Special to Iredell Free News

Iredell Crosby Scholars Isabella and Anna Rufty were selected to participate in GEMS-Girls Empowered by Math and Science Saturday Academy, which met once per month during the 2020-2021 school year, and for a weeklong summer camp at Winston-Salem State University in July.

GEMS was developed by Dr. Denise Johnson, associate professor of education at WSSU, in 2009 to increase interest, accelerate academic achievement, and increase the number of females who are choosing to enter the fields of science, mathematics, technology and education.

The 2021 summer camp focused on exposing girls to careers in transportation. About 25 girls participated with hands-on activities. The core curriculum was developed by WSSU faculty in alignment with the North Carolina Middle School Mathematics and Science Common Core State Standards for middle and high school topics such as; Engineering, Environmental Science, Computer Design, and Robotics.

DiFiore is a rising seventh-grader at Oakwood IB School, and Rufty is a rising eighth-grader at North Iredell Middle School.