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News Release
St. Mary's Academy robotics team the "Beta Blues" paves the way to FIRST(R) Global Competition - 03/12/24

LARGEST ALL-GIRLS ROBOTICS TEAM IN THE US HEADS TO RENOWNED STEM COMPETITION

St. Mary’s Academy robotics team the “Beta Blues” paves the way to FIRST® Global Competition

Portland, Ore – St. Mary’s Academy, an all-girls, Catholic high school in Downtown Portland, is excited to announce that its all-female robotics team will be competing in the FIRST Robotics CompetitionBeta Blues, a team of 40 girls from ninth through twelfth grades, will face off against other teams from schools across the northwest throughout the season.

According to President Emily Becker, “As an all-girls, Catholic high school, our job is to find ways to support the development of female leaders and prepare them for the future of work. We believe that growing the pipeline for women in STEM is a key to our success as a school and something that continually sets our curriculum and institution apart. The more we can double down on our promise of a transformational environment to every girl that walks through our doors, the better.” Robotics is one of the many ways to help grow said pipeline. Last year, fewer than two percent of the teams had all-girls rosters.  

The Beta Blues, which started nine years ago, welcomes all interested students, nearly a third of whom are new to robotics, and is led by a passionate team of coaches and mentors including parents and educators. The fabrication lab or “The Fab Lab” for short, whirrs with lights and motion. Rows of workstations are set up with sturdy tables and ergonomic chairs for engineers and technicians to work on their projects. Students as young as 14 are paired with more senior girls to learn Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software, allowing designers to create and refine robotic models.

Beyond the competition arena, the Beta Blues are committed to mentoring younger women in STEM, paving the way for future generations of female innovators. The team builds robots and bridges by actively reaching out to mentor eighth grade girls through invitations to build and interact. “There’re no shortage of girls and young people interested in building an amazing tomorrow. There’s simply a shortage of supportive pathways. We’re here to help them grow through dollars and mentorship,” said Community Energy Labs CEO Tanya Barham, a corporate sponsor of the Beta Blues.

To support the Beta Blues' journey, visit STEM - St. Mary's Academy (stmaryspdx.org) or follow on Instagram at @5975_betablues.

 

About Saint Mary’s Academy 

At St. Mary's Academy, We Believe.
Located in the University District of Portland, OR, St. Mary's Academy is the state's oldest continuously operating school and only all-girls school. Founded in 1859 by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, St. Mary's Academy serves over 600 young women in grades 9-12. The school's college acceptance rate is 100% and SMA students achieve, excel and are recognized locally, regionally and nationally in academic fields, leadership, STEM, the arts, athletics, community service and extra- and co-curricular activities. To learn more, please visit www.stmaryspdx.org 

 

About Community Energy Labs 

Community Energy Labs is an energy technology company on a mission to affordably decarbonize buildings by enhancing heating and cooling controls. Its software combines cutting-edge control algorithms, machine-learning thermal energy models, and traditional control techniques to make saving money and the planet easy. CEL can reduce energy use in buildings by up to 30 percent for less than $20,000 and with a single day of installation. CEL was founded in Portland, Ore., in 2019. The company is woman-founded and led. Learn more at CommunityEnergyLabs.com.

 

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