By Trimmel Gomes, Florida News Connection
In Summary:
Central Florida families are exploring careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and healthcare through the Hispanic Access Foundation’s free bilingual Pathways to Science program. The initiative connects students and their families with professionals in industries such as aerospace and medicine through hands-on activities and interactive learning experiences. Organizers hope the program will spark curiosity, expand awareness of career opportunities, and inspire the next generation of STEM and healthcare professionals.
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A Central Florida program is helping Latino students and their families explore careers in STEM and health care in both English and Spanish during summer vacation.
Yashira Valentin Feliciano, STEM program manager for the Hispanic Access Foundation, said the effort gives families access to career opportunities they might not otherwise encounter.
“It’s giving access to communities that otherwise probably wouldn’t have seen career pathways that even myself I hadn’t heard about,” Valentin Feliciano explained. “For example, if you’re in a hospital, there are people sterilizing the equipment before surgery.”
The initiative brings professionals, including engineers from the space technology company Blue Origin and a rheumatologist, to community events. At a talk Monday, students created rockets, asked questions and learned directly from experts.
Events are free and open to all. Families can track the upcoming schedule by following the Hispanic Access Foundation on social media.
Valentin Feliciano stressed the program is not a summer camp but a series of episodic events throughout the year, with more activities when school is out of session. Valentin Feliciano added the goal is to spark curiosity and inspire the next generation of health and science professionals.
“It’s a free program,” Valentin Feliciano emphasized. “We are super intentional and interested in inviting the whole community, the whole family. If you want to bring your grandma and your parents and your friends, it is a beautiful opportunity to engage, to learn science, to be in community.”
The foundation partners with the Renacer Foundation and is launching a virtual mentorship program this summer for students in grades 10-12. Professionals can also apply to be speakers.
Key Points:
- The Hispanic Access Foundation’s Pathways to Science program offers free STEM and healthcare career exploration opportunities for Central Florida families.
- Events are presented in English and Spanish and are open to students, parents, grandparents, and community members.
- Professionals from organizations, including Blue Origin and the healthcare field, participate as guest speakers and mentors.
- Students engage in hands-on activities such as building rockets and learning about scientific careers directly from experts.
- A new virtual mentorship program for students in grades 10-12 is scheduled to launch this summer.
Keywords
STEM education,
Hispanic Access Foundation,
Pathways to Science,
Central Florida students,
STEM careers,
Blue Origin,
healthcare careers,
bilingual education,
science education,
mentorship program,
Latino students,
community education,
STEM learning,
Orlando education,
summer programs
