Tech Trek/STEM – Celia Spitzer – Edna Ethington
2022 Whittier Tech Trek Camp
By Tobi Balma, Whittier Tech Trek Assistant Director
AAUW CA Tech Trek is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) camp designed to develop interest, excitement, and self-confidence in young women who will enter eighth grade in the fall. It features hands-on activities in STEM-related fields. The girls live on campus for one week in a dorm. The week is packed with instructional and recreational activities.
This year the branch Tech Trek committee selected two girls to attend the AAUW Tech Trek Camp at Whittier College from June 19 to June 25.
Lyanne from Ross Middle School
Kristen from Walker Jr.High
The girls joined 82 other middle school girls from Southern California. All campers lived in dorm groups composed of 10 campers and an AAUW member Dorm Mom. They were busy from early morning until bedtime.
Campers were randomly selected for one STEM core class which they attended Monday -Thursday mornings. Classes this year included Anatomy , Architecture, Biology, Crime Scene Investigation and Robotics.
Afternoons and evenings were spent with workshops, lectures, and recreational activities. One evening was devoted to a special “Professional Women’s Night” where the girls got to spend time with six women with STEM Careers. Field trips this year included the Downey Memorial Soace Center and a Cadaver Lab in Whittier.
Celia Spitzer, Lyanne G., Tobi Balma and Kristen V., credit Edna Ethington
Our two Campers attended our September branch meeting and discussed their experience. They brought Poster board displays to share with branch members. Tobi Balma moderated Additionally, 2017 Naima D. attend and provided spoke about the positive effect Tech Trek made on her life. We congratulate her as she embarks on her college experience at Stanford. 2017 Tech Trek grad Isabella R. was unable to attend as she was moving into her dorm at UCLA. Tech Trek definitely changes lives in a very positive way!
Naima D., Ross Teacher Maria Scheid & Lyanne G., credit Edna Ethington
Naima D.,Celia Spitzer, Lyanne G, Tobi B, & Kristen V., credit Edna Ethington
The two girls we sponsored for Tech Trek 2022 who attended camp at Whittier College in June were recently recognized by their school districts and, in the case of the Walker student, by the City of La Palma. Kristen V., an eighth grader at Walker Jr. High, was recognized on October 13 at a meeting of the Anaheim Union High School District board and on October 4 at a meeting of the La Palma City Council. Lyanne, an eighth grader at Ross Middle School in the ABCUSD, was recognized on November 1 at a meeting of the ABCUSD board. Both girls gave presentations about their experiences at Tech Trek. Past branch Tech Trek co-coordinator Edna Ethington attended the meetings with Kristen and branch president Celia attended the ABC meeting with Lyanne. Tobi Balma attended the two school district meetings to facilitate the girls’ presentations. Photos of the events follow.
Tobi, Celia and Lyanne at ABCUSD meeting.
La Palma City Council meeting honoring Kristen V. with Edna.
Anaheim Union HSD meeting honoring Kristen V. with Tobi.
2021 Virtual Tech Trek
For those of you who were unable to attend our September General meeting, you missed a wonderful presentation by our four Tech Trek girls. They described their experience at AAUW California Virtual Tech Trek in July and brought their “wearable tech” for “show and tell.” We all should be very proud of having provided the Tech Trek opportunity for them.
Congratulations to Sophia Chicas, “Viking of the Year” at Walker Jr. High School!
By Edna Ethington
The La Palma-Cerritos Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) recently sent four outstanding young girls to Virtual STEM Tech Trek Camps sponsored by AAUW California this past July. Sophia Chicas was one of 640 girls throughout California who were selected to attend one of three camps in June and July of 2021. She was honored by Principal Jennifer Brown at Walker Jr. High School’s Eighth Grade Graduation on Zoom on May19, 2021, by being selected as “Viking of the Year” for “superior academic achievement and a strong commitment towards excellence.” She also received a framed Proclamation from the California State 65th Assembly, signed by Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, for being awarded” the highest distinction which can be bestowed upon a student at Walker Jr. High School.”
The following is information which Sophia sent by e-mail about her recent awards and her future plans at John F. Kennedy High School.
By Sophia Chicas
The Viking of the Year award is given to the top eighth grade boy and girl every year. We are chosen by the staff and are chosen for academic grades, involvement in school and an overall positive attitude. I was chosen specifically for maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout my two years in junior high school, being in the honors program, being in ASB, being in the Bridges Club representing Walker at local elementary schools and being President of the Kindness Club. During my last year in junior high school, I was trying to make the most of my online experience with virtual classes on Zoom which led me to be involved in so many activities. Unknowingly to me, the staff recognized me and my involvement which led to my getting the Viking of the Year Award.
Now that I am entering high school, I have plans to make it memorable. For example, I was chosen to be Freshman Class President. I intend to be a part of ASB for the next four years. I also intend to be involved in the sports offered at my school, such as cross country. After attending Tech Trek, it sparked the idea of starting a club that is STEM based. I am unsure of what it will be right now, but in my freshman and sophomore year, I will start working on the idea. Not only do I want to start a new club, I also want to be a member of a few other clubs, as I was in junior high school. Again, I am unsure of what clubs I will join at this time.
Lastly, I want to thank the La Palma-Cerritos Branch of the AAUW, my branch sponsor, and Qualcomm for an incredible experience at Tech Trek. I would also like to thank Edna Ethington and the branch Tech Trek Committee for helping to make it possible for me to attend the Virtual Tech Trek Camp this year. I hope to be involved with AAUW and other things STEM-related in the future because of it!
2021 Tech Trek
By Edna Ethington
In March of 2020, La Palma-Cerritos Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) chose four middle school girls to attend Tech Trek, a one- week Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) camp sponsored by AAUW California at Whittier College in the summer of 2020. The branch started sponsoring girls to attend Tech Trek Camps in 2017, and these girls would have been the fourth group to attend.
The girls had to be nominated by a science or math teacher, have a 3.0 GPA or higher, have an interest in math and/or science, and be interviewed by the branch’s Tech Trek Committee. However, Covid-19 forced AAUW National to cancel all in-person Tech Trek camps for 2020, but virtual camps could still be held. There was not enough time to prepare virtual camps in 2020, so AAUW California STEM/Tech Trek program leaders prepared a virtual program for 2021 that would provide selected campers with a stimulating, fun, and rewarding STEM virtual experience. Branches could choose new campers in 2021, and girls who had been chosen in 2020 would also be able to attend one of three Virtual Camps in 2021 on June 21-25, July 12-16, or July 26-30.
Since the branch had selected four girls and set aside money to sponsor them for the Tech Trek Camps, the girls were contacted to see if they wanted to attend a Virtual Tech Trek Camp. All four girls said “yes.”
Congratulations to the four girls who were chosen by the La Palma-Cerritos Branch to attend the Virtual Tech Trek Camp! They are: Janelle Vargas of Fedde Middle School and Julianna Castellon of Haskell Middle School in ABC Unified School District in Los Angeles County, and Sophia Chicas and Sidney Lumsdaine of Walker Junior High School in Anaheim Union High School District in Orange County.
Over 600 girls have registered to be part of one of the three week-long camps this summer. Each girl received her first choice of the camp she wished to attend, so Janelle will attend the July 12-16 virtual camp. Julianna, Sophia, and Sidney will attend the virtual camp on July 26-30.
The week-long virtual camp will be centered on a morning project-based robotics/engineering/coding class that will meet daily. It will result in a personalized creative project by the end of the week. After a lunch break, campers will hear from inspirational women speakers in the STEM field for one hour. Following the speakers’ one- hour presentations, the girls will participate in a required 90-minute workshop, and an optional 90-minute hands-on or interactive STEM workshop. All the workshops are designed to encourage fun while learning.
The required sessions will provide the girls with opportunities to explore the fun properties of water, build a spectrophotometer to explore lights and waves, design and build a wind turbine to raise money literally, in the air, and discover dimensions they never knew they had. There also will be optional evening sessions.
The members of La Palma-Cerritos AAUW are looking forward to having the girls as guest speakers, at the branch’s meeting on September 16, 2021, to learn about their experiences at the Virtual STEM Tech Trek Camp sponsored by AAUW California. Contact Program VP Karen Cox at 562-519-0596 to confirm the meeting’s time, location, and whether the meeting will be a virtual or in-person.
Janelle Vargas, of Fedde Middle School. Julianna Castellon, of Haskell Middle School
Sophia Chicas, of Walker Jr. High Sidney Lumsdaine, of Walker Jr. High
Update: Isabella Rojas, TT Camper 2017
After attending TechTrek, I went on to complete another Math and Engineering Camp at Cal Poly Pomona in the summer of my eighth-grade year; staying on a college campus the previous year for TechTrek really helped me feel comfortable at Cal Poly. Throughout my stay, I participated in group competitions and attended a math class each day. I was able to establish my leadership skills and expand the team-work skills I developed at TechTrek. I then transferred districts from ABC Unified School District to Long Beach Unified School District. I am currently a Health and Medical Pathway student at Ernest McBride High School. During my time at McBride, I have participated in many clubs and have had the opportunity to be appointed leadership positions, such as President of my school’s Symphony Orchestra club. I have also taken five college courses at Long Beach City College and CSULB, including Latinx Cultural Identity, Astronomy, and Psychology. This school year, I am taking five AP courses and preparing for the exams in May. I’ve volunteered with my community and partaken in multiple Food Drives and city cleanups. After high school, I plan on attending a four-year university and majoring in Biology or Health Sciences. TechTrek allowed me to learn about different career options and sparked new interests in various fields of science that play a significant role in my life as a student. I am starting the college application process and looking forward to starting a career in the STEAM field as an Obstetrician Gynecologist.
2019 Tech Trek
The Branch raised enough money to sponsor 4 girls to attend the 2019 Whittier Tech Trek at Whittier College, June 23-29, 2019. Interviews were held at Walker Jr. High and at the three ABCUSD Title I middle schools: Fedde, Haskell and Ross. The interview committees were made up of three branch members from each of the two school districts to interview and assess the 7th grade girls who had been nominated by their math and/or science teachers. The girls needed to have at least a B GPA in math and/or science, and were either very interested about the subject(s) or could be if they were given the opportunity. The committees also looked for girls who would otherwise not have the opportunity (financially) to attend a one-week STEM camp on a college campus. Our four 2018 Tech Trek campers acted as “Big Sisters” to the new 2019 campers. This is an example of how AAUW develops leadership skills.
La Palma City Council Honors
2019 Walker Jr. High Tech Trek Campers
On Tuesday, November 5th, the La Palma City Council honored our two 2019 Walker Jr. High Campers: Gracen Grepo and Hannah Hughes. Edna thanked the Council, spoke briefly about Tech Trek, then introduced Tobi who gave a short explanation about Tech Trek, how the campers were selected, and described the week long camping experience at Whittier Tech Trek.
The campers received multiple certificates: Branch (President Harriet Moses), City of La Palma (Mayor Marshall Goodman), CA State Assembly (representative from CA State Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva’s Office) and CA State Assembly (CA State Senator Ling Ling Chang).
Many thanks to new branch member Lauree Goodman for arranging this prestigious event.
From L to R: Tobi, Mayor Goodman, Hannah, Gracen, & Edna
Mayor Goodman, Tobi, Christopher Aguilera friom CA State Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva’s Office, Hannah, & Gracen
Mayor Goodman, Tobi, CA State Senator Ling Ling Chang, Hannah & Grace
2019 Tech Trek Branch Presentation
At the October 17 Branch Meeting, Tobi Balma provided a PowerPoint Presentation about the 2019 Whittier Tech Trek Camp experience and moderated a panel presentation by our 2019 Campers.
The campers spoke about how attending Tech Trek increased their self-confidence, ability to speak in public, love for STEM, potential career choices and learning what it takes to get into college. The also loved spending a week on a college campus, living in a dorm, attending their core classes … and much, much more!
Thank you to all of our donors. We have raised almost enough to fund four campers for 2020! So PLEASE consider donating (or increasing your donation) so that we can make sending 4 girls to 2020 Whittier Tech Trek! Contact Treasurer Marilyn Forsstrom, and/or Tech Trek Co-Cordinators Celia and Edna.
And check out the October issue of the Orange County Breeze for their article about the meeting! Thank you to Edna for submitting the article and to the OC Breeze for publishing it!
Here are some highlights:
Favorite Part of Tech Trek:
2019 ABCUSD Tech Trek Campers
Arianna’s favorite subjects in school are science, math and English, she has participated in STEM Olympics. She is also in Global Honor and participates in the Associated Student Body. In a prior science competition her team built a car with materials from their homes. She is the Treasurer for her grade. She thinks she may want to be an engineer or find cures for diseases. She is very interested in learning more about STEM and seeing how this may improve her career and education now.
Hannah R.’s favorite subjects are science, P.E., and history. She is a member of the Next Generation Science Club and has also participated in STEM Olympics where her teams have made a recyclable car and a solar oven. She is also interested in Virtual Reality. She loves equations and is passionate about math. She is excited about going to Tech Trek and spending a whole week to learn and practice STEM activities.
Hannah R., Fedde
Arianna P., Fedde
2019 Walker Middle School Tech Trek Campers
Hanna H.’s favorite subjects in school.are math and science. She loves to learn. She has participated in science competitions (including building solar-powered robots), and is passionate about stopping plastic pollution by raising people’s awareness. After observing homeless people she wondered if she could develop heat sources to help homeless people stay warm. She is considering becoming a marine biologist.
Gracen G. loves math! She loves working on computers and inventing apps and coding. She participated in an experiment on colors changing in the sunlight. She also excels in math. She Is very motivated to learn and has an excellent work ethic. She is unsure what she wants to do in the future, but hopes to be able to make a difference by contributing to her local community.
Hannah H.
Gracen G.
Tobi organized an Orientation held at Heritage Park in Cerritos before Camp. All 4 2019 Campers and their families attended. Also attending were Edna, our 2017 Campers and 3 of our 4 2018 Campers.
Our 4 campers and 2017 Camper Naima D. who was a Jr. Counselor this year had a great time at 2019 Tech Trek at Whittier College! In total, there were 90 Campers, 11 Jr. Counselors, 2 Sr. Counselors, 9 Dorm Moms, 5 Teachers (including Marissa Solomon, daughter of member Sue Solomon, who taught Biotechnology), 1 RN, the Director, and member Tobi Balma who took the group pic, assisted the Director, was the “Mom” of the Dorm Moms and taught 4 Workshops.
Classes were: Biotechnology, Crime Scene Investigation, Cybersecurity, Numbers Count (where the Campers used math to create their own Juice Bar Business and “sell” their beverages to campers and staff), and Structural Engineering. Field trips included visits to the Downey Space Center and to the Southern California University of Health Sciences Cadaver Lab in Whittier.
Multiple Workshops were also held. For more information
Included are some pics that Tobi was able to take in between her Camp assignments
Hannah H.
Gracen
Hannah R.
Arianna
Naima, Jr. Counselor
Marissa Solomon, Biotechnology Teacher
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2018 Tech Trek Campers
Left to Right: Shahan & Lilly, (Walker Middle School, Tobi Balma (Branch Assistant to the Trek Trek Coordinators), Ariana & Edrianna (Ross Middle School)
The girls described their weeklong core classes, their favorite Professional from Professional Women’s Night, and what Tech Trek Meant to them. For Ariana, she learned that failure is not bad, that it is one step closer to success. She described herself prior to Tech Trek as a perfectionist who was very hard on herself when she made a mistake. For Edrianna, in addition to gaining a lot of confidence in herself, her biggest takeaway from Tech Trek is that “It’s OK to be a Nerd!”
Lilly said that she enjoyed learning about the different careers that the professional women talked about, especially about the zookeeper. She said she took the coding class and now wants to be either a computer scientist or an Engineer.
Shahan said that she learned a lot at the Cadaver Lab and the class on neuroscience. She enjoyed meeting the physician who also did medical research at the Professional Women’s Night. She now says that she wants to study neuroscience more and become a doctor and medical researcher just like the woman who came to speak at Professional Women’s Night.
Edrianna’s favorite part of Tech Trek was Dorm life. The favorite part of Yexk Trek for Ariana, Lilly and Shahan was the field trip to the Cadaver Lab.
House of Imports Mercedes Benz of Buena Park Donates $950 to Fully Sponsor One Girl to Attend Tech Trek 2019!
From Left to Right: Sam Kashani, Customer Care Manager, Tobi Balma, and Ryan Anderson, Customer Care Director
Thank You Kiwanis for helping to Sponsor Walker Jr. High 2018 Campers
Pictured at the Kiwanis Club of La Palma are, left to right: Edna, Lilly, Kiwanis President-Elect Willie Ortega, Shahan and Tob
WHITTIER TECH TREK CAMP
2017 Tech Trek Campers
Our sponsored campers Naima and Isabella had an AMAZING TIME! Our two Tech Trek Dorm Moms, Tobi and Chris, ended the week exhausted, but exhilarated, in awe of the Tech Trek Program. Both of our campers raved about Tech Trek, wouldn’t change anything, and think it’s very important for girls to go.
Naima, from Ross Middle School, loved everything about Tech Trek. Her favorites were the field trips followed by the Professional Women’s Night, and “everything.” Naima will be a 2019 Jr. Counselor.
Isabella, from Fedde Middle School, also said she loved Tech Trek. Homesickness was difficult, but once she got through it, she really enjoyed Tech Trek.
Tech Trek is a math/science camp designed to develop interest, excitement and self-confidence in young women who will enter eighth grade in the fall. It features hands-on activities in math, science and related fields. All sleeping, eating, instructional and recreational facilities are located on a university campus where camps are held. Learn more HERE. Click HERE for a printable brochure on Tech Trek.
AAUW of California member Marie Wolbach founded Tech Trek in 1998 with the help of an AAUW Community Action Grant. Since then, AAUW of California has grown Tech Trek to 10 camps on eight college campuses across the state. A 2013 survey of Tech Trek alumnae who attended the camp in California between 2006 and 2009 demonstrates the program’s lasting effects on many levels, including interest and confidence in STEM fields, decision to pursue STEM curricula, and future career plans.
In 2013, using our very successful California Tech Trek camps as their model, AAUW National began a National Tech Trek Pilot Program. Camps have been held in several states in the past two years. Now California Tech Trek camps are joining that program.
Campers are assigned math and/or science core classes that they attend daily. Girls also take shorter math and science-related classes and off-campus field trips that encourage maximum interaction and instruction.
Most important is the university campus experience. No matter what campus they attend, campers will have the opportunity to live the life of a college student for the week. They will learn to live with someone other than a sibling or a relative, share community bathrooms, eat dorm food and explore the campus area under the careful supervision of camp staff. They also will interact with women who model a high degree of science, mathematics or computer expertise as part of their daily lives.
Tech Trek is designed to provide every camper with exposure to all core subjects taught, as well as a selection of rotating labs designed to explore individual specialties more deeply. Hands-on activities in core classes, rotating labs and field trips at Tech Trek camps help to make math and science fun as well as educational. Instructors include credentialed middle school teachers and women currently engaged professionally in math, science or technology fields.
Evening programs could include astronomy, engineering, marine biology, and environmental studies to enhance the learning experience and introduce students to a variety of potential career areas.
Girls find their passion for high-tech careers at AAUW’s Tech Trek camps. Through hands-on problem solving and encounters with women role models in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), Tech Trek helps girls see their futures while having nonstop fun. Since 1998, AAUW has helped change girls’ lives through Tech Trek, an experiential summer camp backed by research and designed to make STEM exciting and accessible to girls in middle school — the age when research shows girls’ participation in these fields drops. For many girls, the weeklong camp sparks their curiosity and places them on a path toward success.
Every girl attending a Tech Trek Science Camp is on a full scholarship and was first recommended for the program by her middle school science or math teacher. Local AAUW branch coordinators provide the schools and teachers with guidelines for choosing girls who will be successful at camp.
Recommended girls are contacted, along with their parents, and asked to complete an application and to write a short essay on a chosen subject. AAUW branch members then interview all prospective campers. Each branch will choose the number of girls for whom they have scholarships. Families are asked to pay a very small part of the total amount if they can.