SCTCC continues the Rising Star Project this semester after being launched in January 2024, bringing middle and high school girls on campus to introduce them to the trades, healthcare, and technical fields at SCTCC through after school activities.
Girls from Sauk Rapids-Rice and St. Cloud school districts are taking part in career exploration, leadership development, field trips, and networking.
One of the opportunities included Master Chef Mateo Mackbee from Krewe Restaurant in St. Joseph guiding the girls through culinary activities that are rooted in New Orleans traditions. Additionally, they learned leadership qualities needed to start and manage their own businesses.
Rising Stars was brought to life by the Multicultural Center and SCTCC Foundation and aims to bridge the gender gap in traditionally male-dominated career fields together in an inclusive environment. This fall, there is a focus on entrepreneurship thanks to fundraising from Vice President Debra Leigh's Dancing with the Stars.
The programming for this cohort was supported by the Women’s Fund of Central Minnesota Community Foundation.