The race is on! Just under 25 percent of those working in a STEM field are female, even though women fill close to half of all jobs in the United States. Science and engineering occupations are projected to grow at more than double the rate of the overall U.S. labor force through 2018. While the world celebrated International Women's Day this week, here in Irving we celebrated a diverse group of area 6th through 8th grade girls who learned how engineers are changing the world, and in turn, how THEY can change the world. ExxonMobil engineers helped the students participate in hands-on activities at the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas which were designed to showcase the unique and real-world applications of science, technology engineering and math (STEM). You can get in gear this weekend with the FIRST Robotics teams from all around the world competing for top prize. And guess what boys . . . many of these teams are girls.
Dallas FRC Regionals
Where: Irving Convention Center, 500 W. Las Colinas Blvd. 75039
When: Saturday, March 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Admission is free, parking is $8
The robot competitions are a vehicle for students to learn important life skills. Kids often come in not knowing what to expect - of the program nor of themselves. They leave, even after the first season, with a vision, with confidence, and with a sense that they can create their own future. Come by and cheer on your favorite team, or your favorite robot. Learn More
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Guitar Fest featuring Zaira Meneses
Where: Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Boulevard 75062
When: Saturday, March 11, at 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $38 - $49 per person
Female guitarist Zaira Meneses will perform the most beloved guitar concerto: Concierto de Aranjuez, composed by Joaquin Rodrigo. Among other performances, the Irving Symphony Orchestra will conclude the concert with Tchaikovsky’s symphony No. 5, one of the most romantic compositions ever written. Learn More
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Cynthia Ann and Quanah Parker Exhibit
Where: Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Boulevard 75062
Gallery Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. & Sunday: 1:00-5:00 p.m.
Cost: Free Admission
“A Woman of Two Worlds and a Man IN Two Worlds”, is a traveling exhibit of forty rarely seen photographs documenting the stories of Cynthia Ann and Quanah Parker, two important names in U.S. frontier history. Much can to be learned from the dramatic story of these two courageous individuals. In 1836, a Comanche raiding party took Cynthia Ann from her family and over the following years, she became wife to a Comanche chief and mother to three children, including Quanah. After Cynthia Ann was taken back by Texas Rangers, Quanah became one of the most important Comanche leaders both in war and peace. (Toured by the Texas Lakes Trail Heritage Program.) Learn More
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Other Irving Events:
Friday, March 10
8 p.m. - Junior Clark is live at the Texas Musicians Museum with special opening encore performance by Daniel Wayne Brown & Katherine Marie
8 p.m. - Bubba Westly is live at The Ranch at Las Colinas
9:30 p.m. - Live 80 Band is live at Cool River Cafe
Saturday, March 11
2 - 3 p.m. - Irving Chataqua Presents: Opera on Tap North Texas
8 p.m. - Faron Lee Gilbert is live at The Ranch at Las Colinas
8 p.m. - B'nois King is live at The Texas Musicians Museum
9:30 p.m. - Time Machine is live at Cool River Cafe
Sunday, March 12
8 p.m. - The Texas Steel Guitar Association Meeting & Jam is open to the public at the Texas Musicians Museum
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There's always a ton of fun going on here in the Metroplex, so if you want to see even more events, just visit our website at www.irvingtexas.com.
