NPC to Host Women in STEM Event for International Women's Day

National Park College (NPC) will host a virtual Women in STEM event in celebration of International Women’s Day March 8 at 11 a.m. The event will feature KATV Meteorologist Melinda Mayo and ABC Chief Meteorologist Ginger Zee. Diane LaFollette, Executive Director of Mid America Science Museum will provide a welcome.

The theme this year internationally is “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 World.” The theme celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Diane LaFollette has served as Executive Director of Mid-America Science Museum of Hot Springs, AR since 2013. During her tenure there she has led the organization through a $7.8 million renovation of the facility, which included the installation of 90 new exhibits, three new galleries, the Oaklawn Foundation Digital Dome Theater and the Bob Wheeler Science Skywalk. Recent projects include the construction of a new exhibition gallery, which will open this Spring with a new 5000 square foot exhibition, the introduction of an after school care program and the Oaklawn Foundation DinoTrek. Under her leadership, the Museum has received several awards including the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ National Medal for Community Service, the People’s Choice and Members’ Choice Awards from the Arkansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Arkansas Nonprofit Alliance Mission Marketing Award, and the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce Organization of the Year Award. LaFollette has a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from the University of Missouri, and a Graduate Certificate of Nonprofit Management and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Mayo is a Pine Bluff native who enjoys delivering the weather for her home state. She is the co-host and meteorologist for "Daybreak" and "Good Morning Arkansas" at KATV in Little Rock and has been a part of the Arkansas television market since 1987. She is a member of the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association. Her weathercasts were awarded the AMS Seal of Approval in 2004. In 2010, she was named an AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist. She has covered numerous tornado outbreaks in Arkansas, as well as Hurricane Opal in Florida in 1995. Her reporting during the historic Hot Springs, Arkansas floods in 1990 won a six-state Spot News Award. Mayo received a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She continued her education at Mississippi State University where she was certified as a broadcast meteorologist.

 

Ginger Zee is the chief meteorologist at ABC News. She covers the nation’s weather headlines on Good Morning America and across all ABC News broadcasts and digital platforms. She also hosts an ABC News original digital series, Food Forecast, focused on climate and its impact on agriculture. She has covered almost every major weather event and dozens of historic storms for the past 15 years. She not only shares her passion for meteorology but, more importantly, presents the compassion and human side of these storms. Having storm-chased since college, Ginger has a genuine love for the atmosphere and a dedication to getting young people interested in science. She has written a STEM trilogy called Chasing Helicity for middle grades, which follows a storm chasing a young woman named Helicity across the U.S. learning about science and life. The Emmy and Murrow Award-winning meteorologist attended Valparaiso University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in  Meteorology. She served as an adjunct professor at her alma mater from 2008 to 2011. Ginger also holds the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society. In March 2020, Ginger will be inducted into the Weather Hall of Fame in Oklahoma.

The event is free and open to the public. Space is limited. Registration is required and can be completed at np.edu/womensday.

Arrangements for the appearance of Ginger Zee made through Greater Talent Network, LLC, New York, NY.