EVELYN (8th grade): 

Are you planning on staying in the program?  Where do you see yourself in five years?

JUSTICE (6th grade):  About how many kids do you think you have taught?  What do you enjoy most about teaching?

ANGELIQUE (6th grade):  Are you planning on becoming a scientist?  How did you get involved in your field?

Dr. Kira Hudson Banks

Professor of Psychology

Illinois Wesleyan University

Click here to read Dr. Banks' letter

MYKAILA (5th grade):  What did it take to get your M. S. and B. S.?  Why did you pick to study Environmental Science?

AALIYAH (7th grade):  How do you feel doing the job that you do?  What is geology?  What do you like about the geology thing?  How difficult is it to do this geology thing?

DEAIRA (5th grade):  What do you do in National Honor Society and the National Dean’s List?

Jayda (6th grade):  What is it like to be a computer physics major?  What did you have to learn?  Is some kind of math/science involved?

De'Shayla (5th grade):  What is your job and do yo have any references?  Also, what is computer physics?  Another thing is where do you work?






Hillary (6th grade):  How do you make your own website?  Are there certain codes that you have to put in to make your own website?  Is it hard?

Alyssa (9th grade):  How did you get interested in mathematics?  How long were you a professor, and do you love your job?

Renee (7th grade):  What are the names of the activities in science that you can do?

The AWIS-HOI / ISU Physics Women in Science Technology, Engineering, and Math, Career Pen Pals Project was created and designed three years ago in 2004 by Grace Foote Johns, Assistant to the Chairperson at the Illinois State University Department of Physics.  2007 is the Fourth Annual Career Pen Pals Project.  Great thanks go the Illinois State University Physics Department (www.phy.ilstu.edu) for their support of this project.  Additional thanks go to the Association for Women in Science (Heart of Illinois Chapter) -- for which Ms. Johns is the Communication Coordinator. 

Ms. Johns earned her B. S. in Speech Education and her

 M. S. in Communication Theory.  Ms. Johns is currently working on her Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Foundations at Illinois State University.  Her dissertation’s hoped for research focus will be in the area of career mentoring equity and diversity in the sciences and ways to enhance student recruitment and retention initiatives and programs.

This year’s participating organization is the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal (BGCBN) of Illinois State University.  This important social services agency—celebrating it’s 15th year serving our community--is directed by Ms. Evelyn Young

Laura Duvendack, Program Director at the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal:  I graduated from Illinois State University in 2001 with a degree in Recreation and Park Administration.  I did my senior internship at the Club and have worked here ever since.  I love my job and I love the kids.  I really can't see myself doing anything else.

The Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal offers programs for youth who would not typically have opportunities to participate in other similar programs.  We have an after-school program that is open Monday through Friday from 3:00 - 8:00 for our members ages 5 - 18.  Our summer programs are offered Monday through Friday from 7:30 - 5:30.  During both our after school program and our summer camp we offer transportation to and from the Boys & Girls Club.  February 11, 2007 was the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal's 15th Anniversary.  We will do different celebrations throughout the year, but celebrated the actual day with a small party, with cake and ice cream of course, with our members, board members and staff.

To learn more about the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal you can visit our website at <http://www.bgcb-n.org/>