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Press Release
SPC Program Director named 2019 STEM Woman of the Year
Girls Inc. of Pinellas honors SPC Engineering Program Director Lara Sharp as the 2019 STEM Woman of the Year. On Sept. 13, Girls Inc. hosted a luncheon at the University of South Florida to honor local role models who affirm their commitment to encourage today’s girls and young women to consider careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
The 2019 honorees included:
- Science – Dr. Jennifer Arnold, Medical Director SIM Lab, JHACH
- Technology – Raquel Acuna, BDM Cloud Solutions, Tech Data
- Engineering – Lara Sharp, Engineering Program Director, St. Petersburg College
- Math – Dr. Sandra Jackson, Founding Director STEM Innovation Lab, University of South Florida
“It is very humbling to get this award,” Sharp said. “Though I never thought of myself as a trailblazer or a woman engineer. Only an engineer. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
SPC Workforce Institute Program Director Susan Garrett nominated Sharp for the award, noting her creativity, innovation and inspiration in furthering SPC’s efforts to encourage women and young girls to enter STEM fields.
“Lara is a great role model of a STEM professional,” Garrett said. “Not only has she overcome some stereotypes of women in engineering, she has also worked hard to mentor and encourage other women to be bold and take the steps to the career paths they have both interest in and intelligence for. She is a great role model.”
Girls Inc. of Pinellas offers opportunities for girls to explore science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields through hands-on experiences and leadership roles, giving them room to take risks and make mistakes, free from distractions. Each year, the organization honors local people who encourage young women to enter careers in STEM.
