.