Delta Sigma Pheta Sorority will host a Science Technology Engineering and Math Conference at Wallace Community College on Feb. 18 from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

The conference is for girls in fifth-eighth grade and will include students from Dallas County, Perry County and the Lowndes County school systems.

“Girls are undeserved and sometimes not encouraged not to pursue the STEM subjects the way other children are and so our effort is to give girls a head start in their developmental years so that by the time they are ready to pursue the paths for their careers, they are informed and to do it in a fun way, a hands-on way, not a classroom setting,” said Althelstein Johnson, the STEM chair.

This will be third time Delta Sigma Pheta has hosted the conference, which is held every two years. Johnson said each of the local schools have been given flyers about the conference and that the forms are due back on Wednesday, but she said anyone who shows up at 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning will also be able to register.

“It would be better if they got it in earlier, but nobody will be turned away,” Johnson said.

Dr. Meneka Johnson with the rural health initiative will be the keynote speaker for the conference. There will also be workshops ongoing in each STEM area during the day.

“Each girl should be exposed to those before leaving,” Johnson said.

Participants will also receive a lunch and T-shirt.