National Contest Seeks to Empower Girls through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Synchrony Financial is proud to support MARVEL STUDIOS’ DOCTOR STRANGE – THE MAGIC OF STEM CHALLENGE, which runs from September 12 through October 5, 2016. The challenge seeks to inspire girls, ages 15 -18, in grades 10-12 to work with a mentor to explore the wonders of STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and, in turn, to teach and inspire others.  The girls are invited to learn from a mentor the secrets and mysteries behind their favorite, or most vexing, scientific or technological question. Each applicant will submit a short, single-episode science vlog-style video that shares what she learned from her mentor.

One grand-prize winner will be selected from the five finalists to be mentored by The Walt Disney Studios Digital Team and learn how to produce their very own science vlog episode, from story development through production and presentation.  The winner’s vlog episode will be shown via a Walt Disney Company media platform.

A panel of female leaders and mentors, including Synchrony Financial’s own Carol Juel, Executive Vice President and CIO, and Sue Davis-Gillis, Senior Vice President and Consumer Banking Leader, will select the top five finalists, who will have the opportunity to go to California for the red carpet premiere of Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange, to meet with talent and promotional partners on the red carpet. In addition, each of the five finalists will receive $1,000.00 deposited into a High Yield Savings account with Synchrony Bank.   

Complete contest information will be available from September 19, 2016, through October 5, 2016.  Entries will be accepted beginning on September 19, 2016 at 6:00 AM PT through 6:00 PM PT on October 5, 2016.  For application forms, eligibility requirements, official contest rules and more information about MARVEL STUDIOS’ DOCTOR STRANGE – THE MAGIC OF STEM CHALLENGE, please visit www.DrStrangeMagicofSTEM.com.

As executive sponsors of Synchrony Financial’s Women’s Network, one of the company’s seven Diversity Networks, Carol and Sue note the program’s synergy with our own focus on mentoring and building women up. The Women’s Network believes that mentorship isn’t just about passing down help and learning from those who went before you, it also involves pulling up ideas and learning from women in all stages of life.

Synchrony is dedicated to nurturing young women’s love for STEM and preparing them for a positive future. Our sponsorship of MARVEL STUDIOS’ DOCTOR STRANGE – THE MAGIC OF STEM CHALLENGE follows Synchrony’s sponsorship of Marvel’s Girls Reforming the Future Challenge and hosting a Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program in our Chicago office this summer.

A champion for women in business, Synchrony Financial’s President and CEO, Margaret Keane, exemplifies strong female leadership and is passionate about innovative technology’s ability to drive our business forward and make an impact on our society.

Especially as it relates to careers in STEM fields such as financial technology, there is an urgent need to address the gender gap. While interest in STEM ebbs over time, the biggest drop off happens between the ages of 13-17. This is a problem because technology jobs are among the fastest growing in the country, yet girls are being left behind. By 2020, there will be 1.4 million jobs available in computing related fields in the U.S., but women are on track to fill just 3% of them.

Synchrony Financial is committed to developing, mentoring and inspiring women to achieve their career goals at all ages and thrilled to partner with Marvel to empower girls to explore their potential.

About Synchrony Bank:

Synchrony Bank is part of Synchrony Financial (NYSE: SYF), one of the nation’s premier consumer financial services companies. Our roots in consumer finance trace back to 1932, and today we are the largest provider of private label credit cards in the United States based on purchase volume and receivables.* We provide a range of credit products through programs we have established with a diverse group of national and regional retailers, local merchants, manufacturers, buying groups, industry associations and healthcare service providers to help generate growth for our partners and offer financial flexibility to our customers. Through our partners’ over 350,000 locations across the United States and Canada, and their websites and mobile applications, we offer our customers a variety of credit products to finance the purchase of goods and services. Synchrony Financial offers private label and co-branded Dual Card™ credit cards, promotional financing and installment lending, loyalty programs and FDIC-insured savings products through Synchrony Bank. More information can be found at http://www.synchronyfinancial.com, http://facebook.com/SynchronyFinancial, http://twitter.com/SYFNews.

*Source: The Nilson Report (May 2016, Issue # 1087) - based on 2015 data.