The Petit Family Foundation – dedicated to promoting STEM careers for young women – is helping eighth-grade girls learn from role models – top female UConn Engineering students and practicing engineers.

Its $11,000 gift brings together girls with an interest in science, technology, engineering and math (the STEM fields) with women who can help them accomplish their goals. In regular one-day conferences the eighth-graders work side-by-side with female undergraduate engineering students – who had the same questions just a few years ago – and accomplished female engineers. The program is called Multiply Your Options.