Capt. Nathan Hale School Students Multiply Their Options at UConn

On Friday, March 27, Capt. Nathan Hale School (CNH) proudly celebrated the power of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as 20 eighth grade female students participated in the 30th annual Multiply Your Options (MYO) Conference at the University of Connecticut (UConn).

Designed to inspire young women to explore and pursue careers in STEM, the MYO Conference offered a full day of immersive, hands-on learning and meaningful mentorship. Now in its third decade, the event continues to serve as a cornerstone experience for empowering the next generation of female innovators.

Students from CNH spent the morning collaborating with current UConn engineering students on a variety of engaging, hands-on projects. Activities included creating magnetic slime, engineering self-propelled boats, and designing functional water filtration systems, each providing practical insight into core scientific and engineering concepts.

In addition to the interactive workshops, students attended keynote presentations delivered by accomplished women in STEM fields. These speakers offered powerful perspectives, sharing their personal journeys and highlighting the wide range of opportunities available within STEM careers.

The afternoon session, known as “Tool Clues,” connected students directly with professional women working across diverse STEM industries. Through small group discussions, students were able to ask questions, explore real world applications of STEM knowledge, and gain valuable advice about educational and career pathways.

The 30th anniversary of the MYO Conference underscores the ongoing commitment of UConn and participating schools like CNH to closing the gender gap in technical fields and building a strong pipeline of future female scientists, engineers, and innovators.

This information was provided by Capt. Nathan Hale School. For more information, please contact Ross Sward, Principal, at rsward@coventryct.org.