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BHSU Women in Science
Wednesday,
Women in Science is a free one-day career learning workshop designed to provide young women in7th Grade with engaging opportunities to learn about careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Thank you so very much to our very generous and supportive sponsors. The donations given by these sponsors allow almost 800 middle school girls to experience the opportunities a science-focused education can provide.
Platinum Level ( > $4000)
Gold Level ($2000 - $3999)
Silver Level ($1000 - $1999)
Bronze Level ($200 - $999)
Supporter Level (up to $199)
Individual Donors
Liz Fayer Lonnie Jensen Julie Ritter
Wendy Zawada Straub
Wendy enrolled in Montana Tech fall of 1991 with no major declared upon arrival. Once established on campus, Wendy became drawn to the offerings within the Mining Department. In a way, mining was a fit based upon Wendy’s upbringing. Wendy spent countless weekends and family vacations as a kid, placer mining with her family on her dad’s mining claim in the Big Belt mountains near White Sulphur Springs, Montana.
Wendy enjoyed her time at Montana Tech, but really got serious about her career in 1995 when she secured employment with Montana Resources until she graduated from Montana Tech.
From there, Wendy’s professional career started as a mining engineer working for Stillwater Mining Company. Responsibilities included roles in operations, engineering, and project management. With the birth of her son Jake in 2004 Wendy stepped away from mining engineering to raise her young family.
In Wendy accepted a job as a project mining engineer at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota. Wendy and her son Jake moved away from Montana and made South Dakota home for the next four years. She provided engineering and survey support to excavate laboratory spaces and move large scientific equipment underground to establish a world class science and engineering laboratory.
The urge to become more involved in production mining drove Wendy to accept the position of mine engineering superintendent in for an underground trona mine in Green River, Wyoming. Responsibilities included the monitoring and management of underground ventilation, rock mechanics and all general mine planning. Wendy was promoted in to mine manager and fulfilled this role until . Responsibilities included all underground operations including production, maintenance, and engineering for Ciner Wyoming.
Today Wendy is the Director of Hoists & Shafts for the Sanford Underground Research Facility. She returned to the lab in in a newly created role. She is responsible for all operations and maintenance of the Ross and Yates Shafts and hoists that are the vital link between the surface and the underground spaces being developed to advance the United States as a leader in underground science.
You are invited to this conference on the Black Hills State University Spearfish campus.
Details After a brief keynote presentation and introduction, groups of 20 students will be guided to visit the exhibits and interact with individual speakers during sessions throughout the day. Speakers will present in the areas of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Geology, Health Care, Mathematics, Environmental Science, Sustainability, and other STEM career opportunities.
By showcasing successful women as positive role models, we hope to encourage students to take the math and science track through middle and high school and eventually pursue an engaging and successful STEM career.
A free lunch will be provided to all students, teachers and chaperones at the BHSU dining hall in the student union.
This year we are inviting 7th-grade girls to the Women in Science Day.
Teachers should expect to bring a chaperone for every twenty students attending. Lunch will be provided for all teachers and chaperones.
Please contact Jill.Trimble@BHSU.edu to register for the Women in Science Conference.
Participating Schools
Belle Fourche, SD Middle School
Black Hills Christian Academy Spearfish, SD
Cheyenne-Eagle Butte, SD Middle School
Harding County, SD
Hulett, WY Middle School
Lead-Deadwood, SD Middle School
Meade County, SD Rural Schools
Moorcroft, WY Middle School
Newcastle, WY Middle School
Spearfish, SD Middle School
Stagebarn Middle School - Summerset, SD
Sturgis, SD Williams Middle School
Sundance, WY Middle School
Todd County, SD Lakeview Elementary
Todd County, SD Middle School
Twin Spruce Junior High Gillette, WY
Upton, WY Middle School
Volunteers are needed on the day of the conference to help with setup and to lead groups around campus. Campus maps will be provided, and no scientific expertise is necessary. Lunch will be provided.
For anyone interested in volunteering with the event, we are seeking help with the following:
chaperone student groups to/from their sessions
provide information and assistance at help desks/cafeteria
