Bradbury Science Museum Director Linda Deck served as master of ceremonies at the at the Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails at the Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails (GSNMT) annual fundraiser, Enchanted Evening, Saturday evening at the Sandia Resort in Albuquerque. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Dr. Jennifer Harris specializes in biosecurity at LANL and was the keynote speaker GSNMT annual fundraiser Saturday at Sandia Resort. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Bradbury Science Museum Director Linda Deck served as master of ceremonies at the Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails (GSNMT) annual fundraiser, Enchanted Evening, Saturday evening at the Sandia Resort in Albuquerque.

Women in STEM was the theme of this year’s special event attended by about 200 guests.

“New Mexico is home to so many driven and talented women who are flourishing in STEM fields, this theme was tailor-made for our state and our girls,” said Deck, a Girl Scout alumna. “It was wonderful to celebrate all of these amazing women while raising funds to support the next generation of women in STEM!”

Keynote Speaker Dr. Jennifer Harris, a bioengineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory and former Girl Scout. She shared the zig-zaggy path she took to her career now specializing in biosecurity. Her project at LANL, PuLMo, is a tissue-engineered artificial lung that simulates the response of the human lung to drugs, toxins, particles and other agents. She spoke about this work and her experiences as a woman in STEM.

Deck, a member of the Girl Scouts New Mexico Trails Board, spoke about the importance and opportunities Girl Scouting affords young girls.

“Girl Scouting is a tremendous opportunity for girls of all ages to learn and practice leadership skills,” Deck said. “It gives them a great grounding from which to go into any pursuit in life. Now with an emphasis on STEM in the Girl Scout badge and journey activities, these girls are encouraged to envision themselves in the future where Dr. Harris is now.”

Other notable women in STEM in attendance with Dr. Harris included Dr. Olivia De’Haven Underwood, a materials scientist at Sandia National Laboratories; Dr. Nyika Allen, director of Aviation for the City of Albuquerque (Girl Scout alumna); Meteorologist Kristen Currie of KRQE News 13 (Girl Scout alumna); Metis Technology Solutions, Inc. Founder/CEO Dr. Joy Colucci (Girl Scout alumna) and engineer and operations consultant Dr. Alia Lubers (Girl Scout alumna).

GSNMT Director of Development Molly Garza spoke at the event.

“Our girls absolutely love our STEM events and programs,” Garza said. “They quickly fill up, so we are looking for ways to expand and diversify the content and locations of our programs. We’d love to be able to spend more time with girls in our rural areas of New Mexico. Support for STEM initiatives is critical to our success.” 

Girl Scouts believes that STEM is for every girl and their special initiatives inspire girls to discover how they can change the world through STEM, she said.

Los Alamos Troop 116 Co-leaders Nan Holmes and Ryn Herrmann attended the event.

“Being a Girl Scout leader is one of the most rewarding and fun experiences I have had. Nan Holmes and I have been co-leaders of Troop 116 here in Los Alamos since our daughters were in first grade. Now they are heading into their senior year at Los Alamos High School,” said Herrmann who is director of the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce and has served as a Girl Scout leader for more than 11 years. “Six of our girls are working on their Gold Awards. We have seen these scouts grow, become more confident and become leaders in their communities and Nan and I could not be  prouder of the young women they have become.”

The evening culminated in the opportunity for guests to explore and inclulge in the science of brandy, chocolate, cotton candy and ice cream.

Proceeds from Saturday’s event will support GSNMT and its STEM initiatives.

GSNMT Board President Becky Teague welcomes the crowd at the GSNMT annual fundraiser Saturday at Sandia Resort. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

GSNMT Executive Director Peggy Sanchez Mills addresses the crowd at the GSNMT annual fundraiser Saturday at Sandia Resort. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Girl Scouts USA CEO Sylvia Acevedo delivers a video message at the GSNMT annual fundraiser Saturday at Sandia Resort. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Event Master of Ceremonies Linda Deck, with her table guests from Los Alamos, from left, Dave Modl, Deck, Hans Herrmann, Ryn Herrmann, Nan Holmes, Rich Holmes, Teri Roberts, Randy Roberts and Jae Riebe at the GSNMT annual fundraiser Saturday at Sandia Resort. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

From left, Linda Deck, International Women’s Forum President Diane Harrison Ogawa, IWF member Yolanda Jones King and former New Mexico Attorney General Gary King. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

The evening culminated in the opportunity for guests to explore and inclulge in the science of brandy, chocolate, cotton candy and ice cream. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Holding and wearing geeky props for a group photo, from left, Linda Deck, Nan Holmes, Teri Roberts and Ryn Herrmann at the GSNMT annual fundraiser Saturday at Sandia Resort. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene outside the ballroom before the start of the GSNMT annual fundraiser Saturday at Sandia Resort. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com