Alverno Girls’ Academy of Science and Mathematics

Science of Beauty (for junior girls) and the Science of Food (for senior girls)

WHO: High school Junior and Senior girls who want to learn science and math through real-world applications!

WHAT: A free afterschool program that has lessons once a week and uses hands-on learning to improve your Science and Math abilities, raise your ACT scores, and prepare you for success in college. Also, learn how to use social media tools like Blogger for creating your own science blog. Students who successfully complete the program will be eligible for the Girls’ Academy Scholarship at Alverno College (see below for more details).

WHEN: New activities and Zoom meetings on Select Fridays (from October through May) from 5:00pm-7:00pm. See the full calendar here.

WHERE: Program is held in a virtual format for this fall semester and we hope to have a face-to-face format in the spring, if the current pandemic subsides. If the program returns to a face-to-face format in the spring, transportation would be provided to Alverno College and home, after the program has ended for the evening on Fridays.

• Juniors will engage in virtual and at home learning to understand the structures and properties of common substances used in the beauty industry and their effect on the environment and health. Also, you will develop and test your own lotions, soaps, and fragrances!

• Seniors will engage in virtual and at home learning to investigate what makes your favorite foods look, taste, and smell so good! You will use your taste buds as well as scientific investigative strategies to test foods prepared in different ways. Also, you will create your own recipes based on chemical principles that make cooking creative and fun.

• Complete an investigative group project to present to family, friends, and teachers.

• During your senior year of high school if you apply to and are accepted into Alverno College you will be eligible to receive the Alverno Girls’ Academy Scholarship. (See more below.) Scholarship amounts start at $4,000 per year, and require that student meet the college admissions requirements as well fulfill the attendance and performance expectations established by the Girls’ Academy of Science and Mathematics program. 

Questions? Contact program directors Elizabeth Gamillo or Justin LaManna

Funding and Other Support

• The Girls’ Academy of Science and Mathematics has received over $800,000 in funds and future pledges since its start in 2011 for supporting our mission of advancing the education of girls. Below is a list of our external funders and the years in which they provided support. We are so grateful to these organizations for making the Girls’ Academy a reality.

• The Greater Milwaukee Foundation 2011-2012
• The Great Lakes Foundation 2013-2015
• The Zonta Club of Milwaukee 2014-2015, 2017-2018, 2018-2019
• Johnson Controls Inc. 2016-2020
• The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction 2015-2021
• The Pentair Foundation 2017-2018
• Rockwell Automation 2017-2020
• Evinrude Foundation 2018-2019
• Forest County Potawatomi Foundation 2018-2019

• Many departments and individuals provide support for the Girls’ Academy of Science & Mathematics through helping organize services and events for the program. Below is a short list of some of those who have provided so much help enabling us to successfully run the Academy:

• Food Services Incorporated (FSI)- Catering events and weekly dinners
• Alverno Technology Services- Access to Moodle and email accounts
• Alverno Admissions Department- Workshops on how to choose a college
• Alverno Financial Aid Department- Workshops on how to apply for financial aid
• First Student Inc.- Transportation for the high school students
• Alverno Marketing- Creating flyers for the Academy
• Alverno Career Services- Workshop on career choice
• Alverno College Advancement Department- Obtains all funding for the program