The first meeting this year for The American Association of University Women (AAUW) will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 8 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Rogers Free Library. Meet the two teachers who were awarded AAUW’s Scholarship Science Kit grants last November, discuss future meetings, and to learn about the mission of AAUW. This event is free and open to the public.

AAUW is a non-profit organization that was established prior to 1900 to help advance education and equity for women and girls. Membership is open to women who wish to socialize with other women interested in AAUW’s mission.

Maria Clarey an eighth grade science teacher from Tiverton Middle School used the kit grant money to purchase Strawberry DNA Extraction Kits, while Kevin Bolano a fifth, sixth and seventh grade STEM teacher from Thompson Middle School in Newport chose a kit that introduced chemical analysis techniques. These two teachers will describe how the science kits sparked their students’ interest in science.
Each February the branch holds a “Red Hot Brunch” fundraiser where money is raised for the two scholarship committees, the Math/Science Fund that encourages girls to learn more about STEM, and the Scholarship Fund that gives a scholarship to a woman entering college for the first time or a woman who is continuing her college education.
The annual Author’s Lunch held at the Middletown Wyndham Hotel in April gives AAUW an opportunity to highlight three local women authors. This event raises money for The Rhode Island Center for the Book.

For more information contact Rosemary Slocum at rosieslocum@cox.net.