Carmel High partners with Stanford to help underrepresented students break into STEM careers
Michelle Titterton realized while in college and after working in the energy sector for 15 years that there is a glaring scarcity of female and minority workers in engineering and science fields.
Women, certain minorities and students with disabilities are underrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers, said Titterton, now chair of Carmel Catholic High School's science department.
"It's a pipeline issue," she said. "We can do a lot at the high-school level."
It's why the Mundelein school is participating in Stanford University's STEP-UP program, which aims to reduce barriers for underrepresented minorities, first-generation college-goers and disadvantaged students interested in pursuing a major in STEM fields. The program is funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Carmel is the only Illinois school participating in Stanford's program.
The STEP-UP program provides hands-on summer research experience for high school students from racial/ethnic groups and disadvantaged backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research fields. Participating students receive a $1,000 stipend and support from members of Stanford's science faculty who connect with them via Zoom webinars to discuss research projects. This year, five Carmel students have been accepted into the program and are working on projects related to mental health, air quality and environmental justice.
"We are researching about depression and anxiety during COVID times," said Carmel sophomore Alessandra Gonzalez, 16, of Waukegan.
Gonzalez wants to become a forensic scientist, and Stanford is one of her dream schools because of its academics and volleyball team. Being part of the STEP-UP program gives her exposure to scientists in the field, she added.
"I love that program," Gonzalez said. "Becoming a better student would help me get more scholarships to be able to attend that school."
Sophomore Roger Vargas, 15, also of Waukegan, said the program has expanded his perspective about prospective careers in engineering.
"This program kind of exposed me to mechanical engineering," he said. "My research project is (about) how much pollution a car adds to the world. I'm just trying to find out how we can all live in the world more productively, effectively without hurting the earth."
Titterton said the goal is to start with ninth- and 10th-graders. She hopes to grow the partnership with Stanford and expand the program to more students next year.
"We want to really encourage (students) at the start of their high school career, providing them a path to a possible career in science," Titterton said. "We know that these jobs are good careers for women and minorities. We, at Carmel, can build that pipeline."