HHEF’S Girls’ STEAM- Anita Castellar

September 25th, 2019

HORSHAM, PA

The Hatboro-Horsham Educational Foundation (HHEF) kicked-off the new school year with their Girl’s STEAM event on September 24th with guest speaker, Anita Castellar, CEO of Fangirl Consulting & Brand Management, LLC, and a former product developer for Disney’s Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises.

Castellar spoke at Keith Valley Middle School and Hatboro-Horsham High School to share her career journey. Castellar had aspirations to become an astronaut but without perfect vision was unable to make that dream come true. Her college search then completely changed and she then got her degree in business management.

Since Girl’s STEAM launch in December of 2016, the Girl’s STEAM program has had a positive impact on girls with this year an increase in the high school’s AP physics and mechanic course enrollment. In 2018 HHEF survey students with a response of  72% of students saying attending a girl’s steam event had inspired them to consider a career in STEAM.

Keith Valley Middle School students were given the opportunity to also become a toy designer. Castellar handed out flyers for students grade sixth through eighth that can enter into a contest with Boss Fight Studio for their “I am Brilliance” toy line. The”I Am Brilliance” line will feature female action dolls based on real careers for real girls. 

The instructions are too create a character with an occupation and pet sidekick. Make a drawing of the dolls look and write a paragraph explaining the doll’s occupation and why you have chosen it. The winner gets to then become the lead designer on the project and receive the dolls upon their release. Entries should be emailed by December 31st, 2019 to catrina@bossfightstudio.com. The flyer is attached below. 

Castellar left a lasting impression on many of the girls to follow their dreams and let them know it’s okay to change your career path.  The HHEF hosts a total of ten Girl’s STEAM assemblies throughout the school year.