The Humboldt branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) sponsored four local middle school students to attend the 2025 Tech Trek Science Camp at Sonoma State University. This weeklong science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) camp offered hands-on learning experiences, access to female scientists as role models and exposure to a range of science-based careers.
This year’s sponsored students were Alia Collins and Soraya Cabrales from Sunnybrae Middle School, Carlie Moore from Fortuna Middle School and Neva Herrera from Pacific Union (Arcata). Each was nominated by their science teachers in recognition of their aptitudes and interest in STEM-related topics and then selected based on written applications and interviews.
All four reported back that they enjoyed being challenged to try something new that they likely would not have done on their own, and noted that the experience gave them the opportunity to feel what it would be like to be a college student. Soraya talked about the interesting lectures in engineering and astronomy and how much she learned in her core class in aerospace. Alia enjoyed being introduced to soldering techniques while making a flashlight and learning the difference between parallel and series circuits in her electrical engineering class. Neva’s favorite part was her core class in forensics, where she had the chance to figure out who killed a “victim.” Learning all the parts of a flower in her botany class and going stargazing were the highlights for Carlie.
The AAUW Tech Trek program was initiated in California in 1998 to develop girls’ interest, excitement, and self-confidence in STEM fields. The Humboldt chapter’s participation was organized by Eureka resident Gail Freeman in 2001 in memory of her daughter Susan Freeman, who had been a leading STEM educator in the county.
AAUW-H supports the AAUW’s mission to advance gender equity through research, education, and advocacy. In addition to sponsoring local students at Tech Trek, the branch provides scholarships to women re-entering Cal Poly Humboldt as upper division or graduate students and offers awards to students from the county’s continuation high schools. It also hosts monthly meetings to promote community engagement. For more information, visit humboldt-ca.aauw.net.
The above was submitted by the Humboldt branch of the American Association of University Women.
This article appears in My Humboldt Life September 2025.