Bringing Summer STEM to Thousands of Students‍

This summer, STEM Center USA reached more than 1,350 students across Arizona, California, and Colorado through programs that blended math, science, and engineering with creativity and college readiness. From learning algebra on a university campus to designing real-world STEM projects in classrooms, students discovered how academics connect to their lives and future opportunities. This blog highlights two California programs that showcase the impact of this work.‍

Algebra Academy at CSU Bakersfield‍

At CSU Bakersfield, 37 students from the Bakersfield City School District’s Migrant Education Program (MEP) spent a week immersed in algebra and college exploration through the Summer Algebra Academy. Over the course of the program, students balanced algebra lessons with robotics challenges, problem-solving projects, and college readiness activities, making learning both rigorous and exciting.

Guided by in-person STEM Center USA instructors, students programmed Finch Robots to draw precise geometric patterns, reinforcing their understanding of angles, transformations, and algebraic thinking. In Applied Mathematics, they explored parabolic curves and Fibonacci-inspired art, bringing abstract concepts to life through creativity.

Beyond academics, students gained first-hand exposure to higher education. Lunch-and-learn workshops introduced participants to financial literacy and scholarship opportunities. At the same time, campus tours and a Q&A session with the College Assistance Migrant Program provided them with a clear picture of college life. For many, it was their first extended time on a university campus. Student surveys reflected the program’s influence, with 77% reporting a more substantial interest in attending college, and 71% expressing greater enthusiasm for coding and engineering.

An 8th-grade Bakersfield City School District student summarized their experience by saying: ‍

Me gustó lo que aprendí; me gustaron las materias y las actividades que hice, y las maestras estuvieron ahí para que no nos rindiéramos, para que no nos diéramos por vencidos. Lo único que quiero decir es: gracias a las maestras.

"I liked what I learned; I liked the subjects and activities I did, and the teachers were there to encourage us not to give up. All I want to say is: thank you to the teachers."‍

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STEM and Applied Mathematics in Monterey County‍

Meanwhile, in Monterey County, 190 students from the Santa Rita, King City, and Soledad school districts participated in the STEM and Applied Mathematics Program. Throughout the summer, students participated in daily classes that lasted 1 to 1.5 hours, benefiting from the unique combination of live instruction by STEM Center USA educators and on-site classroom support. This ensured expert teaching paired with personal guidance.

The project-based program served every grade level with back-to-back, hour-long classes that maximized student participation at each district site. Younger students in Early STEM (K–1st) and Mini Makers (1st–4th) developed early math and design skills through Snap Cube challenges, Tangram puzzles, and various engineering activities.

Older students in Hands-On Modules: Energy in Motion (4th–8th) connected math and physics through projects such as hand-crank generators, Bernoulli experiments, and Newton’s Cradle. The projects not only strengthened math and science foundations but also nurtured confidence and curiosity.

Student feedback at the program's conclusion was overwhelmingly positive!

I really liked the program because I love projects and these are really good projects, I recommend this :).

- King City, 6th-grade student

I had an amazing experience in this program... the teachers were very nice and helpful.

- Soledad, 11th-grade student‍

Inspiring Futures‍

Together, the Bakersfield and Monterey programs reflect STEM Center USA’s mission to make STEM education accessible, engaging, and impactful. By pairing rigorous academics and real-world applications, more than 1,350 students in three states this summer left with stronger skills and a clearer vision of themselves as future scholars and innovators!