Bringing the Community Together Through STEM Education From USD to Carson Elementary

On a beautiful Spring afternoon just over a mile from the University of San Diego campus, a whole new world opened up for dozens of USD students. Laughter and excitement echoed through the halls where more than 400 family members poured into Carson Elementary School, determined to get their hands dirty and let their imaginations run wild exploring the world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). 

Isabella Maciel, a third-year industrial engineering student at USD said her goal is “to show kids that STEM is fun and not as hard as people usually see it as.” 

Twice a year, staff at the elementary school join forces with faculty and students from USD as part of Carson's Family STEAM initiatives. Carson students learn cool and exciting ways to create products they sell and buy at the event. This year, more than 80 USD students and staff worked with the young entrepreneurs and their families to explore the world around them. The activities ranged from paper planes, slime, and weaving, to carbon dioxide balloons and elephant toothpaste and much more. 

“I think that having events like this brings the community together, " shared kindergarten teacher Gloria Cuadras. “It allows parents to take a more active role in their child’s academic progress here at school, and it brings so many elements of fun to learning.”

 The event which has taken place since 2018, is an opportunity for USD students to be in the community doing what they love. 

“It’s just a really nice activity to just get to see the community outside of USD,” said first-year USD engineering student Isaiah Moore.

The Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering wasn't the only school represented; leaders from Mortar Board, College Corps Scholars, the Mulvaney Center for Community Awareness and Social Action, and the Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education collaborated closely with Carson staff throughout the semester to organize every detail and activity for the students. Many others, including Dr. De Haan’s (Chemistry & Biochemistry) and Dr. Danos’ (Biology)  classes, the Accounting Club, the STEM Outreach Club, and the Impact Linda Vista Initiative also contributed and facilitated activities at the event.

“I feel like they’re also really great role models for the students to show them that there is something beyond elementary, middle and high school,” said Cuadras. “They can achieve their goals and they can go to college and have an amazing career doing something that they love.”

For Paulina Gaytan, also an engineering student and member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), the opportunity to connect with her community and inspire young minds to see themselves in the STEM field, makes this experience special.

“It is so helpful and excellent that USD allows for opportunities like this because you don’t learn everything inside of a classroom. Also as USD looks forward to becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution, this contributes tremendously to those efforts. USD is not only serving us students on campus but it is also giving us opportunities to collaborate with the Hispanic community outside of USD.”