Women in Mathematics Patch for Girl Scouts

Program Description: Girl Scouts of America currently has a push for STEM activities and earned badges, but there is no existing mathematics badge (financial literacy badges are the closest). However, any unit can create official patches so we created an earned women in mathematics patch. Students grades 5-12 interact with women mathematicians and learn about their career paths and what they work on in a Sonia Kovalevsky type program. Speakers include alumni from our program working in industry as well as faculty members. They also learn about the Association for Women in Mathematics and Sonia Kovalevsky, and reflect and share what they've learned on the way to earning the patch (yes an actual patch!). We are disseminating the program (and design) to others. Special patches like this are highly desired, so there is possibility for broad expansion.

Current patch design and our original badge design
Articles and Resources
  • Women in Mathematics Badge (Yes, an Actual Badge!) for Girl Scouts, AWM Newsletter 45(1), Jan-Feb 2015, pp. 17-19.
  • Our patch steps and program, and our "pi-athlon"
  • ASU Professors Create Girl Scout Badge to Encourage Girls to Pursue Mathematics. All About Women (AAWMAG.com), March 2015, p. 7.


    Unsolicited feedback from a fifth grader

    2018 Patch Event: November 3

    Our next patch event will be November 3
    Time: 10:00am-1:45pm (Registration at 9:45) with an optional campus tour that begins at 2pm
    Location: 105 Walker Hall, Appalachian State University
    Cost: $5 (includes patch)
    Speakers and Activities:
    Amber Mellon
    Sarah Greenwald
    pi-athlon
    Ashley Seto
    lunch and networking
    Jill Thomley
    AWM mathematicians who were also in Girl Scouts
    finish patch steps, the meaning of the patch, and wrap-up

    This is an official Girl Scouts Peaks to Piedmont Patch Event. Our "slice of the pi/pie" sponsors for 2018 are High Country Girl Scouts and the Mathematical Sciences Department at Appalachian State University. In cooperation with the Association for Women in Mathematics.

    2016 Badge Event: September 24

    Speakers and Activities
    Amber Mellon
    Emily Hartzog
    pi-athlon
    Sarah Greenwald
    Ashley Seto
    Lunch and Networking
    Jill Thomley
    Worksheets and Wrap-up

    The Walmart Foundation was our 2016 "pi/pie" level sponsor, the main sponsor of the event, through a community grant under "Career Opportunity/Women's Economic Empowerment." Our secondary "slice of the pi/pie" sponsors for 2016 are High Country Girl Scouts and the Mathematical Sciences Department at ASU. In cooperation with the Association for Women in Mathematics.

    2015 Badge Event: September 26

    Time: 10am-1:45pm (Registration at 9:45) with an optional campus tour afterwards.
    Location: 105 Walker Hall, Appalachian State University
    Speakers and Activities
    Sarah Greenwald
    Jenna Fariss
    pi-athlon
    Amber Mellon
    Ashley Cox
    Lunch and Networking
    Jill Thomley
    Poster and Wrap-up

    Thanks to Ingels for their food donation for the 2015 program. Our other sponsors for 2015 are High Country Girl Scouts and the Mathematical Sciences Department at ASU. In cooperation with the Association for Women in Mathematics.

    2014 Badge Event: November 22

    Pictures from the 2014 event
    Time: 10:00am-1:00pm (Registration at 9:45) with an optional campus tour until 2pm
    Location: 105 Walker Hall, Appalachian State University
    Cost: $6 (includes programming and badge)
    What to Bring: Yourself and a Bag Lunch
    Registration Form
    10:00 Sarah Greenwald
    10:15 Tracie Salinas
    10:30 Holly Hirst
    10:45 Ashley Cox Seto
    11:00 Jill Thomley
    11:15 Amber Mellon
    11:30-12:00 Lunch and Networking
    12:00-1:00 Poster and Wrap-up

    Our sponsors for 2014 are High Country Girl Scouts and the Mathematical Sciences Department at ASU. In cooperation with the Association for Women in Mathematics.
    This conference supports the Welcoming Environment Statement of the Association for Women in Mathematics.

    Designed and organized by Sarah Greenwald, Amber Mellon and Jill Thomley. We are happy for you to use our steps and design in your program.