Women Leading Technology has partnered with The University of Texas at Dallas to offer the 2023 WLT Architecture STEAAM Challenge for girls in Pre-K through high school. As part of WLT’s STEAAM Experience For Girls, the educational challenge will run from January through April, with the girls coming together to learn the principles of what it takes to become an architect. They will also learn how to manage their personal finances.

Hosted at the newly established Richardson IQ headquarters, a collaborative effort between UT Dallas and the city of Richardson, Texas, the project will have the girls work in three teams of 15 to design and build life-sized playhouses, measuring 4 feet (w) x 4 feet (l) x 5 feet (h). From start to finish, they will learn to use architecture design software to create blueprints for the structures, select building materials, and then build the playhouse they designed. A female architect actively working in the field will guide the project with the help of a female architecture college student as project manager.

Because WLT believes in the importance of educating children about financial literacy at an early age, the girls also will learn about managing their finances during the 12-week program from an industry leader as they select building materials. The winning team of the challenge will receive scholarships for each individual member to use toward the advancement of their STEAAM education.

As a bonus, the challenge will be filmed by high school media students. These students will work with an industry leader to learn the principles behind creating a great pilot. This includes understanding angles, video editing, sound, lighting, and more.

 In efforts to make the project opportunity available to working high school and college students, WLT will provide a stipend for the missed hours for the duration of the 12-week program as well as a letter of participation commemorating the students’ work with the project.