For the past 16 years, Norco College STEM/MESA has welcomed 5th grade students from Lincoln Fundamental Elementary School for an engaging, hands-on campus experience. This spring, 125 students visited Norco College to explore college life and participate in interactive STEM activities.
The visit was made possible through collaboration between Azadeh Iglesias, MESA Coordinator; Kasey Boyer, Educational Resource Advisor; Professor Jeff Julius, Associate Professor of Biology; and Monica Gutierrez, Ph.D., Professor of Biology. Students participated in an engineering “red cup” challenge and a biology lab frog dissection, offering a unique introduction to college-level learning.
Norco College Rocketry, Outreach, and MESA students supported the event, helping to inspire the next generation of scientists. Funding for the lab experience was provided by the office of Courtney Doussett, Ed.D., Dean of Instruction, Natural Sciences, Health, and Kinesiology.
This long-standing event aims to introduce local elementary students to higher education and STEM pathways, highlighting first-generation college students and women in STEM as role models.