UAlbany, Girls Inc. Encourage Students to be Life-Long Learners
ALBANY, N.Y. (Aug. 13, 2024) — For Pranali Rodda, coming back for another summer of the Girls Inc. Eureka! program at the University at Albany meant a chance to take part in a prestigious internship aligned with her personal educational goals.
Now in its 12th year at UAlbany, Eureka! is a free program created by Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region that provides girls with an introduction to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Throughout the summer, middle and high school students took part in activities that range from field trips to the Ion Beam Lab at UAlbany, WildPlay, where the girls challenged themselves on a high ropes course, as well as the New York State Mesonet at ETEC where the girls helped launch a weather balloon.
Other students had internships with the New York State Museum and the Schenectady Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing.
In Rodda’s case, her internship was at the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center, where she worked alongside her mentor, Jason Goman, to learn about how the hospital provides healthcare services for veterans.
Rodda, who is going into her senior year at Shaker High School in Latham, performed a variety of tasks at the VA, including working at check-in, helping to restock supplies or dropping off samples at the blood lab.
One of the most important lessons she learned from Goman was how to be patient with the patients.
“Jason helped me so much with everything at the hospital,” said Rodda, noting that Goman also served in the Marines. “He always tries to make sure that I was able to perform the tasks that I wanted to do, but also how to help veterans who in many cases might suffer from PTSD or have other health problems. He is super nice and understanding!”
"It was a pleasure to have the girls from the Eureka! program here this summer. They were always eager to help and did whatever was asked of them with a smile," said Goman, a United States Marine Combat Veteran who serves as the voluntary service specialist for the Stratton VA Medical Center. "Pranali was always very willing to help and learn new things. She always had a positive attitude and brought a welcoming energy with her on her tasks. She is a very bright young woman, and I am sure she will do great things in the future. I look forward to next year’s interns."
Rodda’s experience at the VA also helped showcase how critical technology is supporting healthcare, which has her thinking of pursuing a degree in computer science when she graduates. She was especially thankful for the help of Eureka! Manager Kelly Mucci, who helped Rodda find and plan her internship.
“To me Eureka! has four main objectives: helping students succeed academically, live life to the fullest, know their worth and acquire the life skills needed to prepare them for adulthood,” said Mucci. “Each girl is so special and I'm glad to be a part of their journey.”
Rodda was also appreciative of the entire Eureka! experience, including her time spent working in the Physics Department during the summer of 2023. UAlbany’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) provides primary support for the program.
"The College of Arts and Sciences is thrilled to continue our affiliation with Girls Inc. and to host the Eureka! program on the University at Albany campus. The interactions between the students and our faculty and staff are enriching and transformative and in many cases the only way to expose students to offerings, laboratories and facilities on our campus," said CAS Dean Jeanette Altarriba. "The experiences for these young women on the UAlbany campus are truly transformative. Students are learning about science, research, the arts and other areas of focus in ways that they may never have before without being part of Eureka!"
“As vice chair of the operating board of Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region, I am proud and blessed to help celebrate the young girls and women of the Eureka! program,” said Bria Cherelle Barnes-Coleman, director of Women’s Leadership Initiatives & Community Engagement at Albany Law School, who provided the keynote address at the culminating ceremony on Aug. 1. “We are also thankful for the University at Albany for providing so many invaluable experiences for our students as they move along their academic journey into adulthood.”
In addition to STEM education, the Eureka! program provides programming aimed at personal development, athletics, mentorship and career exploration. Girls commit to the program for five years, preparing them for the next step in their education after high school.
The program is sponsored by the Albany Med Health System, Applied Materials, Broadview Federal Credit Union, Grasshopper Heating & Cooling, Highmark, KeyBank, MVP Health Care and National Grid.
“We remain grateful to caring partners who have been essential for this phenomenal collaboration," said CAS Assistant Dean for Public Engagement Deb Privott, who leads the Eureka! program for UAlbany. "Every effort is tremendously appreciated as we encourage participants to be strong, smart, and bold together."
To learn more about the Girls Inc. Eureka! program at UAlbany or about public engagement at the College of Arts and Sciences, fill out the CAS Public Engagement Contact Form.
