Take a leap into the exciting world of quantum science with QuantumGirls!
QuantumGirls, developed by the National Girls Collaborative Project in collaboration with Montana State University Applied Quantum CORE with support from the US Air Force Research Laboratory and the National Science Foundation Engines Program, is an innovative and free STEM curriculum being designed for middle school girls. In this webinar recording, hear from a dynamic panel of educators from Montana who have been implementing QuantumGirls with their students. Participants will also explore sample activities from the QuantumGirls curriculum and walk away with resources to develop their own quantum-focused activities that will inspire and empower the next generation of girls in STEM.
The QuantumGirls: Resources and Activities to Celebrate World Quantum Day webinar was hosted by NGCP on April 1, 2025.
Hilary Lozar
Hilary Lozar was born and raised in the Flathead Valley in Western Montana. She always had a deep affinity for science and astronomy growing up, and became an elementary educator to help foster joy and excitement in those fields in her students. After teaching second grade for 11 years, she was able to follow her true passion and transition to teaching STEM full time to her entire elementary school body. This opportunity opened many new doors within her educational career and she was able to take on many new challenges, designing her own curriculum for grades K-4th. Hilary used this position as a way to become a STEM mentor to many of her students, and became increasingly aware of the impact that she could make with her female students especially. This became her primary focus as her school district faced a teacher shortage and it became apparent that STEM would no longer be offered there. After 5 years of STEM education, Hilary left the world of public education and joined her local Boys & Girls Club to become STEM Coordinator for three Clubs in the Flathead Valley. She brought many of her original materials to the new position, and has greatly enjoyed serving her community more widely as a STEM resource for multiple districts. She currently sits on several advisory panels for STEM both locally and nationally, and is always looking for new ways to increase her students' exposure to STEM and other STEM mentors.
Jennafer Day
Born and raised in Lewes, Delaware as the 3rd of 8 children, there was never a dull moment in her childhood. The whole family grew up playing sports, building things and inventing random games to play. After high school, she completed her undergraduate studies at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania. While at Lock Haven, she was a member of the wrestling and softball teams, and earned a degree in elementary education and special education. Upon graduation, she moved to Marquette, Michigan to pursue her olympic dreams in the sport of wrestling, while also earning a master’s degree from Northern Michigan University in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in math and science. She later moved to Colorado Springs, CO to train full time at the Olympic training center, while also managing before and after school and summer camp programs. Throughout her schooling she was always drawn to math and science, and integrated STEM activities into all the programs she led.
After injury ended her competitive career, she moved back to Delaware and began her teaching and coaching careers. She taught high school math and coached wrestling and softball for 7 years in Delaware, but could no longer avoid the call of the mountains. She and her husband sold their farm and moved to Montana in the summer of 2017, where they have lived since. Upon moving to Montana, Jenna began teaching middle school math and science at Monforton Middle School in Bozeman. In addition to the core classes, she has also had the opportunity to teach several elective courses, including robotics, coding, graphic design, forensics and makerspace. She has also partnered with several local groups that has provided her students the opportunity to participate in several river, forest and fire studies in the greater Gallatin Valley and Yellowstone Park. She also started a youth wrestling program in Manhattan that has grown over the years and now has close to 100 wrestlers participating. She has also earned certifications through FOSS, Desmos, PocketLab, and STARS.
Jenna earned a masters degree in school administration from Montana State University last summer, but has no immediate plans to transfer into that realm of education, as she is still having too much fun in the classroom. In her free time, she enjoys hikes with her husband, Lewis, and their two k9 kiddos, Sadie and Bandit.