Christine Batten (center, holding check), account development manager in the company-owned stores group of PPG Architectural Coatings, U.S. and Canada, visited Woodstock High School to present a $1,000 PPG Industries Foundation check to science faculty members Kelly Burke (also holding check, in pink) and Karen Zayance (second row at far right), along with charter members of the Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) club they sponsor. The grant will enable the WiSE club to encourage younger students’ interest in science and engineering by conducting hands-on outreach programs with local elementary- and middle-school students during the 2015-2016 school year.

Outreach events will include STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Days at elementary schools; Girls Night Out events at Woodstock High School, where middle-school girls from all over the county can focus on physics, chemistry, engineering, math and computing science, and robotics activities; and a bimonthly Lunchtime STEMposium Series featuring professionals who work in STEM-related careers.

“It’s great to see how excited these girls are about science and engineering. I’m happy to help get this funding for the outreach program, which will give them opportunities to share their enthusiasm with younger students,” said Batten, who is based at the PPG PAINTS™ store at 9829 South Main Street in Woodstock. “The PPG foundation focuses on supporting science- and engineering-based educational programs like the WiSE club in communities where it has a presence, helping foster interest in future careers in advanced manufacturing.”