EIS Named California Nonprofit of the Year 2023
Executive Director Pedro Cevallos (center) and EIS supporter and alum Evonne Smith (left) accepted the award from Assemblymember Weber (right) .
EIS was named California Nonprofit of the Year for the 79th District through a nomination by Assemblymember Akilah Weber. We are honored to have this recognition for providing high quality science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education to southeastern San Diego for more than 50 years.
Every year, California Assemblymembers and State Senators honor a Nonprofit of the Year for their district. The award helps bring attention and recognition to local nonprofits that illustrate the remarkable diversity and vibrancy of California nonprofits that are often overlooked.
Welcome New Board Members Sidiqa Hooker and Alicia Johal
EIS is elated to introduce two new members on our Board of Directors. They will join a passionate and talented team of volunteers who are committed to supporting equitable education in southeastern San Diego.
Sidiqa Hooker is a Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at Solar Turbines. She currently works as an Early Talent organizational development manager where she recruits, leads events as well as strategizes and implements process improvements for the business that allows students to land internships and full time opportunities within Mechanical, Aerospace and Electrical engineering roles at Solar Turbines. Sidiqa feels being able to volunteer with EIS is a full circle opportunity.
“As a native to Southeast San Diego, I want to stay connected to my community and help bridge the gap by helping to nurture local youth in the neighborhood into STEM fields.” – Sidiqa Hooker
Alicia Johal M.Ed. is the Middle School Dean of Academics at San Diego Jewish Academy. As a former EIS instructor, Alicia wants support the impact EIS makes on the San Diego community. After graduating from UC San Diego in 2010, Alicia was hired as a summer biology and computer science instructor and continued at EIS until 2012.
“EIS solidified my “why” because this organization and community taught me how STEM and computer science education can cultivate equitable learning spaces for students. I went on to become a middle school science and robotics teacher and here I am, 13 years later, as a middle school administrator who is still championing EIS and the work this organization does to create and sustain meaningful STEM and computer science programs accessible to all.” – Alicia Johal
EIS is deeply grateful for support and guidance of our Board of Directors, both past and present. Thank you for being an integral part of our success.
Steps-2-STEM Wraps Up Another Year!
Steps-2-STEM at EIS is wrapping up another amazing year with Lincoln Cluster Elementary Schools.
Thank you to our talented and caring instructors, partners and funders for your support of equity in education. Together we are inspiring future generations to see themselves as capable of learning STEM subjects, to be inquisitive, and to explore the world around them.
Since our first class in 2016, EIS has served 8,390 elementary students with 20-25 hours of quality hands-on STEM. Steps-2-STEM is provided at no cost to fourth and fifth grade students thanks to support from our generous funders. Learn more at eisca.org/step-2-stem.
EIS Students Won a Pizza Party for their Compost Poster Design!
EIS Thursday after school students won the Grand Prize of a Composting Art Contest sponsored by Millipore Sigma. Students designed a creative and educational compost poster.
Janita Griffin-Coleman, EHS&S Manager, Viral Vectors Manufacturing from Millipore Sigma celebrated with students on Thursday with a Pizza party! EIS students have been learning about composting in our botany class. A great big THANK YOU to Janita (pictured above in the green shirt) who is also an alum of EIS. Millipore Sigma is a biotech company with a location here in San Diego.
#BeThatGirl Mentorship Program for High School Girls!
Help Make STEM Camp the Highlight of Summer
The Mathemagician Homework Club
If you would like to participate, email info@mathemagiciansclub.com. Include your email, your child’s grade, and math concepts they are working on (or share an attachment of their homework). Mentors will offer help, more practice problems or worksheets. This includes SAT math help as well. They will monitor this email daily so you don’t have to wait until Saturday to ask for help.
The Mathemagicians App is here! In addition to joining the Mathemagicians every Saturday for math tutoring, students can now practice math on the new app. It’s available for free at the “Apple App Store” for download. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mathemagicians/id1557607923
Have you participated in programs or volunteered at the Elementary Institute of Science?
Whether you’re still in high school, college, working or retired, we want to know what you’ve been up to and if you have thoughts about any impact EIS had on your life or career. Please send an email to our Development Assistant, Leah Oviedo at loviedo@eisca.org.
EIS alumni are invited to join our official group to reconnect and stay updated on future reunions. Facebook.com/groups/AlumniConnectEIS