When Natalia Alvarado heard about the Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers program from her mother, Minas Alvarado, she had no interest in attending. Creative by nature, she participated in fine arts and drama in middle school, but with her mother’s persistent encouragement, she reluctantly agreed to take part in the four-week camp.
Houston Christian University (HCU) joined forces with Verizon as one of 45 HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) and community colleges offering the innovative camp to create a more diverse pipeline of students for future careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.
From June 5-June 30, Natalia Alvarado and 149 other middle schoolers from Houston-area schools engaged in a hands-on learning experience on the HCU campus that immersed students in an in-depth exploration of a variety of technologies, including design thinking, 3D printing, augmented reality, social entrepreneurship and mentorship.
Captivated at the onset of camp, Natalia Alvarado, a seventh-grade student at Holy House Academy, was not only transformed by the experience, but her team won the program’s business pitch competition where students were challenged to use technology to solve a problem in the community.
“As an individual, I don’t have much experience with STEM, so this (program) has really broadened my horizons. I specifically enjoyed the virtual reality and the entrepreneurship aspect of this camp,” said Natalia Alvarado.
She and team members pitched their business idea to a panel of judges from the IDEAStudio at Houston Community College’s West Houston Institute.
“I think that the most exciting part about this program is the growth of the middle school students. They are asked to come up with a creative solution of a problem they see in society using technology,” said Brenda Brombacher, director of the HCU McNair Center for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise.
Natalia Alvarado’s mother described the opportunity as a “life-changing experience.”
“The most exciting part is seeing the development of my daughter Natalia. She was not interested in technology and ... it's just opened another avenue for her. The fall of 2023, everything's changed. She's looking for coding classes. She's looking for STEM classes. She's looking for programming classes. My daughter has been exposed to something that I don't think we could have otherwise done for her,” said Minas Alvarado.
Inspired by the camp experience, Natalia Alvarado is looking for ways to integrate technology into her life.
“As humanity progresses, technology advances, this is where the world is going and I just want to get my foot in the door,” she said.
Marlin Davis, an engineer with Verizon, spoke to program participants at the conclusion of camp and encouraged students to build on their experience.
“I believe that's what the camp experience is all about, fostering an environment where the students can be their most creative, dream without limits and tap into their wildest imaginations. As these students continue their journeys, I hope that their biggest takeaway is to continue to aspire and achieve higher, because they can do it all,” said Davis.
Coordinators and students, inspired and empowered by the experience, also shared the impact of the innovative camp.
“This is a four-week program where middle school students from all across Houston come together. They don't know each other at the beginning of camp, but at the end of camp they are creating a community where they're learning how to interact with other students and learning about technology,” said Brombacher.
“The most interesting thing about being here is seeing the kids showcase what they have been working on for the past two days. They have been putting together a creative prototype and working on how to create a pitch and present it,” said Melanie Martinsen, teaching assistant at Houston Christian University.
“Just being able to explain and just share knowledge that I've learned and being able to help these middle schoolers who are half my age be able to learn the things that I'm learning in college and for free, it's just an amazing opportunity,” said Mason Robertson, camp leader at Houston Christian University.
“I’ve always been interested in STEM. I am really good with math and it just came naturally. I would like to be a businessman and have multiple businesses in the future. I don't know which businesses yet, but hopefully they are successful,” said Andrew Moore, seventh grader, McReynolds Middle School.
“What I like about STEM is pretty much I'm a fan of mathematics myself and I like engineering because my dad's an engineer. When I grow up, I want to be an architect. I like the teachers and I especially like 3D printing,” said Ali Salih, fifth grader, Arabic Immersion Magnet School.
“Each student is a part of an amazing opportunity not every student can experience. The knowledge and experience gained, the friendships created and ideas shared can never be taken away. With all these experiences, please stay confident in your dreams and ideas and stay disciplined in striving for success,” said Terrance Gates, Verizon engineer.
