Fall 2021 STEM Newsletter by Kathrin Rising

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Greetings from the Executive Director

by Susan Harris (Executive Director)

WELCOME TO THE TEAM Fall 2021 Staff Additions

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WONDER WONDERKIDS KIDS AFTER AFTER SCHOOL SCHOOL PROGRAM PROGRAM

MEDICAL MEDICAL STEM

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JEP STEM EDUCATION

NEWSETTER FALL 2021 NEWSLETTER

internship programs

anizations, health care centers

ent

Greetings from the Executive Director

PROGRAMS

CONTENT FALL 2021

YOUNG YOUNG SCIENTISTS SCIENTISTS PROGRAM PROGRAM

YSP)

Greetings from the Executive Director

Greetings from the Director(s)

by Dr Dieuwertje "DJ" Kast and Jessica Stellmann

Fall 2021 has been a time of many transitions especially with the backdrop of the COVID19 pandemic The Young Scientists Program (YSP) and Medical STEM Program (MSP) transitioned from fully remote to a hybrid model and the Wonderkids after-school STEM career program continued in its new fully virtual mode. We had two staff members go on maternity leave and we had a series of cool news, awards and publications about the program. We are also celebrating YSP’s 15 year anniversary!

Only a handful of our partner organizations were able to host interns online (including California Hospital Medical Center, Bet Tzedek Legal Services and the Sola Community Peace Center) so the majority of the students participated in a virtual research program led by JEP’s graduate student internship director, Claire Cassianni. Our summer programs provided inspiration for our 2020-21 Trojan Health Volunteer (THV) student-directors, Soroush Ershadifar and Grace Himberger, who continue to offer research and online service opportunities for the THV students unable to work on site

Hybrid Model

Spring 2021, the JEP STEM programs were presented virtually and transitioned to a hybrid model this fall semester The hybrid model varied depending on the classroom In some classes, JEP STEM staff projected onto a screen with a web camera capturing the students in the classroom In other classrooms, students logged on from their own Chromebook or ipad to interact with the lesson and their TA The switch to a hybrid model has been a transition, but both classroom teachers and TAs worked together to ensure a positive learning experience for students To prepare for the potential of minimized classroom sharing, interim director Jessica Stellmann prepared thousands of individual STEM kits for all of the participating students. She organized them with then volunteer and now YSP TA Blanca Diaz in her home and coordinated drop-off at all partner schools.

Nearly 850 USC students registered to participate in JEP programs in the fall, either as volunteers or paid student-workers While lower than a typical semester, I was nevertheless amazed by the number of students who were willing to dedicate their time and energy to service, despite the distances imposed by virtual engagement and, in many cases, remote time zones Hundreds of students served as reading and math tutors via Zoom Scores more worked in teams to record lessons for teachers and families to use to supplement classroom instruction Students taught science lessons to children online in their homes using kits over 2400 of them that we assembled, delivered and distributed to families via our school partners

ntial the ear ally m a and the teer with May, and the ists ams ters

NEWSLETTER

JEP STEM EDUCATION PROGRAMS

FALL 2021

Greetings from the Executive Director

by Susan Harris (Executive Director)

STEM

Staff Babies and an Interim Director

When I was working on JEP’s 2019 annual report, I was anticipating a new decade full of potential and expanding possibilities A few weeks later, when we left the JEP House on USC’s campus for the last time in 2020, I couldn’t imagine that we would be working from home for the rest of the year Nor could I have anticipated what that would mean for our programs, which are so fundamentally defined by their in-person, community-based experiences. Now, a year later, I am writing from a very different place both literally and figuratively: one bound by physical restrictions and uncertainty about the future, yet with cautious optimism and a profound sense of gratitude for the students, faculty, staff and community partners with whom I work every day

Dr Dieuwertje “DJ” Kast, our director of JEP STEM Education Programs, gave birth to her son, Grayson Kast Fung, on August 3rd, 2021 Jessica Stellmann was the interim director in her absence and did an amazing job as a leader and we are grateful for her leadership this fall semester Jessica is equally grateful for the opportunity, stating “Over the last 4 years working at JEP as a graduate student, the STEM programs have come to mean so much to me. DJ has become a wonderful mentor, and friend. Being able to step into her role for the semester while she was bonding with Grayson has been an honor, and I’m so thankful for the trust she and her team placed in me.” Anupam Singh, coordinator of the Medical STEM Program, had baby Samarth Singh on May 29th, 2021. Yvonne HernandezGuerra stepped into her role for the Fall 2021 programming

Cool News

Dr Sian Proctor, a geoscientist, artist and Wonderkids guest speaker, was selected to be an astronaut and pilot for SpaceX’s Inspiration4 Crew and was launched into space for three days on September 15th, 2021 She’s the first female pilot of a rocketship and she is also the fourth Black woman to go into space

Looking to 2022

For example, within two weeks of canceling our service-learning, work-study and volunteer assignments for the Spring 2020 semester, we were launching a pilot program in collaboration with Viterbi’s K-12 STEM Center and Keck’s Care for the Caregiver Program Between April and May, JEP student-workers provided 350 hours of tutoring to children attending JEP partner schools and the children of Keck’s COVID frontline caregivers. Parents in the program asked that we extend the service through the summer and by August, tutors from JEP’s ReadersPLUS and Young Scientists Program had offered nearly 2000 sessions at no cost to families Our summer internship programs had intended to place USC students on site at homeless-serving organizations, health care centers and legal clinics, but the ongoing pandemic required another adjustment to our plans

As we transition into a new year and the new 2022 semester, we are hoping to go back to in-person programming that existed pre-COVID With the new vaccine mandate for ages 511, many of our participants are able to get vaccinated and make a safe learning environment for all parties involved We look forward to seeing the smiling faces of students doing hands-on science experiments with their JEP STEM education staff

FFall2021 all2021 Publications&Awards Publications&Awards

INSIGHT Into Diversity Inspiring Program in STEM

The award was given to the JEP STEM Education Programs and is awarded to extraordinary initiatives that encourage and support the recruitment and retention of women and underrepresented students into all STEM fields

When technology is a barrier in a STEM class: USC Rossier.

USC Rossier School of Education

Authentic Marine Research Experiences for Low-Income and First Generation High School Students

Used to Level the Playing Field and Decrease Attrition in STEM.

Anitab org Social Impact Abie Award

The Social Impact Abie Award was given to JEP STEM Education Program Director Dr Dieuwertje "DJ" kast and recognizes those making a positive impact on society, via technology by empowering underrepresented peoples

Rock On! Creative Ways to introduce Elementary School Students to the Rock Cycle using Starbursts

The Earth Scientist.

Game on! The gamification of predator & prey relationships for elementary teachers using Jenga Association for Science Teacher Education

Current: The Journal of Marine Education

Sending science majors into elementary schools helps Latino and black students realize scientists can look like them. The Conversation.

Using Augmented Reality for geoscience education in low-income elementary schools

The Earth Scientist

JEP STEM EDUCATION PROGRAMS NEWSLETTER FALL 2021

Greetings from the Executive Director

JEP STEM EDUCATION PROGRAMS NEWSLETTER FALL 2021

by Susan Harris (Executive Director)

Young Scientists Program

When I was working on JEP’s 2019 annual report, I was anticipating a new decade full of potential and expanding possibilities A few weeks later, when we left the JEP House on USC’s campus for the last time in 2020, I couldn’t imagine that we would be working ar Nor could I have anticipated what that would mean for our pro ly defined by their in-person, community-based experiences. Now, a very different place both literally and figuratively: one bo nd uncertainty about the future, yet with cautious optimism and a he students, faculty, staff and community partners with whom I wo

by Emma Case

The Young Scientists Program (YSP) has officially finished it’s 28th semester supporting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) learning in Title I schools in south central Los Angeles! Despite challenges presented by the ongoing pandemic, YSP staff and LAUSD teachers have worked incredibly hard this semester to bring science into the classrooms of second - fifth graders YSP’s director, Dr Dieuwertje “DJ” Kast, was also on maternity leave this semester

For example, within two weeks of canceling our service-le er assignments for the Spring 2020 semester, we were launching a th Viterbi’s K-12 STEM Center and Keck’s Care for the Caregiver y, JEP student-workers provided 350 hours of tutoring to children nd the children of Keck’s COVID frontline caregivers. Parents in th he service through the summer and by August, tutors from JEP’s ts Program had offered nearly 2000 sessions at no cost to families Our summer internship programs had intended to place USC students on site at homeless-serving organizations, health care centers and legal clinics, but the ongoing pandemic required another adjustment to our plans

Jessica Stellmann was appointed as the interim director for the program for the semester, managing TAs, programming, and supplies distribution

The Young Scientists Program has been operating on a hybrid model this year. Though LAUSD has resumed in person classes, in the interest of keeping both staff and students safe the Joint Educational Project decided to keep its staff virtual in the classroom This hybrid model looks different depending on the classroom Students returning to in-person also allowed for easier supply distribution To avoid sharing among students due to health concerns, each student was provided a supplies kit with all the relevant supplies for experiments.

Only a handful of our partner organizations were able to host interns online (including California Hospital Medical Center, Bet Tzedek Legal Services and the Sola Community Peace Center) so the majority of the students participated in a virtual research program led by JEP’s graduate student inter ms provided inspiration for our 2020-21 Troja Ershadifar and Grace Himberger, who conti or the THV students unable to work on site

Jessica Stellmann and Blanca Diaz worked over the summer to assemble these individual kits for the ~2000 students in the program Once the students returned to school in the fall, Jessica was able to drop off the kits at the seven schools in the program. These individual kits provide the opportunity for hands-on experiments and participation from students, allowing students to grow and explore on their science journey

YSP lessons covered various topics this semester, from chemistry to physics to earth sciences Fifth grade students created a “water cycle

Nearl ograms in the fall, either as volunteers or pa ter, I was nevertheless amazed by the numb me and energy to service, despite the distan ases, remote time zones Hundreds of stude ores more worked in teams to record lesso lassroom instruction Students taught scien g kits over 2400 of them that we assembled, delivered and distributed to families via our school partners

Greetings from the Executive Director

JEP STEM EDUCATION PROGRAMS NEWSLETTER FALL 2021 by Susan Harris (Executive Director)

Tin a bag” to observe how the water cycle works in the environment After adding hot water to a plastic bag, they observed “clouds” forming at the top of their bags. Students were able to keep these up for a few weeks to continue to observe the water cycle

When

Fourth grade students investigated sound and light near the end of the semester. To learn about the properties of light they did several experiments, including one using straws and tape to create their very own sound and light waves Students determined which waves had the most energy based on how much they twisted them.

icipating a new decade full of potential and e the JEP House on USC’s campus for the last t ing from home for the rest of the year Nor c programs, which are so fundamentally defin Now, a year later, I am writing from a very bound by physical restrictions and uncer d a profound sense of gratitude for the stude work every day

For e-learning work study and volunteer assig g a Viter ver JEP s dren the c n th servi P’s Program had offered nearly 2000 sessions at no cost to families had i ving and l adju

Third grade students explored engineering and design with their parachute experiment Students built their own parachutes and tested them out in class, observing how different sized parachutes fall slower or faster based on canopy size Students were encouraged to brainstorm the best parachute to ensure the softest landing

Only

YSP welcomed 7 new TAs this semester: Blanca Diaz, Karli Rodriguez, Elianna Bautista, Ishika Agrawal, Adriana Vasquez, Spencer Huerta , and Farisha Sultan Ms Sultan shared why she was excited to join the YSP team saying, “As a first generation college student pursuing a field in STEM, teaching and mentoring the younger generation to pursue their dreams (especially in the sciences) is a passion of mine I am super excited to be able to work with YSP and do creative and fun experiments with elementary schoolers ”

ost interns online (including California Hosp Sola Community Peace Center) so the majo program led by JEP’s graduate student inter ms provided inspiration for our 2020-21 Troja Ershadifar and Grace Himberger, who conti or the THV students unable to work on site

Near ograms in the fall, either as volunteers or pa ter, I was nevertheless amazed by the numb me and energy to service, despite the dista ases, remote time zones Hundreds of stude ores more worked in teams to record lesso lassroom instruction Students taught scien g kits over 2400 of them that we assem ol partners

We would like to acknowledge the Good Neighbors Campaign, Raytheon, the Winn Family, and Lau Family, and the Mayor’s Office for their support of the Young Scientists Program.

Greetings from the Executive Director

JEP STEM EDUCATION PROGRAMS NEWSLETTER FALL 2021 by Susan Harris (Executive Director)

Medical STEM Program

When I was working on JEP’s 2019 annual report, I was anticipating a new decade full of potential and expanding possibilities A few weeks later, when we left the r the last time in 2020, I couldn’t imagine that we would be working year Nor could I have anticipated what that would mean for our pro tally defined by their in-person, community-based experiences. Now, om a very different place both literally and figuratively: one bo and uncertainty about the future, yet with cautious optimism and a r the students, faculty, staff and community partners with whom I wo

by Yvonne Hernandez-Guerra and Jessica Stellmann

Fall 2021 marks the seventh semester of the Medical STEM Program at USC’s Joint Educational Project (JEP) Since the start of 2018, the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCCC) has supported the integration of cancer education curriculum with second-grade classrooms in South LA through the Medical STEM Program (MSP), which is a component of USC NCCC’s Cancer-STEM Education Partnership Program (C-SEPP) led by Prof W Martin Kast MSP is under the directorship of Dr Dieuwertje Kast as a part of the STEM Education Programs at JEP

After a full year of virtual programming due to COVID-19, this semester saw MSP transition into a hybrid model of instruction for the first time. This model allowed students in their LAUSD classrooms to each have their own set of supplies for each activity and connect with their MSP TA over Zoom

For example, within two weeks of canceling our service-le nteer assignments for the Spring 2020 semester, we were launching a with Viterbi’s K-12 STEM Center and Keck’s Care for the Caregiver May, JEP student-workers provided 350 hours of tutoring to children and the children of Keck’s COVID frontline caregivers. Parents in the program asked that we extend the service through the summer and by August, tutors from JEP’s ReadersPLUS and Young Scientists Program had offered nearly 2000 sessions at no cost to families Our summer internship programs had intended to place USC students on site at homeless-serving organizations, health care centers and legal clinics, but the ongoing pandemic required another adjustment to our plans

Another first for MSP this semester was extending the program to include a 2nd grade classroom at 32nd St School We are extremely grateful to Mrs Feldman and Ms Mooring at 32nd St for welcoming our MSP team into their LAUSD Classroom We were also excited to once again be welcomed by Ms. Robles and Mr. Nakama at Vermont Ave Elementary

Only a handful of our partner organizations were able to host interns online (including California Hospital Medical Center, Bet Tzedek Legal Services and the Sola Community Peace Center) so the majority of the students participated in a virtual research program led by JEP’s graduate student internship director, Claire Cassianni. Our summer programs provided inspiration for our 2020-21 Troja Ershadifar and Grace Himberger, who conti or the THV students unable to work on site

The hybrid model of teaching has been full of joy but it has also been an immense learning experience for C-SEPP’s MSP team and our partner educators. Teachers participating in our program this semester were more involved than ever, working closely with their assigned TA and stepping in to distribute supplies and help their students in the classroom, as well as maintaining a safe space for students to explore and ask questions of their TA With the amazing support of our partner teachers, we were able to conduct hands-on experiments despite our MSP team not being in the class with the students in person We cannot thank them enough!

Gr ve Director

Cultivating excitement and curiosity about medical science and technology in their students One of our partner teachers, Mr Nakama of Vermont Ave Elementary, had this to say about the program:

When

“[MSP] is awesome because it is a place where students can learn about science in an environment that invites [them] to think, explore, and ask questions without the consequence of being penalized I was amazed at how many questions my students asked this semester It tells me that they were thinking and that they were engaged in the lessons.”

For e-learning, work-study and volunteer assig g a pilot program in collaboration with Viter ver Program Between April and May, JEP s dren attending JEP partner schools and the c n the program asked that we extend the servi P’s ReadersPLUS and Young Scientists Progr ilies Our summer internship programs had i ving organizations, health care centers and legal clinics, but the ongoing pandemic required another adjustment to our plans

The MSP Curriculum for Fall 2021 included our units on Oncology, Nutrition, and Genetics. These units and the lessons they include have been taught in previous years; the TA team did a wonderful job of drawing on this past experience when adapting them for the new hybrid model The semester included some of the teams’ favorite activities including cell division with play-doh (Oncology unit), making a balanced meal with stickers (Nutrition) and building a model of DNA using toothpicks and gummy bears (Genetics). As you can see in the pictures presented with this update, the students thought these experiments were a hit too!

Along with these tried and true activities, the MSP team also added an element of gamification (making learning into a game) into some of our units this semester Using the lessons learned from the fully virtual Fall 2020 semester, MSP TA, Haig Manoukian, developed card games to use during the Traits and Traditions lesson, as well as a wrap-up Jeopardy-style trivia game. These games kept the kids engaged, learning, and having fun with their classmates

Despite the challenges of teaching in this hybrid format, the MSP TA team was able to deliver on the goal of our program:

During the final week of instruction for the semester, each of the MSP classrooms was visited (via Zoom) by a medical STEM professional who shared about themselves, their path through life and their work with our students. Our thanks to DJ Fernandez (Ph D Candidate, USC Norris Cancer Center), Jaime Decker (CEO & Founder, Experience Anatomy), and Dr Ghecemy Lopez (Cancer Survivor & Program Manager, USC Norris Cancer Center Community Outreach and Engagement) for volunteering their time to visit with our students!

JEP STEM EDUCATION PROGRAMS NEWSLETTER FALL 2021

by Su

Greetings from the Executive Director

by Susan Harris (Executive Director)

Wonderkids

by Jessica Stellmann and Emma Case

For example, within two weeks of canceling our service-le nteer assignments for the Spring 2020 semester, we were launching a pilot program in collaboration with Viterbi’s K-12 STEM Center and Keck’s Care for the Caregiver Program

The Joint Educational Project’s after-school WonderKids Program just concluded another successful semester of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) career-based learning While the switch to conducting our programs over Zoom during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be a challenge, it has opened the door for WonderKids to be able to realize its full potential. Our other JEP STEM Education Programs serve our community’s students during their school day, necessitating a hybrid format for this semester (for details, see our articles on YSP and MSP in this volume) WonderKids, on the other hand, has always been an after-school program, allowing us to keep it entirely virtual, and continue serving our students in their own homes This decision has greatly broadened our reach In the past WonderKids had been held in as many as 3 of JEP’s parner schools each semester, serving approximately 30 students This semester saw sign-ups of students from 16 of JEP’s partner schools, and regular attendance of over 60 students, most of whom would never have had the opportunity to experience the program in previous years

Between April and May, JEP student-workers provided 350 hours of tutoring to children attending JEP partner schools and the children of Keck’s COVID frontline caregivers. Parents in the program asked that we extend the service through the summer and by August, tutors from JEP’s ReadersPLUS and Young Scientists Program had offered nearly 2000 sessions at no cost to families Our summer internship programs had intended to place USC students on site at homeless-serving organizations, health care centers and legal clinics, but the ongoing pandemic required another adjustment to our plans

Only a handful of our partner organizations were able to host interns online (including California Hospital Medical Center, Bet Tzedek Legal Services and the Sola Community Peace Center) so the majority of the students participated in a virtual research program led by JEP’s graduate student internship director, Claire Cassianni. Our summer programs provided inspiration for our 2020-21 Trojan h Ershadifar and Grace Himberger, who contin for the THV students unable to work on site

While our reach has expanded, WonderKids’ goal of connecting with students from as young as Kindergarten up to 5th grade and educating them on the true breadth of possible career paths in the STEM fields has held true. We have been able to deliver engaging, hands-on STEM activities that have been a hit with both our students and their parents! “I really like the topics the program has presented to the students and have exposed them to during the Fall. “ said Tasha Wagner. Another parent, Patricia Perez, said: “Nicole (5th Grade) and Sophia (2nd grade) always look forward to Wonderkids They love their teachers and speakers They enjoy all the activities Nicole enjoys drawing the activities and Sophia enjoys building and putting things together."

Nearly programs in the fall, either as volunteers or paid ester, I was nevertheless amazed by the numbe time and energy to service, despite the distanc cases, remote time zones Hundreds of studen Scores more worked in teams to record lessons classroom instruction Students taught science lessons to children online in their homes using kits over 2400 of them that we assembled, delivered and distributed to families via our school partners

NEWSLETTER FALL 2021

JEP STEM EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Greetings from the Executive Director

by Susan Harris (Executive Director)

These scientists and engineers spoke with students about their experience, how they began working in their field, and their chosen field is all about!

When cipating a new decade full of potential and e he JEP House on USC’s campus for the last ti ng from home for the rest of the year Nor c programs, which are so fundamentally define ow, a year later, I am writing from a very bound by physical restrictions and uncer a profound sense of gratitude for the studen work every day

about the topics WonderKids offers. We would like to thank these and all of our WonderKids’ parents and guardians for allowing us the opportunity to teach their children!

For e -learning, work-study and volunteer assignments for the Spring 2020 semester, we were launching a pilot program in collaboration with Viterbi’s K-12 STEM Center and Keck’s Care for the Caregiver Program Between April and May, JEP student-workers provided 350 hours of tutoring to children attending JEP partner schools and the children of Keck’s COVID frontline caregivers. Parents in the program asked that we extend the service through the summer and by August, tutors from JEP’s ReadersPLUS and Young Scientists

This semester our WonderKids’ students explored six STEM fields: environmental science, physics, sports medicine, paleontology, occupational therapy, and pulmonology Each week, on the first day of the unit, students investigated the core concepts of one of these fields with hands-on activities, developed and led by our amazing team of WonderKids’ Teaching Assistants (TAs) On the second day of each unit the students were introduced to a STEM professional working in the field of the week

Our virtual format allowed us increased flexibility in our invitations to our guest speakers way beyond Los Angeles We are truly grateful to all eight of the amazing STEM professionals who volunteered their time to visit with our WonderKids students! To learn more about our wonderful visitors, and the subjects they spoke about, see below!

Program had offered nearly 2000 sessions at no cost to families Our summer internship programs had intended to place USC students on site at homeless-serving organizations, health care centers and legal clinics, but the ongoing pandemic required another adjustment to our plans

This semester has been a great one for WonderKids, and we are excited to see how much further we can reach next semester, as we plan to keep the program in its current format!

PHYSICS

WONDERKIDS MODULES

FALL 2021

JEP STEM PUBLICATIONS AND AWARDS

SPORTS MEDICINE Dr. Noom Sirimaturos JEP STEM EDUCATION PROGRAMS NEWSLETTER FALL 2021

Z d W

Wendy Martinez & Keith Burrell ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Justin Gaffney PULMONOLOGY Dr. ite Offringa OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Dr. Catherine Crowley PALEONTOLOGY Kiersten Formoso

Greetings from the Executive Director

by Susan Harris (Executive Director)

Alumni Spotlight - Surbhi Bansil

by Dr. Dieuwertje "DJ" Kast

Tell us, what was YOUR first JEP or YSP assignment?

I started with the Young Scientists Program in the fall of my senior year, and I taught 1st grade STEM curriculum at Norwood Elementary In the spring of my senior year, I taught 5th grade STEM curriculum at Norwood.

How did your time with JEP/YSP help prepare you for life after college?

I’m currently a third year student, just starting my clinical rotations to explore the various medical specialties

YSP positively impacted my life in so many ways Growing up, I struggled with public speaking and leadership skills With YSP--with the new responsibility of needing to manage a classroom full of young students that are looking up to you--I felt myself grow in confidence and leadership as I pushed myself to provide them with the best learning experience possible I also found myself realizing how much I enjoy academics After teaching for YSP, I decided to continue building my passion and experiences with education during my gap year between undergrad and medical school by writing curriculum for JEP’s Cancer Education Initiative and teaching 7th grade Life Science and 10th grade Biology for the USC Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative.

Through my experiences working with the Cancer Education Initiative and YSP, I realized how much I love the field of oncology and working with kids Because of this, one of my top considerations for specialty is Pediatric Hematology & Oncology

What is one thing you would like to share with current JEP/YSP participants?

When applying for graduate school and other higher education programs, I found my experiences working with JEP/YSP really stand out in my applications and interviews

Only a handful of our partner organizations were able to host interns online (including California Hospital Medical Center, Bet Tzedek Legal Services and the Sola Community Peace Center) so the majority of the students participated in a virtual research program led by JEP’s graduate student internship director, Claire Cassianni. Our summer programs provided inspiration for our 2020-21 dent-directors, Soroush Ershadifar and Grace Himberger, who e service opportunities for the THV students unable to work on

All of these experiences helped foster my my passion for education and mentorship, and I’ve decided that I would like to work in Academic Medicine in my future career as a physician

Please tell us a little about your experience in medical school

I’ve dreamt of becoming a physician since I was a kid, and I feel so honored to have been offered a spot in the class of 2023 at the University of Hawai’i John A Burns School of Medicine

Some of my interviewers pointed out how amazing programs like YSP are and how YSP teaching assistants are helping to grow a foundation of interest in STEM in these kids that would not have otherwise had the exposure to it So be sure to give it your all when you’re in the classroom with these kids because you’re their role models and you’re really making a difference in their lives!

to participate in JEP programs in the fall, either as volunteers er than a typical semester, I was nevertheless amazed by the ing to dedicate their time and energy to service, despite the gement and, in many cases, remote time zones Hundreds of th tutors via Zoom Scores more worked in teams to record to use to supplement classroom instruction Students taught e in their homes using kits over 2400 of them that we to families via our school partners

PROGRAMS NEWSLETTER FALL 2021

JEP STEM EDUCATION

Greetings from the Executive Director

by Susan Harris (Executive Director)

Only a handful of our partner organizations were able to host interns o Hospital Medical Center, Bet Tzedek Legal Services and the Sola Comm majority of the students participated in a virtual research program led internship director, Claire Cassianni. Our summer programs provided i Trojan Health Volunteer (THV) student-directors, Soroush Ershadifar a continue to offer research and online service opportunities for the THV site

Nearly 850 USC students registered to participate in JEP programs in the fall, either as volunteers or paid student-workers While lower than a typical semester, I was nevertheless amazed by the number of students who were willing to dedicate their time and energy to service, despite the distances imposed by virtual engagement and, in many cases, remo students served as reading and math tutors via Zoom Scores more lessons for teachers and families to use to supplement classroom science lessons to children online in their homes using kits ov assembled, delivered and distributed to families via our school partners