Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland breaks ground on STEM Leadership Center

An effort to build the STEM workforce of the future is one step closer to reality.
 
Ohio business leaders and public officials, including Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley, joined Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland (GSOH) Tuesday morning for a groundbreaking ceremony marking the beginning of construction on the new STEM Leadership Center & Maker Space. Powered by Girl Scouts, the “Dream Big” Initiative will help propel girls into STEM fields by allowing them to unleash their curiosity and cultivating next-generation innovators.
 
“Women have remained underrepresented in STEM fields, but Girl Scouts are creating a paradigm shift,“ said Tammy Wharton, president & chief executive officer, GSOH. “Through this project, Camp Ken-Jockety is transforming into a STEM and In-Demand Jobs immersive campus. It will become a place of unlimited possibilities, where girls can learn in-demand skills, participate in cutting-edge programs, and lay the foundation for a better economic future.”
 
Construction is expected to take place over the next 12 months. BBCO is the project architect, and CK Construction serves as the construction manager.  
 
Launched in May 2022, the Dream Big project includes:

• A new STEM Leadership Center with community space, science and technology labs.

• A Maker Space to learn trade skills like welding, mechanics and carpentry.

• A new greenhouse for gardening programs including hydroponics.

• Renovations to the Environmental Center to include the addition of a teaching kitchen for farm-to-table programming.

• Outdoor learning spaces.

The immersive, 220-acre campus will make a broad impact as a community resource for youth and community stakeholders across Ohio. It will be available to schools, other nonprofits and community partners.
 
Dream Big is the local commitment supporting the Girl Scouts of the USA’s bold goal of putting 2.5 million girls in the STEM pipeline by 2025. Today, women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce yet are drastically underrepresented in many fields including STEM, in-demand jobs, and leadership roles. For example:

• Just 18 percent of STEM leadership roles are held by women.

• Women represent 15 percent of engineers and architects.

• Only 12 percent of computer science degrees are earned by women.

GSOH has teamed with community partners to make the $16 million Dream Big project a reality. More than $12 million (80 percent of the goal) has been raised to date. GSOH has secured funding from local companies, including major gifts from Battelle, American Electric Power Foundation and Nationwide Foundation. The project also received state capital support.

Leaders from across the region have banded together behind the Dream Big mission. Dream Big Honorary Co-Chairs include Lou Von Thaer, president and CEO, Battelle Memorial Institute; Yvette McGee Brown, partner, Jones Day; and Lori Gillett, CEO, CK Construction.
 
In addition, Honorary Champions include Mary Auch, regional president, PNC Bank, Columbus; Marilyn Brown, former Franklin County commissioner; Erica C. Crawley, Franklin County commissioner; Rhoe Fields, AVP, community relations at Bath & Body Works Foundation; Alex Fischer, former president and CEO, Columbus Partnership; Wes Hall, vice president of philanthropy and education, Battelle Memorial Institute; Lisa Hinson, president and founder, Hinson Ltd Public Relations; Michele Holcomb; Dr. Kristina M. Johnson, president, The Ohio State University; Darla King, president, King Business Interiors, Inc.; Gale King, former executive vice president and chief administrative officer, Nationwide Insurance; Cameron Mitchell, founder and CEO, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR), LLC;  Karen Morrison, president, OhioHealth Foundation and senior vice president, OhioHealth Corporation; Natasha Pongonis, CEO, O.Y.E. Business Intelligence; Julie Sloat, president and CEO, American Electric Power; Barb Smoot; president and CEO Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD); Dr. Kathy Sullivan, former astronaut and administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Dr. Ann Teske, healthcare educator administrator; and Katherine Zehnder, vice president, HNTB.
 
“Gender equality in STEM education will help ignite economic growth in Franklin County and beyond, and the Dream Big initiative is an important step forward,” said Erica Crawley, Franklin County Commissioner. “All children deserve to see themselves as scientists, mathematicians, and leaders. Girl Scouts empowers our girls to envision a better future and creates opportunities for them to dream even bigger.”
 
For more information on Dream Big, visit gsoh.org/dreambig.

Girl Scouts of the USA are 2.5 million strong – more than 1.7 million girls and 750,000 adults who believe in the power of every girl to change the world. Our extraordinary journey began 111 years ago with Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low. On March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Ga., she organized the very first Girl Scout troop. Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland is proud to serve our more than 16,000 members in 30 counties by honoring her vision and legacy, building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. And with programs from coast to coast and across the globe, Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. To volunteer, reconnect, donate or join, visit www.gsoh.org.