Mia McCaslin of Port Tobacco submitted the winning essay in the annual Women & Math essay contest sponsored by the College of Southern Marylands mathematics, physics and engineering division.
I have always been interested in math and I am currently enrolled in algebra two honors class and plan on taking pre-calculus and trigonometry next year, said high school sophomore McCaslin.
The goal of the essay contest is to get young girls to interact with professional women in the STEM fields, in order to learn about the challenges and how to pursue careers in those related fields, said Sandra Poinsett, CSM professor of mathematics. For her essay, McCaslin interviewed Adrianne Cooper a computer and flight test engineer with NAVAIR.
The essay contest is part of the colleges ongoing efforts to promote the fields of science, technology, engineering and math and to encourage young women to enter these fields. McCaslin was awarded a $250 gift card.
For information on CSMs women and math programs, call 301-934-7808, 301-870-2309, 240-725-5499 or 443-550-6169, Ext. 7808 or visit www.csmd.edu/women&math/.