Frito-Lay — the iconic manufacturer of such popular snack chips as Cheetos, Ruffles, and Doritos — has joined the effort for STEM diversity.
In a press release announcement, it was revealed that the chip manufacturer is going to sponsor 50 girls to go to Space Camp for the next five years.
Additionally, the chip manufacturer also made a donation of $150,000 to establish the “Space for Her” Scholarship fund which will finance the tuition for the camp. An additional bonus provided in the fund is the “Space for Her-os” mentorship program, which will offer coaching and guidance on different career paths in the science and tech sector.
Frito-Lay has partnered with the National Urban League and UnidosUS to select Black and LatinX girls for the inaugural Space Camp class.
An executive for Frito-Lay said that the ultimate goal with this move is to get more girls — especially more Black and LatinX girls — in the STEM fields.
“Getting girls excited about STEM is just one piece of the puzzle. We need to address the issue of retaining them in this field by giving more access to programs, mentors, and resources,” says Marissa Solis, senior vice president of marketing, Frito-Lay North America, in the press release statement. “Frito-Lay Variety Packs has always been an important part of the back-to-school season and this year we want to make our impact even more meaningful by offering more ways to keep these bright, young women involved in the world of STEM.”
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center® in Huntsville, AL will host the Space Camp. Additionally, potential attendees can win a spot in future Space Camps by purchasing specially marked packages of Frito-Lay chips. The company is launching the promotion as part of its Back-to-School Blast-Off campaign. Ten Space Camp grand prizes are currently available.
