Education Innovation Badgerland

Maydm, a Madison-based nonprofit, recently wrapped up its summer programming for girls and students of color. At Maydm, students not only learn the skills to become the next great STEM innovator, but also experience the world of technology in a big way.

In each program, students were paired with year-long mentors and participated in virtual visits with local tech companies. 

• Wonderful World of Web Development - 20 students learned the programming languages of the web including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, by building a portfolio of websites and web-based games. 
• STEM Power is Girl Power - 15 students learned about web development, robotics, and hardware programming in this cohort for female-identifying innovators!
• Solidworks: Draft Your Model for the Future - 15 high school students learned about drafting using SolidWorks software and had the opportunity to earn certification as a SolidWorks Drafting Associate.

In summer programs, students learn leading programming languages and engineering technologies in the morning and get out of the classroom to explore in the afternoon. Students are paired with a tech professional who serve as their mentor for a full year. Students also go on field trips to local tech companies to see what they do, and talk with people who work in the field every day. They get to meet, create, and explore alongside other amazing young innovators through it all.

In 2020, Maydm's reach has included 90 percent students of color and 68 percent of girls.