Georgia Piedmont Technical College has been nominated for a 2013 Bellwether Award for its STEM One Project, an initiative aimed at introducing girls to nontraditional and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers. The award is sponsored by the Community Colleges Futures Assembly.

The nomination comes following the efforts of GPTC's computer graphics and design program faculty member Dr. Natoshia Anderson and special populations/equity coordinator Roslyn Bogle, whose provocative presentation "A Successful Partnership: The STEM One Project" at the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity held April in Washington, D.C., made the college eligible to compete for a Bellwether Award. The prestigious Bellwether Award recognizes outstanding and innovative programs and practices that are successfully leading community colleges. The awards are presented annually at the Community College Futures Assembly and are granted in three categories: Instructional Programs and Services; Planning, Governance and Finance; and Workforce Development.

"The college is delighted to be nominated for this award. It's an honor to have the program recognized," said Dr. Anderson. "It is our belief that girls can be and do anything they desire. Also, it is our job as women role models, and as a college, to ensure that girls are aware of all of the opportunities that are available to them - that they are not limited by their gender or by what society tells them they can and cannot do."

Through its STEM One Project, GPTC works with the local DeKalb County Schools System and has been successful in providing awareness, recruiting and ensuring retention of women and young girls into STEM and other nontraditional programs offered by the College.