If you are a regular follower on my blog and YouTube Channel, you know that our family enjoys American Girl. The kids and I enjoy taking trips to our local store near Seattle when we can. I also enjoy using the books and movies as social learning skills in our homeschool curriculum. I think that is one of the reasons I am so excited to share more about Luciana Vega, the 2018 Girl of the Year from American Girl. Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of this post to enter our American Girl Luciana Vega giveaway!

Luciana Vega

My daughter, Annie, is fascinated with not only art, she loves the world of astronomy. I get excited about this because as a young girl I was also intrigued by the stars. On January 1st, American Girl introduced Luciana Vega. She comes with an out-of-this-world storyline about an 11-year-old who dreams of being the first person on Mars.

One of the awesome facts about Luciana Vega is that American Girl worked with NASA, including a task force of advisors (scientists, astronauts, and more below) 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. The all-star advisory board included: Dr. Ellen Stofan, former NASA Chief Scientist, Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO and Executive Director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Maureen O’Brien, Manager of Strategic alliances at NASA, and Dr. Megan McArthur Behnken, NASA Astronaut. This is where I get ecstatic because Annie’s homeschool education is based on STEM educational programs. YES!

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.

We are looking forward to bringing Luciana Vega into our collection as an inspiration to Annie. I am a supporter of STEM programs that give kids the chance to know where their strengths are an be the very best they can be. It gives them the chance to understand who they are in this world with a bright future when they reach the point of going out into their world as an adult. This is The Girl of Year we have been waiting for from American Girl.

For more American Girl fun, check out the American Girl’s First Boy Doll.