@Berkeley College   @PublicPrep   #STEM

Amber wants to be a veterinarian. The 9-year-old lights up when she sees a microscope and talks excitedly about her four pets.

But young girls today face a looming STEM gender gap. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, although women fill close to half of all jobs in the U.S. economy, they hold less than 25 percent of jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Amber’s school, Girls Prep Lower East Side, is doing something to support her dream. In March, Girls Prep on the Lower East Side and in the Bronx will host the Ultimate Pi Day 5K, a fundraiser to support the school’s STEM programs and encourage its students to pursue these areas of study.

Berkeley College joined Girls Prep in its mission on February 20, when it invited the elementary and middle school students for a college tour and training session with its New York Cross-Country team.

“When I was younger, I could run a 100-yard dash, but these girls are planning to run three miles,” said Adam Rosen, PsyD, Berkeley College Cross-Country Coach, New York. “Community involvement is very important for Berkeley College as well as for our Cross-Country team, so when we heard about the Pi Day race, we knew right away that we wanted to get involved.”

The Berkeley College team also gave the girls a lesson in motivation, showing a video about Diana Nyad, the 64-year-old athlete who swam from Cuba to Florida in 2013.

“Whether it’s running or doing well in school, you need to be determined to be successful,” Dr. Rosen told the girls.

Saranjeet Bhamra, a Berkeley College runner, was excited to share her story with the students.

“I felt running changed my life,” said Ms. Bhamra, who was recently named to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National All-Academic team for both her academic and athletic achievements. “It takes hard work, but if you have a goal, then you have a clear path to your future.”

Louisa Frick, a Development Associate with Girls Prep, said she was thankful for the opportunity to visit Berkeley because it helped to demystify the college experience for the young students.

“From an early age, we focus on college readiness,” Ms. Frick said. “But by coming to a college campus and meeting the people here, it shows our students this is something they can do. They can picture themselves here.”

Dallas Reed, PhD, Berkeley College Vice President, Student Development and Campus Life, agreed. “Providing young, vibrant minds with the opportunity to experience a college setting plants seeds of endless possibilities,” she said.

About the Girls Prep Ultimate Pi Day 5K

The Girls Prep Ultimate Pi Day 5K is an opportunity to run 3.14 miles on 3/14/15 at 9:26:53 am (celebrating the first 10 digits of Pi). The 5K will be followed by a Kids Run at 10:30 am, against the stunning views offered on Roosevelt Island. Fundraising will help Girls Prep public elementary and middle schools to develop the next generation of female mathematicians, technologists, engineers, and scientists. Click here for more information. 

About Berkeley College

A leader in providing career-focused education since 1931, Berkeley College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and enrolls approximately 8,000 students – including more than 900 international students – in its Baccalaureate and Associate degree and Certificate programs. The College has three New York locations – Midtown Manhattan, Brooklyn and White Plains. In New Jersey there are six locations – Woodland Park, Paramus, Woodbridge, Newark, Clifton and Dover. Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. Programs are offered in more than 20 career fields in the Larry L. Luing School of Business, the School of Professional Studies, the School of Health Studies, and the School of Liberal Arts. The website address is www.BerkeleyCollege.edu.

Photo Caption A: Amber, a third-grade student at Girls Prep Lower East Side, stretches with the Berkeley College New York Cross-Country team in preparation for the Ultimate Pi Day 5K to support women in STEM.

Photo Caption B: Berkeley College runner Saranjeet Bhamra (far left) takes a selfie with the visitors from Girls Prep.