Chapman University partners with Girls Inc. to inspire STEM careers
In a new partnership with Girls Inc. of Orange County, Chapman University’s Fowler School of Engineering is helping girls prepare for careers in engineering and other STEM fields. Girls Inc. is a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring girls to be strong, smart and bold.
The collaboration brought girls who are just starting high school to the Chapman campus to participate in the school’s annual Summer Engineering Academy. During the sessions at Chapman, the girls were able to work on projects that included machine learning, coding, Arduino programming, and design and fabrication. For many of these girls, this was their first exposure to these cutting-edge technologies, setting the stage for their future in STEM.
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Anna Gianina Reynolds, senior STEM coordinator at Girls Inc., highlighted the significance of this collaboration.
“We strive to partner with institutions like Chapman University to introduce our girls to STEM fields and provide them with practical, hands-on experience,” she said. “Seeing them work on real-world projects and witnessing their growth in confidence and STEM identity throughout the week was truly inspiring.”
The opportunity to learn from Chapman’s engineering students – many of whom are women – added another layer of inspiration.
“Women are still underrepresented in STEM fields, so having female role models in this space was invaluable for our girls. It allowed them to envision a future where they too can succeed in these fields,” Reynolds said.
The Summer Engineering Academy is open to all high school students in the community. For more information, visit chapman.edu/sea.
– Submitted by Carly Murphy, Chapman University
Laguna Beach nonprofit Heartfelt screens 60,000th person
Heartfelt, a Laguna Beach-based nonprofit organization, achieved a remarkable milestone by screening its 60,000th heart at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School (SMES) in San Juan Capistrano. This extraordinary achievement illustrates Heartfelt’s unwavering commitment to early detection and prevention. It marks more than 25 years of dedication to community health and early detection.
Heartfelt has partnered with SMES for well over a decade, providing critical cardiac screenings that have saved numerous lives.
“We are thrilled to reach this achievement while at St. Margaret’s,” said Holly Morrell, founder of Heartfelt. “Our joint efforts have made a real difference in the community, and this accomplishment is a testament to that impact.”
Earlier this year, Heartfelt received additional recognition when the City of Laguna Beach honored the organization with a proclamation, designating it as an Extraordinary Business for its significant contributions to public health and safety.
Heartfelt’s screenings have led to numerous life-saving discoveries, including recent cases involving a 4-year-old boy, an 11-year-old girl and a 55-year-old woman, all of whom had critical heart conditions detected early through the nonprofit’s efforts. These examples underscore the essential role Heartfelt plays in providing accessible, affordable cardiac screenings to the Orange County community.
– Submitted by Heartfelt
Maple Elementary TK classroom receives Reggio-inspired makeover
Some of Fullerton School District’s youngest learners have started the new school year at one of its oldest campuses. For many, it’s their first classroom experience in a modern learning environment with historical roots.
Maple Elementary School’s new Reggio-inspired transitional kindergarten (TK) classroom was developed and provided in partnership with School Specialty, a provider of educational products for school campuses.
“Reggio-inspired,” short for the “Reggio Emilia approach,” refers to an educational philosophy that emphasizes a child-centered, exploration-based learning environment. The Reggio Emilia approach is named after a town in Northern Italy where the community decided to use post-World War II stimulus funds to invest in education.
Centered on the Reggio Emilia idea that children are naturally curious and capable learners, the classroom at Maple Elementary is designed to nurture these qualities by encouraging active participation, imaginative play and social interaction. According to educational experts, such environments are particularly beneficial for young children, helping them develop essential skills in critical thinking, creativity and social-emotional learning.
“In the Reggio philosophy, the learning environment is the third teacher,” said Maple Elementary TK teacher Katie Bezayiff.
Bezayiff is one of the California League of Educators’ 2024 Educators of the Year. Correspondingly, she was chosen to have her classroom participate in the School Specialty remodel due to her exemplary work in early childhood education.
Bezayiff’s new TK room is filled with flexible furniture, natural materials and spaces designed for hands-on learning, hallmarks of the Reggio Emilia method.
Ladera Ranch dads and daughters embark on a pool crawl
Ladera Ranch dads, daughters and their families met at Town Green to hold the fifth annual RainbowSky Expedition Pool Crawl. The four-location pool crawl included games and activities, such as a watermelon race and a belly flop competition.
“It’s a fun way to kick off the start of the year, which will have 10 events for the father/daughter organization,” said dad Shon Engle. “RainbowSky will host 10 events throughout the year, including camping.”
Participants rode bikes and scooters to multiple pools, staying approximately 15 minutes at each location. The bike crawl concluded at the Covenant Hills Village Clubhouse, where food and more games awaited the 100-person group after its annual start-of-the-year meeting.
The event was a huge success. Dads, daughters, families and friends shared a wonderful afternoon and got the new season/year off to a great start.
– Submitted by David Robertson
The Bravo! section highlights achievements of our residents and groups. Send news of achievements for consideration to [email protected].
