Author: Ariel Crawley

Keiser University and Kids in STEM leaders presented the Max M Fisher Boys and Girls Club with VEX IQ Challenge robotics kits.

The presentation was a result of a grant raised from the Keiser University Kids in STEM Golf Classic held on April 18, 2019, to support the Max M. Fisher Boys and Girls Club members as they learn more about education and career development, health and life skills, the arts, sports and fitness, and technology. Encompassing all four pillars of science, technology, engineering, and math, the study of competitive robotics promotes teamwork, communication, and project-based organization while creating unforgettable learning experiences.

“As we further equip the next generation to lead innovation, we are thankful for the opportunity to present these kids with such valuable learning tools, and very much appreciate all who participated in our Keiser University Kids in STEM Golf Classic to support the effort,” said Dr. Gary Vonk.

The VEX IQ Challenge, designed for elementary and middle school-aged students includes snap-together robot parts and fosters student development of teamwork, critical thinking, project management, and communication skills.

Founded in 1971, Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County is a not-for-profit youth development organization dedicated to promoting the educational, vocational, health leadership and character of boys and girls in a safe, nurturing environment. The Clubs provide more than a safe, fun and constructive alternative to being home alone – they offer a variety of award-winning developmental programs to help youth build skills, self-esteem and values during critical periods of growth. The thirteen Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Palm Beach County serve more than 8,000 children ages 6-18.

Kids in STEM, LLC is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity whose mission is to inspire school-age students through interactive activities that stimulate curiosity, discovery, and collaboration in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Kids in STEM’s objective is to equip students with the skills to meet the challenges of the ever-changing world around them and provide pathways to future STEM-related careers. For additional information regarding Kids in STEM, visit www.kidsinstem.org.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., June 12, 2019 – The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and Group1001 announced today a new official LPGA Tour event coming to Boca Raton, Fla., in January 2020. The first edition of the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio will be held January 20-26 at Boca Rio Golf Club.

“We are thrilled to support women’s professional golf and to provide a platform for the sport’s best to compete and showcase their talents,” said Dan Towriss, CEO of Group 1001. “We are honored to work alongside the LPGA to bring this new event to Boca Rio Golf Club and the Southeast Florida region.”

This new event will be one of two LPGA Tour tournaments held in Florida in January 2020. The year will kick off with the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions on January 15-19 in Lake Buena Vista, one week prior to the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio. The Sunshine State will also bookend the Tour season, with the year culminating at the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples in November.

“We want to thank our good friends at Group1001 and Boca Rio Golf Club for their support of the LPGA and their desire to host a world-class event in South Florida,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. “Personally, I can’t wait for 2020, when we debut the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio to our fans around the globe and to the many great golf fans in Boca Raton.”

The inaugural Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio will feature a 108-player field competing for a $2 million purse over 72 holes of stroke play. Boca Rio Golf Club, which was founded in 1967 and designed by Robert von Hagge, is situated just 4 miles from the Atlantic Ocean on 200 acres of native Florida wilderness. A member-owned luxury golf club, Boca Rio is a rolling golf course featuring undulating greens and white sand bunkers with no developed real estate.

“We are honored to host the world’s best female golfers at our course and thank honorary Boca Rio member Morgan Pressel for urging us to take this step,” said Paul Shapiro, president of Boca Rio Golf Club. “We are also very impressed with Group1001 and the work they do in promoting STEM education among young women, which is yet another reason why this event will be an exciting opportunity for this community. We can’t wait to welcome local fans and LPGA players to Boca Rio next January.”

HOLLYWOOD, FL, April 9, 2018 – STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – four disciplines crucial to building tomorrow’s world. As each discipline advances, the need for a talented workforce grows, a need reflected in some of the nation’s best compensated jobs.

But until recently, these careers were largely male-dominated, with only 26% of the positions filled by women. Now that’s changing. Indy Women in Tech “IWiT” is an organization dedicated to introducing women and girls to tech career opportunities, and then providing for the educational, financial and mentoring support needed to help them embark on and advance in these careers. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, IWiT is now open to partnering with organizations in Southeast Florida to expand their mission and initiatives.

Palm Beach County attorney, Sharma J. Schacknow, is helping IWiT on a volunteer basis to get them established in the Sunshine State. She fully believes in their mission.

“Girls often have a phobia about working in technology,” she says. “But if we start them at an early age, and show how good they can be at it, they’re likely to continue.”

In helping to launch IWiT locally, Schacknow has involved several other organizations. These include Keiser University, Pratt & Whitney, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. Current plans call for two major elements of the IWiT program to be the first implemented and replicated:

• Recognizing children’s fascination with robots, IWiT has designed a low-cost, entry level platform on which young people can create their own robotic devices. Boys and Girls Clubs of

Palm Beach County is currently expanding their facility in Belle Glade, an underserved area of the county. IWiT will help implement and launch their robotics program for middle school students in that facility.

• In Indiana, IWiT has successfully launched a STEM day titled Ignite Your Superpower! for middle school girls, featuring hands-on experiments and exhibits. Following their lead, Keiser University plans to hold a STEM day on its Palm Beach County residential campus. Pratt & Whitney is interested in holding a similar program at its Palm Beach Gardens facility.

Keiser University president, Dr. Gary B. Vonk, fully supports bringing more women into tech jobs. Keiser is launching a full slate of technology programs at all of its 18 Florida campuses, citing an industry shortage of qualified people for STEM jobs, a shortage that could be alleviated by more women joining these fields. “We recently met with industry leaders,” Vonk reports. “Their only problem is finding people to do these jobs.”

As for hosting a STEM day, Vonk adds, “We’d be happy to host a STEM week, if they’d like.”

The Schacknow Family Foundation, of which Sharma Schacknow is a director, is making a $10,000 donation through Israel Bonds, one of IWiT’s philanthropic partners.

“We’re excited to partner with Indy Women in Tech and encourage all of our supporters who are considering giving a gift in the form of an Israel Bond to give to this organization,” said Mark Ruben, Executive Director, Israel Bonds.

Sharma Schacknow sees the initial IWiT programs as first steps.

“Ultimately, I’m envisioning the creation of robotics programs for girls reaching beyond Palm Beach County,” she says. “The result would be empowered women who have the skills and talents which will
serve them well in their careers and as members of society.”

Vonk and Schacknow will be invited to attend the IWiT Championship, a full field LPGA event held annually at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event week serves as a convening point for all current IWiT initiatives including, robotics and STEM days, and raises funds and awareness for the cause. The goal will be for those interested in growing the mission in South East Florida to attend, learn and benchmark, with an objective of implementing similar programs in Palm Beach County in 2019.

For press inquiries about the efforts to establish an IWiT presence throughout Florida, contact Andrew M. Rose from Rose Marcom LLC at 561-945-9356 or andy@rosemarcom.com. For more information about IWiT, visit the organization’s web site at www.indywit.com.

Keiser University is excited to announce the 2019 Keiser University Kids In STEM Golf Classic on April 18, 2019. Registration and refreshments begin at 11:00AM and the shotgun start begins at 1:00PM. Come out and join us for a fun day of golf at the PGA National Resort and Spa on the renowned Champion Course. Sponsorships, foursomes and individual golfer opportunities are still available.

For more information please visit http://golfclassic.keiseruniversity.edu/