Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites

Half of the student population is in a state of distress. Earning a high income, living the "American Dream," and being the ideal student add insurmountable pressure on our female students. At the age of 11 girls show engagement and interest to study career paths in the sectors of Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STREAM education aka STEAM education or STEM education) shows a Microsoft study of 11,500 girls. One organization is giving these Girls in STEM the courage and confidence to fight the odds and join the talent pipeline to high-paying jobs in design, engineering, invention, and manufacturing – Club Athena powered by Athena Racing.

"I GOT HIRED, LOXLEY!" said Tanisi Chauhan. "The Q&A went well, and I was hired before the interview ended. I want to thank you for helping me to refine my public speaking skills. My confidence allowed me to secure the internship this summer for Joel Anderson of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in District 2. This internship, along with being a member of Club Athena, will be the focus of my college essays when I start that process in two years. These experiences are helping me to refine what I want to be when I grow up. I couldn't imagine how the interview would have gone had I not had the training and encouragement that you provide."

Only 1,000 female students in grades 6 – 12, ages 11 to 18, are permitted into the prestigious, award-winning, extracurricular club, Club Athena. The educational enhancement of this professional club focuses on career exploration and skills training in STEM careers related to transportation on land, sea, and air while emphasizing public speaking, business development, and personal branding. Three specific traits needed regardless of the career path. Members are provided with multiple activities each month in which they can partake to enhance their learning. Weekly conundrums, monthly challenges, quarterly competitions, annual summer FABcamp, private online club, member comradery, and Discovery Zone classes. This robust offering allows for flexibility in scheduling. The member can partake of the offerings – from 5 to 50 hours of instruction and coursework per month – as it fits with their school, additional extracurricular clubs, and sports activities. The students who participate in Club Athena are encouraged to engage in other organizations, sports, and civic activities to gain insight and skills that will develop their full adult persona.

"Having a community of support, the type of community that Club Athena provides to young girls resonates with me. I grew up in predominantly Native and Hispanic American communities in New Mexico and was neither made aware nor educated about the opportunities in STEM career fields. Education, mentorship, and exposure to STEM careers allowing young girls to experience first-hand what is out there, is the most valuable, exciting, and enriching experience that can change your life. You don't know what exists outside of your bubble until a door is opened and a supportive role model helps you along your path," says Christina St. Clare. "As an F-14 Tomcat Radar Intercept Officer, the first woman of color, and one of the first three women to integrate the West Coast Naval Aviation's Tactical Air (TACAIR) community, I experienced firsthand the challenges that are presented to women who are pursuing careers in male-dominated fields. I was 'Goose' to 'Maverick.' I lived 'Top Gun' in one of the first woman-integrated squadrons and airwing to be deployed on an aircraft carrier."

Membership is now open to female STEM Superstars across the USA seeking career exploration, skills training, and college prep. At Club Athena, the focus on discovery and exploration of job opportunities that match the student's strengths saves them hundreds of thousands of dollars in education costs and decades of time wasted working in the wrong career. What most consider to be the mid-life crisis, or "Great Resignation," is an adult concluding that their passions and strengths are better suited in fields outside of their current path.

"As a former Student Advisory Board President, I know firsthand how the experiences gained at Club Athena have helped me in many aspects of my academic and extracurricular life," said Heleina Cicero. "As I finish my first year at Syracuse University on my path of study in Environmental Law, the skills that I developed in Club Athena have empowered me to shine in any task or challenge. Club Athena empowers girls of different interests, strengths, and cultural backgrounds and it's clear that a common theme present among members is a shared drive to succeed and a love of learning."

Club Athena is a disruptor of the STEM education club landscape. Introduced into California's second-largest school district in the 2019-2020 school year, only four months of in-person training was provided before Covid stay-at-home orders were instated. The club immediately pivoted to 100% virtual training. That allowed the organization to expand rapidly across the United States at a time when students needed the community and enhanced training that would capture their imagination.

"The portfolio pieces created by our members are equal in quality to their adult counterparts two decades their seniors. Companies and colleges see the talent pipeline being created by Club Athena and are getting involved with collaborations and sponsorships that will allow rapid growth and the ability to teach more young minds," says Loxley Browne, Club Athena CEO. "Capturing our girls in STEM education at a young age and keeping them focused, confident, and courageous along their journey prevents them from being dissuaded by societal expectations of what girls 'should do.' We are preparing young girls to lead us into the future, for job titles that have yet to be created, roles that have yet to be forged. Yet, with skills training that is adaptable to all situations, they will be able to evolve our talent pipeline and be the diversity champions of the 21st century, the Women in STEM who move the needle forward."

With a limited number of memberships available, female students in grades 6 thru 12 have until June 30, 2023, to secure a membership.

This elite group of students – of all skills, education levels, GPAs, locations, and backgrounds – will be shaping the future as members of this Teenage Think Tank working on classified projects with Fortune 500 companies and members of industry.

Interested female students can apply at ClubAthena.org.

About Club Athena powered by Athena Racing:
Club Athena, an award-winning, 501(c)3 nonprofit STEM education program, is a virtual online extracurricular club, an educational enhancement to classroom learning. A social network where girls in middle school and high school develop a leadership mindset, prepare for college, explore careers and learn essential skills. While "getting our hands dirty!" our elite membership of 1,000 girls explores professional career tracks in the specialties of invention, design, engineering, fabrication, and business.

Visit ClubAthena.org to learn more.

Be aware that young men with charming voices are calling seniors under the guise of needing payment or credit card confirmation. I did get one of these calls and fortunately always pay my AAA bill by check, so when this young scoundrel said my credit card was not working and he needed a replacement card for payment I was on to him and as soon as I told him I only pay with a check he hung up.

Some poor unsuspecting lady might not be so lucky and give these scam artists her credit card numbers. Please be alert and be careful always!

Chase officially opened its first Sapphire Lounge at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). It’s located in the Terminal B to C connector between gates B39 and B40. The lounge is open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., and it’s nearly 12,000 square feet!

The lounge looks premium and on par with what Centurion lounges offer — it's definitely nicer than most other airport lounges.

If you have a Priority Pass with a Chase-issued card (either the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the now-discontinued Ritz-Carlton credit card), you will have unlimited free access for yourself and two guests to Chase Sapphire lounges. If you have Priority Pass through any other cards, once per calendar year, you can access the new Sapphire Lounge and bring in guests for $75 each.

If you don’t have a Priority Pass, you can buy access for $100 per person per visit, subject to availability. Keep in mind, you can only access the lounge within three hours of departure or if you are on a layover. We’ll see if this lounge policy will be sustainable, as its popularity spreads, we know there are a lot of Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders out there.

Chase lounges are already open via a terrace at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). Confirmed plans call for clubs in the following six airports:

Only 1,000 Girls in STEM will be accepted into this Award-Winning National Teenage Think Tank Where Girls Invent - Design - Engineer for the Future!

STEM Superstars are invited to apply for membership at Club Athena's teenage think tank program where female students are developing skills and exploring careers for 21st-century needs.