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Monday, June 05, 2000
By Carmen J. Lee, Post-Gazette Education Writer
Claire Sadar joined North Hills Junior High School's science and math club for girls when she was in seventh grade because she wanted to make new friends.
Now, as she completes her sophomore year at North Hills Senior High School, Sadar, 16, says the club not only helped her form lasting friendships, but it also "influenced me to take more challenging courses in math and science and to push myself to do well in these classes."
That was the idea.
Three years before the 1995 U.N. Commission on the Status of Women conference in Beijing, North Hills Junior High science teachers Marlene Raack, now retired, and Laurie Ahrenholtz recognized a need to support girls' interests in math and science. They pushed for the creation of a science and math club for girls at their school.
The club encourages the girls to compete in science competitions and helps them with experiments. Members hear female speakers who have careers in math, science and technology. Fields trips are also sponsored, including several days at Wallops Island in Virginia where the girls study marine biology.
"It was pretty interesting and fun going to different places, learning about different careers and having different activities related to math and science," Sadar said. "You saw interesting things you could do in math and science."
Sadar has advanced chemistry and math this year and will take trigonometry, pre-calculus, honors physics and Advanced Placement chemistry next year.
She recently asked Ahrenholtz for a letter of recommendation to include with an application to a genetics apprenticeship program she wants to attend next year.
"The club helped me get my priorities straight and know what type of classes I should take," Sadar said.
She wanted to meet girls like her, girls who enjoyed science and math and were interested in learning more about both. 
Claire Sadar takes a college-level chemistry class at North Hills Senior High School. (Annie O'Neill, Post-Gazette)