Tell me and I forget.
Teach me and I remember.
Involve me and I learn.
~ Ben Franklin
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STEM Advantage - WHAT'S HAPPENING! 
March has been very exciting as students from Cal State Dominguez Hills applied for the pilot program. Dr. Mohsen Beheshti, Chair of Computer Science, and his faculty, vetted the applications to produce a culled list to apply for the internships. We conducted an interviewing workshop, facilitated interviews with some of the internship companies, and will facilitate more interviews in early April.
The applicants' credentials are impressive and their stories inspiring. These young women and men are eager to both contribute and learn. They are hard working, self-motivated, and grateful for the opportunity to participate in this program.
You will have the pleasure to meet and talk with our STEM Advantage Scholars at our fundraiser on May 5th. We think you'll agree that that when we invest in these young people, our future is very bright!
Here's a brief summary of the applicants:
- Many are the first generation in their family to attend college
- All have a 3.0 or above in their major; some are in the Honor's Program
- About half have a concentration in Homeland Security and are members of the cyber defense team; a few are participating in the Western Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition
- Technical skills include network and system security and hacking prevention, computer forensics, programming languages, operating systems including iOS and Android, software programs, professional certifications, and project management
- Goals include wanting to contribute to the greater good of our nation's security and cybersecurity, using their talent and skills to help prevent cyber-bullying, and teaching children and teens online safety, and being a software developer
- Career interests include information security, biometric security, system, network or security administration, software development, business analysis, homeland security and participating in America's Cybersecurity force
- A few plan to pursue a Masters or Doctorate degree and one day teach at a University or Community College
- Several discussed sacrifices their mom, as a single parent, or parents made for them. They want to be in a position to help their parent(s) financially
- Many discussed the importance of a college education/degree to acquire the skills and knowledge they need to "get a job and live a better life."
We asked students if they are given this opportunity, how will you 'pay it forward'? Some responses:
- By being a strong role model to other Latino students
- By being an ambassador to encourage more women and African Americans that are underrepresented in STEM fields to pursue STEM degrees
"Seeing a woman that looked like me [African American], that had accomplished so much, taught me that I can also accomplish great things ... with hard work and dedication. Thanks to her, I overcame the phobia of Math and Science related studies, and made a decision to pursue a degree in technology." - By setting an example and encouraging younger siblings and friends to stay in school and pursue a college degree
- By tutoring and mentoring children, and providing them exposure they need to STEM
- By encouraging children, high school students and adult women to pursue a degree in a STEM field
"I would like to help young girls and women see all the exciting career possibilities that are available in STEM fields, and the impact that they can make in their communities and the lives of others." - By inspiring others to join this program in the future, and participating after graduation to mentor others in the program
- "As other countries continue to grow with sophisticated cyber-attacks, I would like to contribute to the greater good of our nation's security"
We are certain these young people are destined to succeed in life! Our - and your - investment in these young people will pay dividends well into the future, and help America have the best STEM talent in the world. Many thanks to everyone who is supporting STEM Advantage and these young people by providing an internship, being a mentor and or helping fund scholarships!
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1s t Annual STEM Advantage Fundraiser Sunday, May 5th! Please join the STEM Advantage Board of Directors & Friends for the launch of our first annual fundraiser at the California Science Center Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavour Pavilion to finance the program's scholarships and honor the students selected for the STEM Advantage program. REGISTER NOW  Date: Sunday, May 5 Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Cocktails and supper Location: California Science Center, Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavour Pavilion, Los Angeles map GOLD SPONSORS include:Toyota Motor Sales, Watson Land Company, & Cognizant    BECOME AN EVENT SPONSOR Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities & benefits. CLICK HERE If you cannot join us on May 5th and would like to contribute to the scholarships as an "investment" in these young scholars, we welcome donations via our website www.stemadvantage.org LEARN MORE |
INTERNSHIPS We are very pleased to announce that Toyota Motor Sales, Counterpoint Systems and Hispanic Scholarship Fund have joined our impressive list of companies providing paid internships for the pilot program. Some of the companies reviewed applications and interviewed candidates in March; and a few will conduct interviews in early April. Their feedback has been consistent on the high quality of applicants and how impressive the students have been through the interviews.
Internships embody the quote at the top of our newsletter "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." We truly appreciate the companies that have committed to provide paid internships for the pilot program as there appears to be a high correlation between having an internship and landing a career-relevant job after graduation. If you are interested in providing a paid IT-related internship for one or two students, and are located within a reasonable driving distance from Cal State Dominguez Hills, please contact Cindy McKenzie at cindy@stemadvantage.org.
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Mentoring Program
 Mentors for the STEM Advantage pilot program have been identified and our kick-off event is scheduled for April 19. We are pleased that our junior and senior mentors are from a variety of organizations, including Alvarez and Marshall, Counterpoint Systems, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Fox Group, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Pinpoint Resource Group, PWC, Toyota Financial Services, Über Geek Girl, and other IT professionals. Thank you! If you are interested in being a mentor, please contact Michelle Elkins at michelle@stemadvantage.org. |
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Career & Personal Development Workshops
On March 13th, we held our first Workshop, conducted by Carole Schlocker of iSpace and a STEM Advantage Board member. Held on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills, it was a great 2 hour event focused on resumes and interviews. The students learned about employer expectations and tips to articulate their own experiences. This first workshop highlighted what this part of the STEM Advantage program is about - giving students the opportunity to meet with business professionals, ask their own questions, share their concerns, and learn how to improve their own success. In the business world, follow-up and persistence are fundamental skills. We were pleased that several of the students already sent thank you notes and asked additional questions. The STEM Advantage team was impressed with these students and look forward to continuing the collaboration at the next event, a workshop focused on Workplace Etiquette and Expectations. We appreciate Fox Group sharing content from their Summer Internship program to jump start our workshops. The events during this quarter are designed to prepare the students for their internships this summer. Workshops in the fall will be open to a broader group of students. |
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About STEM Advantage
STEM Advantage was created in September 2012, to mentor, prepare and inspire young women and underserved communities, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Our program seeks to give diverse young scholars an advantage through paid internships, one-on-one mentoring, and a full scholarship for tuition, fees and books. STEM Advantage is a 501(c)(3) public charity.
To learn more, please visit www.stemadvantage.org or send an email to Lee Ann Kline at leeann@stemadvantage.org
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