Eighth grade girls from Alhambra and surrounding school districts shared highlights of their valuable experiences from virtual and Whittier College residential camps at the annual Tech Trek Luncheon. Tech Trek coordinators Rozanne Child and Jane Krause met with the girls on Saturday, August 24, to help them prepare for their presentations at the September 21 Tech Trek luncheon meeting. The young scientists presented highlights of activities and experiments in the fields of Anatomy, Biology, Chemistry, Neurology and Robotics.
More than 50 family, friends, branch members, donors, teachers, and counselors who helped the girls complete applications listened captivated as the girls related their dissection of piglets (not living), handling of human organs (also not alive), and smashing strawberries to discover their DNA. Other students described how they created digital hats with gizmos and gadgets that lit up and twirled on command using hands-on learning of robotics and engineering principles.
The luncheon celebrated the girls’ week-long study of STEM fields and was hosted by the branch’s Tech Trek committees led by Lovey Sherman and Betty Morín at the First United Methodist Church of San Gabriel. Guests included: Cynthia Jarvis representing the Alhambra Day Nursery, a long-time Tech Trek donor; Gennie Chung, teacher from Monterey Highlands Elementary in Monterey Park; Maria Avila, teacher from La Merced Intermediate; and Katy Chavez, teacher from Bell Gardens Intermediate in Montebello USD.
Selection of the 2024 Tech Trek campers began with teacher recommendations from Alhambra, Monterey Park, and Montebello schools based on students who exhibited talent and curiosity in STEM subjects and who earned a B-average in math and science classes. The girls completed applications and essays about how science can help our world. Finally, a team of Tech Trek committee members interviewed the girls individually. The chosen campers had many more forms to complete before entering camp.
Alhambra-San Gabriel Branch Tech Trek Committees raised funds to cover seventeen residential camper scholarships of $1200 each and five virtual camper scholarships of $500 each. In addition to the many generous individual donors, the following community groups contributed to the Tech Trek Camper scholarships: Alhambra Day Nursery, Monterey Park Women’s Club, East Side Optimist Club of Monterey Park, and Friends of Montebello Unified School District Foundation.
We welcome volunteers to help us continue this valuable mission. For more information, visit https://alhsangab-ca.aauw.net.
