Competence, confidence, connection, and character. According to Chemistry Professor Don Spratt, these four Cs are fundamental not only to hockey but also to STEM and leadership.
They were just four of the many things nearly 100 participants of the Girls Inc. of Worcester Eureka! Program learned during four days on Clark’s campus, July 13–16. Participants worked with faculty, took part in hands-on workshops, and experienced what college life can offer.
The visit marked the beginning of a new learning partnership between Girls Inc. of Worcester and Clark. It was also the result of months of careful planning. Clark University took a leading role in developing and carrying out the program, coordinating faculty, designing workshops, opening classrooms and laboratories, and providing campus resources and lunch. That preparation created a welcoming environment built specifically around Eureka! participants and their goals.
“Clark University has been thrilled to host Girls Inc on campus this summer,” said Evan Wilson, associate dean of the college and coordinating member of the Collaborative for Community Engagement, noting that over 10 Clark faculty members and 35 students and staff volunteered to work with the program.
For 110 years, Girls Inc. of Worcester’s mission has been to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Eureka! is the organization’s signature five-year STEM program for girls in grades 8 through 12. The program combines science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with leadership development, academic support, career exploration, and opportunities to build confidence. The result is a well-rounded experience that prepares participants not only to pursue STEM pathways but also to advocate for themselves, work with others, and approach new challenges with curiosity.
Throughout the week, Clark professors introduced participants to different STEM fields, research questions, and career paths. Participants asked questions, worked through problems, tested ideas, and considered how science can be used to address real-world challenges. Afternoon sessions broadened the experience with discussions on leadership, economic independence, professional development, and preparation for high school, college, and future careers.
“We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with Clark University,” said Tiffany Lillie, CEO and executive director of Girls Inc. of Worcester. “This experience is building the skills, confidence, and self-awareness they need to succeed in higher education and beyond.”
For many participants, walking through academic buildings, learning in university classrooms, and speaking directly with professors helped make college feel more familiar, Lillie explained. The experience gave them room to picture themselves as future college students, scientists, researchers, and leaders while reinforcing that higher education is within their reach and worth pursuing.
Chemistry Professor Julio D’Arcy led a two-hour workshop during which students investigated the remarkable properties of water droplets and discovered that droplets interact differently depending on the surface material. Each student explored advanced scientific concepts with a Clarkie who served as a mentor, collaborator, and scientific guide.
“Girls Inc. is helping propel the next generation of STEM leaders forward, and we are proud to provide a space where students can explore, question, experiment, and see themselves as scientists,” D’Arcy said. “An ordinary water droplet can open the door to extraordinary scientific questions. Our goal was to show students that discovery often begins by looking more closely at the world around them.”
The program concluded on July 16 with an exhibition where Eureka! participants shared reflective presentations highlighting what they learned, explored, and created during their time at Clark.
“Hosting Girls Inc has offered us the opportunity to introduce local young people to college and share resources connected to personal and professional development, all the while connecting them with faculty experts ranging from biology, chemistry, interactive media, data science, physics, and climate resiliency,” Wilson said. “We hope they leave the program feeling excited for their future and thinking creatively about how they can engage in STEM fields to solve complex issues facing our world.”
