LeChase was again involved in judging the annual Block Kids competition in Durham on Saturday, January 6. An award winning STEM program, Block Kids is sponsored across the country by chapters of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). The NAWIC Durham Chapter held the event there in partnership with the Girls Scouts Durham 10 service unit.
Block Kids introduces first- through sixth-grade girls to the construction industry in an effort to grow awareness of – and interest in – careers in engineering, architecture and other industry disciplines.
Denise Thompson, southeast regional diversity director, represented LeChase as a judge at the event, in which girls build various structures out of interlocking blocks and three of the following – a small rock, string, foil and/or poster board.
The event seems to be growing in Durham: This year, about 115 girls attended compared to around 80 last year. Judging is based on creativity, use of materials, attention to detail, verbal presentation of the project and enthusiasm. It was the second year LeChase has participated and Denise’s second year as well.
