Since then, the program has expanded to the Catholic University of the American and the University of Maryland at College Park. Throughout the program, the adolescent girls participate in innovative workshops, hands on lab experiences, and interact with supportive role models. By exciting girls at this age about science and technology, they will be enable to choose math and science tracks in high school and beyond. We teach problem solving and communication skills and encourage innovation and leadership. KEYS programs introduce essential aspects of social change such as physical empowerment, direct action, and overcoming negative stereotyping.
College students lead te whorkshops, activities, and laboratory tours.
They also serve as mentors and role-models for the girls during the course of a KEYS program. The program format is designed to increase the participating students' confidence, communication skills and leadership abilities. Additionally, interaction with other college students with similar interests affirms a student's career choices and goals. The experience also serves to encourage stuents to recognize the importance of mentoring throughout their lives. The Empowering skills that are focused on include communication skills, problem solving, teamwork, leadership, personal responsability, self-esteem.