In lieu of Martin Luther King Jr’s Day I decided to write about the New American Girl of the Year 2018 Luciana Vega. Just like the famed Martin Luther King Jr., had a dream, I also have a dream. I have a dream that girls would be treated equally everywhere. That they will be able to do whatever they want to, become whoever they want to be without fear of discrimination and retribution. That’s why I’ve always love the American Girl brand and how they empower our young daughters. Their newest girl of the year doll Luciana is no exception.
Luciana Vega is an 11-year old Chilean (Hispanic) who dreams of being the first person on Mars. And why can’t she be? In a world where women are portrayed as being the weaker sex, it’s time that we taught our young women that everything is within their reach, and with hard work and determination it can be achieved. However, American Girl doesn’t just teach that all you need is skills and smarts, but that you also need to be a team player and good leader as well. They all go hand in hand.
STEM (Science -Technology – Engineer and Math) based learning has become a big thing in schools, including elementary schools, and there has been lots of benefits in regards to STEM play. That’s why American Girl worked with NASA, including a task force of advisors (scientists, astronauts, and more) who helped ensure the accuracy and authenticity of Luciana’s world—from her story and products to a STEM-based educational program in partnership with Scholastic and Space Camp.
Looking beyond her cool line of space-inspired products (like a Mars habitat and flight suit!), American Girl’s purpose behind her character is what’s most important. Luciana shows what it can mean to be a girl of strong character today, where creative thinking, collaboration, and STEM literacy provide opportunities for meaningful growth and development. Technology continues to revolutionize what we do and what we know, and Luciana is a character that can bring visibility and valuable lessons to girls at a time in their lives when they’re learning about their infinite potential to change the world.
Additionally, Luciana’s story is chronicled in a chapter book series written by Erin Teagan and published by Scholastic. The first two books, available now, introduce readers to Luciana, a young girl of Chilean descent with a serious science streak, who loves the idea of exploring new territories in space. After winning a scholarship to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, Luciana is thrilled to launch her dream of landing on Mars. But as she ascends from Space Camp kid to youth astronaut trainee, she faces many challenges that test her competitive spirit and self-confidence, and she must find the courage to embrace the unknown with bravery, curiosity, and wonder.
There will be quite a few Luciana-related initiatives being held throughout the year including the following:
- Luciana Online Play: Here girls can read excerpts from the Luciana books and enjoy fun space-inspired activities.
- American Girl World™ App: Fans can step into the worlds of Luciana and their other favorite American Girl characters and experience their stories in a whole new way. The app is available to download later in January through the Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon Kindle.
- Luciana-Themed Space Camp: Girls and their families can train just like astronauts—including taking a tumble spin in the Multi-Axis Trainer and designing a robot—at a special Girl of the Year experience created in partnership with Space Camp starting in summer 2018. American Girl is also sponsoring 20 scholarships to attend Space Camp.
The Luciana collection is currently available through American Girl’s catalogue; at americangirl.com; at all American Girl retail locations nationwide; and at American Girl specialty boutiques at select Indigo™ and Chapters™ locations in Canada and online at Indigo.ca. The Luciana books can also be purchased through retail and online booksellers, and select Luciana products will also be available at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center gift shop.
To learn more about Luciana and the Girl of the Year™ line visit:
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To request an American Girl catalogue, call 1-800-845-0005.
