Worldwide Campus — On Saturday, April 27, 2024, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University & USA Girl Scouts Overseas (USAGSO) collaborated in honor of the Month of the Military Child to bring a fascinating and engaging virtual event to over 200 participants from around the world primarily located at US military installations in Europe and the Pacific.

This is the third year that ERAU and USAGSO have partnered to offer this free event to recognize and celebrate the resilience and sacrifices of children in military families worldwide. This event aims to provide educational opportunities and global connections for children, fostering a sense of empowerment and possibility.

Designed to inspire young minds and to celebrate the contributions of women in STEM, the event showcased the Artemis Mission to the Moon. It delved into topics such as building a Mars base using 3D printing technology, creating sustainable ecosystems, water purification, Artificial Intelligence (AI) testing, and basic life support systems beyond Earth. Attendees also explored the role of women in space exploration and gained insights into potential careers in STEM fields.

Over 50 enthusiastic individuals joined online from various corners of the globe, while more than 150 participants gathered in person for watch parties at several Embry-Riddle campus locations worldwide, including KMC-Ramstein, Ansbach – Katterbach, Stuttgart, Mildenhall, Aviano, Wiesbaden, Kadena, and Osan. The watch parties hosted families to include snacks and STEM-related activities.

The event kicked off with a welcome from Taryn Rimland, Program Manager for USAGSO, followed by a brief overview of ERAU programs with Rachel Martinez, Assistant Campus Director at Sigonella. The workshop was facilitated by ERAU Adjunct Faculty and Alumna, Dr. Amaya Davis, a distinguished US Navy Veteran, and currently working as a contract Supplier Quality Engineer at Lockheed Martin. Dr. Davis is also a NASA ambassador and accomplished aerospace engineer, who shared her expertise and experiences, inspiring participants to pursue their passions in STEM and walking them through fun and interesting science experiments such as a demonstration of a water filtration system and a discussion on moon phases.

The event’s impact extends beyond the live session, as the recording continues to be accessed by viewers eager to learn about life beyond Earth and the exciting possibilities in STEM fields. The program’s success underscores the importance of inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators as well as providing fun, educational opportunities for overseas military communities.

For those who missed the live event, the recording is available here.

Passcode: LifeBeyondEarth

About ERAU Overseas U.S. Military Operations

ERAU has had the privilege of serving overseas U.S. military students via our current Tri-Services Contract since the opening of our first European military location in 1973. Campus locations are scattered across Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, & the United Kingdom. Locations include Aviano AB, NATO AB Geilenkirchen, USAG Bavaria (Grafenwoehr/Vilseck/Hohenfels), USAG Ansbach (Katterbach/Illesheim), Incirlik AB, RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, Ramstein AB, NAVSTA Rota, NAS Sigonella, Spangdahlem AB, Vicenza (Caserma Ederle), and USAG Wiesbaden, while providing support for students located in the Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC – Sembach Kaserne, USAG Baumholder, Kleber Kaserne, & USAG Rheinland-Pfalz Landstuhl), USAG Stuttgart, Naples, RAF Croughton, RAF Molesworth, Moron AB, Poland (Poznan/Powidz), & Romania (Mihail Kogalniceanu AB). The team celebrated 50 years in Europe in 2023 and were recently awarded another 5 years with the Tri-Services Contract.

European Military Campus Operations Website: Europe Military Campuses Website

ERAU began offering aviation undergraduate and graduate certificates and degree programs, EagleVision Classroom (EVC) courses, and on-site advising/support services, to members of the U.S. military stationed at overseas Pacific locations in U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) and U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) in 2015 under a Department of Defense Education contract (recently replaced with an Education Services Agreement (ESA). ERAU PACOM’s flagship campus locations, Kadena AFB in Okinawa and Camp Humphreys in South Korea, opened their doors in August of 2015. Since then, ERAU PACOM has expanded to include ten campus locations throughout Japan and South Korea (Camp Humphreys, Kadena AFB, MCAS Futenma, MCAS Iwakuni, Misawa AFB, NAF Atsugi, Osan AFB, Yokosuka NB, and Yokota AFB) and continues to grow. We also support students located in Daegu/Kunsan, Camp Foster, Camp Schwab, Torii Station, Camp Fuji, and Camp Zama. We recently added a location in Guam at Andersen Airbase in March. The ESA (Education Services Agreement) is effective until 2032.

Pacific Command Campus Operations Website: PACOM Military Campuses Website

About USA Girl Scouts Overseas:

USA Girl Scouts Overseas (USAGSO) began in 1925 with a single troop of 18 girls in Shanghai, China. USAGSO exists to bring Girl Scouts to the daughters of military, foreign service, and American expat families around the world and to girls in American or International schools. An operating unit of Girl Scouts of the USA, USAGSO ensures that no matter where American families move, they will have access to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. USAGSO provides opportunities for girls to connect, learn, and take action in an environment tailored to their unique experiences living overseas. Through engaging programs and initiatives, USAGSO empowers girls to develop essential skills and leadership qualities, fostering confidence and resilience. Today, USAGSO supports nearly 10,000 members in 80+ countries around the world. USAGSO staff supports members from three locations: New York City; Vicenza, Italy; and Tokyo, Japan.

For more information, please visit www.usagso.org

For additional information regarding this event, please contact Rachel Martinez at MARTINR1@erau.edu.