UC Merced Magazine | Volume XIX, Issue V

Academy and helping with the interactive weeklong sessions for kids. Biviana Oseguera has been working in the CalTeach Learning Lab for two years as a fellow through the College Corps program. With her STEM-based lessons and love for research, the h-year physics major from Merced takes pride in knowing she is instilling a sense of excitement and curiosity that extends CalTeach is rooted in the joy I nd when students show genuine fascination with STEM, mirroring my own childhood curiosity,” Oseguera said. “CalTeach beyond the classroom. “My connection with

educators to ensure they have needed classroom support. Advocates have also been pivotal in providing philanthropic support that enabled CalTeach to create and operate programs that o ered math and science teachers access to professional development opportunities. Initial funding from longtime UC Merced partner Educational Employees Credit Union (EECU) allowed CalTeach to establish its Summer Institute for Valley Teachers. “Teachers and school administrators founded EECU, and so education is an important part of our history,” said EECU President and CEO Elizabeth J. Dooley. “We support the CalTeach program because it provides innovative resources and services to help solve the shortage of teachers in STEM elds. CalTeach encourages students to combine their passion for STEM with a career in teaching, where they can in turn inspire the next generation of innovators — and that bene ts us all.”

Learning Lab visitors conduct scientific experiments, top, and build race cars out of juice boxes, bottom.

has not only impacted students I’ve taught but has ignited my passion for inspiring the next generation of STEM enthusiasts. I’ve come to appreciate the in uence that mentorship and educational support can have on shaping the future of aspiring scientists and engineers.” A er graduating in the spring, Oseguera plans to continue in academia and would love the opportunity to teach at an undergraduate level to help students nd the paths they want to take, while also introducing programs like the Learning Lab. CalTeach’s ability to continually evolve and expand its o erings has been made possible in no small part through the generosity of UC Merced donors committed to the program’s mission. Scholarships provide direct funding to students enrolled and participating in CalTeach as well as to early-career

Irvin Mendoza hadn’t given much thought to becoming a teacher during his rst few years at UC Merced. e fourth-year psychology major from San Jacinto joined CalTeach 2½ years ago as a social media intern and later became an instructor in the Learning Lab. In that time, he started understanding how much impact he was having on the young learners and how much they were in uencing him. “I knew CalTeach was doing something right when students who feel like they have never been good at school nally nd interest in something that we teach them,” said Mendoza. “Our students leave the classroom with smiles on their faces and tell us how much of a good time they had during their visit. It’s moments like these that have pushed me to want to become a teacher.” His time with CalTeach will continue even a er he graduates in May. He plans to keep serving his community by working in the Bobcat Summer STEM

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