WITS Conference Receives National Recognition

Limestone College’s Women in Technology and Science (WITS) Program recently received the 2018 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education.

The Inspiring Programs in STEM Award honors colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Limestone will be featured, along with 77 other recipients, in the September 2018 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity.

The WITS Program Director is Dr. Michelle Phillips-Meek, who is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Limestone.

“We are absolutely thrilled that our program and Limestone College are receiving this national recognition,” Phillips-Meek said. “We appreciate the support our conference receives from the administration, faculty, staff, and students. WITS attracts the best and brightest young women who have expressed an interest in science, math, technology, and health-related areas. We are well-suited to offer such a conference because half of the faculty in science and health-related disciplines at Limestone are women with terminal degrees.”

Inspiring Programs in STEM Award winners were selected by INSIGHT Into Diversity based on efforts to inspire and encourage a new generation of young people to consider careers in STEM through mentoring, teaching, research, and successful programs and initiatives.

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine representatives noted that Limestone’s WITS program was selected because it works to help female high school students explore their interests in technology, science, and health. The College’s WITS program hosts Gaffney-area high school sophomores and juniors at the school and allows them to get hands-on experience in Limestone's science, math, and technology programs.

“We know that many STEM programs are not always recognized for their success, dedication, and mentorship for underrepresented students,” said Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “We want to honor the schools and organizations that have created programs that inspire and encourage young people who may currently be in or are interested in a future career in STEM. We are proud to honor these programs as role models to other institutions of higher education and beyond.”

Participants of the annual WITS Conference are eligible for Limestone's McMillan Scholarship Program, which is designed specifically for young women who have a high school grade point average of 3.0 or better. The scholarships are worth up to $8,000 annually.

A call for nominations for this award was announced in April 2018.

For more information about the 2018 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award and INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, visit insightintodiversity.com.