Cal State LA proudly celebrated the accomplishments of 200 middle school students during a graduation ceremony for the Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers Program on Friday, July 11, at the Golden Eagle Ballroom.
The event drew about 600 family members and friends, all gathered to support and cheer for the new graduates.
Now in its ninth year, this free program continues to empower incoming sixth- to eighth-grade students from neighboring areas of Cal State LA.
Funded by the Verizon Foundation, the three-week immersive program provided hands-on experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Jessica Morales-Chicas, the program director, noted that STEM subjects often lack hands-on teaching in schools, leaving students unaware of their relevance to future careers.
“We offer hands-on learning—students are manipulating robots, learning code, and competing to write the best code to navigate robots through obstacle courses,” Morales-Chicas explained.
The program is designed to engage students, making science, engineering, and math not just educational subjects, but also fun and relevant.
This year’s program saw over 600 applications from eager children, featuring daily instruction from credentialed STEM instructors and mentorship from both undergraduate and graduate students at Cal State LA.
Juan Bobadilla, who was present at the ceremony, shared how the program impacted his children, Juan Jr. and Ava.
“My kids didn’t know much about STEM, but now they understand it better, and maybe in the future, they can pursue that route,” he said.
The graduation also included impressive project demonstrations by the students and testimonials that highlighted their experiences.
Emily, one of the students, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I was happy to have been able to attend classes in a college setting.
I look forward to the day I can attend college. I really enjoyed being part of the program and was able to make new friends, learn new skills, connect with teachers, and explore the Cal State LA campus.
I really enjoyed every minute of it.”
Another student, Anthony, reflected, “One goal I have now is to gain a better understanding of robotics, which I’m excited to learn more about.
If I had to describe this program in three words, I would say it’s been a helpful, inspiring, and motivating experience.”
Morales-Chicas highlighted that most of the students hail from East Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Unified School District, with their families predominantly belonging to lower-income and Latinx backgrounds.
She pointed out that the community faces a significant digital divide that goes beyond just having access to the internet or devices.
“The schools offer those things,” she stated. “The biggest gap is the lack of opportunities for engagement, innovation, and access.
With our program, we’re not just giving students a computer or a 3D printer; we’re teaching them how they’re made, how to become social entrepreneurs, and to develop new technologies.
That’s really the missing link.”
Initially, when the program launched nine years ago, it was offered only to boys, while girls participated in a separate program.
However, it became co-ed five years ago.
According to Morales-Chicas, the program has encouraged many participants to consider careers in STEM fields, with some former students who have cycled through the program returning to mentor new generations.
“We have kids who have cycled through the program and are now in college or have graduated, serving as mentors,” she said.
This transition allows them to stay engaged and return in a different capacity, helping others in a mentorship role.
One such mentor, Eric Apodaca, was part of the first cohort when he was just 10 years old.
Now a sophomore at Cal State LA, he has been volunteering as a mentor since 2000.
Apodaca shared a success story about one of his mentees who won a robotics competition after participating in last year’s program.
“He learned about robotics and coding, and it’s nice to see him find a passion for what he does,” Apodaca remarked.
The impressive turnout and heartfelt testimonials from the graduates show just how impactful the Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers Program has been in shaping the lives of underrepresented youth in the community.
image source from：news
