{"678259":{"#nid":"678259","#data":{"type":"news","title":"GoSTEM\u2019s Signature Event Provides Middle and High School Students an Interactive STEM Experience at Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMore than 200 middle and high school students from six schools in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties visited Georgia Tech in early October for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gostem.gatech.edu\u0022 target=\u0022_\u0026quot;\u0022\u003EGoSTEM\u2019s\u003C\/a\u003E 12th annual Latino College and STEM Fair. Housed in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ceismc.gatech.edu\u0022 target=\u0022_\u0026quot;\u0022\u003Ethe Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC)\u003C\/a\u003E, GoSTEM\u2019s mission is to promote STEM academic achievement and college attendance among Latino K-12 students.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents attended various STEM demonstrations and interactive sessions throughout the day, presented by Georgia Tech, Emory University, Georgia College \u0026amp; State University, Georgia State University, and Kennesaw State University. There was also an undergraduate admission information session by Georgia Tech and a panel discussion by Kennesaw State\u2019s First-Gen Owls student organization.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe last in-person Latino College and STEM Fair was held in spring 2019 before the pandemic caused us to move to a virtual format the last few years,\u201d explained GoSTEM Co-Program Manager Michael Turner. \u201cThe team determined that bringing it back in person this fall was well-timed, aligning perfectly with the academic calendar, college application deadlines, and Hispanic Heritage Month. This event provides a valuable opportunity for students to explore their options and connect with mentors in the STEM fields.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis event has been a major component of the GoSTEM program since the beginning, having become a staple of the Atlanta Science Festival in 2014.\u0026nbsp;The team aimed to restart on a smaller scale, focusing on a few select schools that had either participated in other GoSTEM programs or were relatively new to the initiative. Previous iterations of the event were larger and more public-facing, attracting Latino students and their families from across Georgia.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur team is very aware of the role and importance of including the family, which may be explored in the future,\u201d said Jorge Hernandez Cervantes, who serves as the other GoSTEM co-program manager. \u201cFor the pilot run, we wanted to see how everything would work logistically, especially in terms of event space, but also to ensure that as many students as possible experienced the Latino College and STEM Fair in person, even if their parents couldn\u2019t join this time.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the student programming focus was the main objective for\u0026nbsp;bringing the event back to campus, educational outreach coordinators Ana Garcia Isol and Ben Franco collaborated on the planning and logistics of the event to ensure this goal was fulfilled. They were past GoSTEM participants and CEISMC student employees while they pursued their STEM degrees at Georgia State University.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe wanted the students to experience a different type of opportunity where they felt welcomed and comfortable engaging in STEM activities. Many students do not think they\u2019re smart enough or don\u2019t belong in the STEM classroom,\u201d Garcia Isol said. \u201cBy creating a space with carefully curated programs that explore the numerous possibilities of STEM, we are showing these students the attainable pathways to STEM majors and careers.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEvents like the Latino College and STEM Fair are crucial for exposing students, especially from underfunded schools to new opportunities. Without that exposure, they might not realize their full potential,\u201d added Franco. \u201cThese events spark interest, encourage discussions, and help students connect with like-minded peers as they explore their career and college paths.\u201d \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, Erin Luna, a sixth-grade teacher at GoSTEM\u2019s longtime partner Lilburn Middle School, observed the students\u2019 enthusiasm and excitement about the experience. She described one student who probably would not have asked her teacher for a permission slip but decided to do so after running into Luna on her way to make more copies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI encouraged the student to sign up when she asked me about the event,\u201d explained Luna. \u201cShe attended and later thanked me at lunch, saying \u2018I want to go to college here.\u2019 Knowing she doesn\u2019t like her science class and would be the first in her family to attend college, I realized that inspiring even one student makes it all worthwhile. The future belongs to those who dare to dream beyond boundaries.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESchool counselor Lisandra Latorre echoed the same sentiments about the impact of the campus event on her students from Chamblee High School, a first-time partner with GoSTEM. She said that the students asked many questions and interreacted with presenters, with some of her very limited English proficient students treated to a presentation in Spanish, which made them feel even more included.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe key takeaway was that all Latino students can attend college, even Georgia Tech,\u201d Latorre explained. \u201cLatino students need events and programs like these to see role models who started out maybe LEP (Limited English Proficient) just like them, attending colleges, involved and leading in STEM fields they think are out of reach.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParticipants from Sequoyah Middle School in Doraville, Sweetwater Middle School in Lawrenceville, Berkmar High School in Lilburn, and Cross Keys High School in Brookhaven were also in attendance.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn the presenter side, it was a homecoming of sorts for Georgia State University\u2019s Bio-Bus Program, a mobile science outreach service for K-12 students and their families and teachers. Director Michelle Ventura Ezeoke explained that the Bio-Bus Program first collaborated almost a decade ago with GoSTEM when the team co-hosted a teacher professional development event with the Latin American Association addressing how to bridge the STEM educational gap for Georgia\u2019s K-12 Latino students.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs a first-generation Latina and first-generation college graduate, I have dedicated my work to inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals by dispelling misconceptions regarding STEM identity,\u201d Ventura Ezeoke said. \u0026nbsp;\u201cPrograms like GoSTEM are essential because they provide an opportunity and space for K-12 students to be inspired to persist in STEM. Moreover, they enable the staff to showcase themselves as STEM professionals while serving their communities.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmong the other presenters, many of whom also participate in the Atlanta Science Festival, included:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGeorgia Tech: Astronomy Club, BME HealthReach, Frugal Science Academy\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EKennesaw State University: ColorStack KSU \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEmory University: ChEmory \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGeorgia College \u0026amp; State University: Magic of Chemistry\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u2014\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJo\u00eblle Walls, CEISMC Communications\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMore than 200 middle and high school students from six schools in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties visited Georgia Tech in early October for GoSTEM\u2019s 12th annual Latino College and STEM Fair. Housed in the Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC), GoSTEM\u2019s mission is to promote STEM academic achievement and college attendance among Latino K-12 students.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"More than 200 middle and high school students from six schools in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties attended the 12th annual Latino College and STEM Fair. "}],"uid":"36247","created_gmt":"2024-11-07 18:52:50","changed_gmt":"2025-02-28 16:41:08","author":"jwalls37","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-11-08T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-11-08T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675554":{"id":"675554","type":"image","title":"Georgia State University\u0027s Bio-Bus Program were among the presenters at GoSTEM\u0027s 2024 Latino College and STEM Fair. ","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia State University\u0027s Bio-Bus Program were among the presenters at GoSTEM\u0027s 2024 Latino College and STEM Fair.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1731013196","gmt_created":"2024-11-07 20:59:56","changed":"1740760912","gmt_changed":"2025-02-28 16:41:52","alt":"Georgia State University\u0027s Bio-Bus Program were among the presenters at GoSTEM\u0027s 2024 Latino College and STEM Fair. ","file":{"fid":"259193","name":"GoSTEM-LCSF-2024-2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/08\/GoSTEM-LCSF-2024-2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/08\/GoSTEM-LCSF-2024-2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1539267,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/08\/GoSTEM-LCSF-2024-2.jpg?itok=Z_BwqRZ_"}},"675552":{"id":"675552","type":"image","title":"The Georgia Tech Astronomy Club were among the presenters at GoSTEM\u0027s 2024 Latino College and STEM Fair. ","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech Astronomy Club were among the presenters at GoSTEM\u0027s 2024 Latino College and STEM Fair.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1731012313","gmt_created":"2024-11-07 20:45:13","changed":"1740760954","gmt_changed":"2025-02-28 16:42:34","alt":"The Georgia Tech Astronomy Club were among the presenters at GoSTEM\u0027s 2024 Latino College and STEM Fair. 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