Area Girl Scout Council gets $20,000 Monsanto STEM Grant

Updated Sept. 14

The Florissant Robot-a-Trons of Troop 546 are proud of their winning robot and all they've learned along the way. 

As part of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri's (GSEM) FIRST Robotics program, the troop along with other area Girl Scouts can continue to strengthen their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills because the Monsanto Fund for STEM education has given GSEM a $20,000 grant.

The grant is specifically for the GSEM's For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics program. The grant will be used to support the FIRST Robotics program for girls in the City of St. Louis and the 28 surrounding Missouri counties. 

In the 2013-2014 season, the Girl Scouts will set up 30 robotics teams compromised of 160 girls between the ages of 5 and 18, according to a GSEM statement. The FIRST Robotics program offers age-appropriate activities for girls ages 5 to 18. 

The Girl Scouts look to strengthen females representation in STEM professions. Women are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and math fields and according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Women make up only 25 percent of the STEM workforce.