MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Two sisters from Memphis are heading to Washington, DC.
They will join about 400 girls from across the country at the White House.
Timya and Teuana Benson attend school at A Maceo Walker Middle.
They said they couldn’t believe it when they found out they were chosen to go to Washington, D.C.
WREG caught up with the sisters a few hours before their flight took off on Thursday.
“I think it’s going to be fun. It’s a great opportunity,” said Timya Benson.
“I was excited,” said Teunna Benson.
State Representative Karen Camper invited the sisters to the White House as part of the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women.
The 14- and 12-year-olds will participate in the organization’s 2nd Annual Girls, Gigabytes and Gadgets STEM Summit where they will attend seminars focusing on technology.
“We will bring in women that are already doing things from IT, for instance, from making and building apps that we all use on our telephones and maybe to just bring a marine biologist. Whatever it is that girls might be interested in,” Camper said.
Camper said the goal is to expose African American women to STEM at a young age in hopes that they will consider fields in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
The girls’ mother said this is an opportunity of a lifetime.
“For me to know that they are going to explore new things, better opportunities, bigger advantages in life. I’m just excited for the both of them,” said Latoya Benson, their mother.