
DATE: Friday, March 21, 1997                TAG: 9703200152

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY CAROLE O'KEEFFE, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   96 lines

PROFESSIONALS STEER GIRLS TO NONTRADITIONAL ROLES

The girls listening to FBI agent Beth O'Brien were riveted to what she said. There was no giggling; no unnecessary chatter.

And that was even before she showed them the gun concealed beneath her stylish red blazer.

O'Brien was among several women in nontraditional jobs telling middle school girls how math and science are integrated into their careers. They spoke and demonstrated their talents at the Girls Can - Math and Science Day put on by the American Association of University Women.

At least 200 girls and their parents attended the conference at the Virginia Beach Campus of Tidewater Community College, giving up half their Saturday to learn what other women have been able to accomplish with strong math and science backgrounds.

The AAUW sponsors the conference to encourage girls in grades six, seven and eight especially, to pursue excellence in subjects in which boys traditionally do best during middle school years.

This group is targeted because of an AAUW 1992 study that showed middle school girls tend to decline in academics and in self-esteem, said Fran E. Adams, chairperson for Girls Can program, now in its second year.

One girl attending the FBI workshop asked O'Brien if she was carrying a gun. ``Every agent on duty carries a gun,'' O'Brien answered. ``I'm on duty.'' When asked to show the weapon, the agent, also a lawyer, opened her blazer to reveal it holstered tightly against her side.

Girls learned about surfing the web from June Ritchie. Each participant was given a computer disc of information and games.

Lots of girls enjoyed the chef workshop put on by Robin Schmitz, a teaching assistant at Johnson & Wales University at Norfolk College of Culinary Arts. Schmitz also works part time at Taste Unlimited at 36th Street and Pacific Avenue.

Her carvings of a swan from an apple and a vase of flowers from vegetables caught everyone's attention. She then taught them how easy it is to make such creations.

She used demonstrations to show how math and science are important to chefs, a relatively new career endeavor for women.

An understanding of basic math is necessary for ingredient measuring and for conversions, she said.

She showed how baking soda, baking powder and yeast, all leavening agents used in baking, react to liquids, warmth and sugar.

Cooking is an art, she said. ``Baking is a science.''

Sara Phillips, 15, a student at Great Bridge High School, a Girl Scout, and a bit older than many of the participants, attended the conference to help out as necessary.

Nevertheless, she couldn't miss the chef conference. ``Chef is a goal,'' she said simply. ``I've always liked cooking, the art of it, decorating, making breads, the science of it. I like watching what yeast does.''

Phillips plans to take a catering class in her junior year.

During the conference, she shared a Girl Scout song she had brought with her that recognizes women's abilities. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by CAROLE O'KEEFFE

At the recent Girls Can Day, Chef Robin Schmitz, left, shows off a

display of carved vegetables while her assistant, Sara Phillips,

looks on.

Graphic

THE ``GIRLS CAN'' SONG

``Girls Can'' song by Iris Hirach. Sung to ``She'll Be Comin'

'Round The Mountain.''

Can a woman fly an airplane?

Yes she can!

Can a woman build a building?

Yes she can! Yes she can!

Can a woman fight a fire?