Congratulations to Kai Polaski!
Congratulations to Kai Polaski, recipient of a $1,000 STARBASE alumni scholarship. “What I remember about STARBASE was team building and coming together with others to
STARBASE Class of 2013, Pursuing Mechanical Engineering
In 2013, Christian Agaba and his class from Battle Creek Elementary attended STARBASE. As a 5th grade student, he wrote “I learned about how Mars is different than Earth and I learned that if we were to go to Mars, what things we would need and how to prevent the dangers of Mars to go on effect on us. You don’t always get everything right on the first try. You have to follow the engineering design process [EDP] to get something you are making to perfection.”
Today, Christian has opportunities to practice the engineering design process as a Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Minnesota. He explained that his experience at STARBASE was incredibly impactful and helped him steer toward his future in STEM!
With an intensive course load this semester, we asked Christian how he will get through difficult classes. He explained that reaching out to others, even if they don’t know the answers, is reassuring. You know you’re not alone and can work together to search for resources. He appreciates hearing different perspectives and working through challenges with classmates, especially when working in Materials Science!
Sharing his wisdom with this year’s class of STARBASE students, Christian says “Keep your imagination open and wild as you keep growing up. We need bright thinkers in the future!”
Christian is a recent recipient of a STARBASE Minnesota Scholarship funded by Collins Aerospace in 2022-23 awarded to STARBASE alumni enrolled in post-secondary education and we are proud to support him as he pursues greatness in STEM. We know he will do great things!
STARBASE Class of 2014, Pursuing Rehabilitation Services
For Arlie, a former STARBASE student from Skyview Elementary, being hands-on is the best way to learn. Arlie came to STARBASE with a callsign of “Cat 13” and she is a recipient of a $1,000 scholarship funded by the STARBASE Board of Directors. Arlie is a sophomore at University of Wisconsin- Stout which she chose because it is a polytechnic program, meaning it is hands-on in the STEM fields, just like how she remembers STARBASE being. The impact of STARBASE on “Cat 13” was lasting and she still has a team photo of her from when she was here which she proudly shared when talking about her experience.
Arlie is a Rehabilitation Services major who plans to go into Pediatric Physical Therapy so she can help others get back to feeling themselves and help them get their confidence back. “For each patient, I want them to be able to be kids and run around with other kids.” She has been a runner since seventh grade competing in the mile run, the 3K, and the steeple chase. Arlie states that being a runner “encouraged my health science interest and got me familiar with rehabbing injuries.” Her favorite and most challenging class right now is her Anatomy and Physiology course where she finds it interesting to learn about the basics of the body and how things connect. She is looking forward to future classes that talk about how the body recovers from injury.
In all the photos of “Cat 13” at STARBASE, she is beaming and taking charge of her learning. She states that STARBASE “gave me an interest in science which helped me to explore the
options of all the different types of science” and now she is studying in the health sciences. Arlie works hard and is pursuing a degree in what she is passionate about. She knows that “you have to put in the work, but it is a rewarding career getting to help get people back to doing what they want again.” Arlie is pursuing a career in the STEM field, noting that STEM is important because “you see it in everyday life and what we are doing today in STEM will affect the next generation.” In health sciences, she knows math will help to measure progress in strength and joint motions and new technologies will help people recover faster.
Outside of her class load and two to three hours of training for track and cross country a day, Arlie works as a swimming instructor, finds time to volunteer at her church, and she has enjoyed getting to babysit for family friends. These experiences have led her down the path of pediatric physical therapy which is the area she hopes to pursue with a master’s degree. She notes that she likes working with her hands and has spent time in a workshop with her dad where she can express her creativity and build things.
STARBASE is excited to see the impact that Arlie will have on her patients and on those around her. Congratulations on your $1,000 scholarship, Arlie!
STARBASE Class of 2015, Pursuing Construction Management
At Achieve Language Academy, STARBASE was everyone’s favorite time of the year, including Angelina Losoya, most recent recipient of one of STARBASE Minnesota’s $1,000 scholarships for alumni. Angelina, callsign “Ray Ray”, remembers the hands-on opportunities of STARBASE, working together as a team with her classmates, programming robots, and being mesmerized by the capabilities of the 3D printers. She believes that STARBASE spoke to her desire to be hands-on and encouraged her to design, be creative, and explore ideas of what she could build in the world. Even though she didn’t know it at the time, Angelina feels she is now pursuing a career that aligns so well with what she did at STARBASE.
In her post-secondary journey, Angelina briefly pursued sonography at Concordia University before realizing that what she really wanted was to be able to build, draw, and be hands on. “I knew I wanted to go into some kind of construction job or trades, I was just scared to step into it, especially with so few women, let alone Latina women, in the field.” She went on to explain, “They don’t really tell you about the trades in school. But when we went to STARBASE, it showed us there are so many other jobs out there in the world and seeing people already in those careers gave me confidence.” Angelina trusted her instincts and went about changing the narrative.
She is now well down the path in “the trades” which she loves. While she enjoys courses at Dakota County Technical College, including her favorite class, Intro to Construction Management, she also works over 40 hours/week as an Assistant Manager for Menards where she gets more experience, including learning to drive a forklift, one of the only females to help with all the heavy lifting needed in her department.
Angelina is a dedicated and hard-working young woman who began working at age 14 to help support her mom and younger sister, buying her own car to drive her and her sister to school and pitching in with household bills when she could. One of her greatest achievements has been her ability to work and go to school while staying on the A honor roll for most of her semesters in high school and so far in college. She makes sure that her schooling and work don’t interfere with one another, keeping her grades up and growing in her job. Ultimately, she seems to be handling both well, being awarded Menard’s Employee of the Month within the first few months while earning As in school.
As STARBASE instructors shared photos from her 4th and 5th grade years at STARBASE, Angelina’s face lit up even more as memories flooded back. She is a fierce advocate for the STARBASE experience for young students and thrilled to learn about the program advancements and see the new, expanded STARBASE STEM career website. Asked what advice she would give to students, Angelina said, “When you think of STEM, don’t automatically think of it as hard math – it is math that makes sense and solves a problem. STARBASE creates the best of memories for students while in school.” Little did she know at the time how the lessons at STARBASE helped prepare her for where she wanted to be 10 years later. Yet, somehow deep inside she must have known when she forecasted on her post-survey, “science and engineering might come in handy in life”. And, so it has.
Congratulations, Angelina, on receiving this scholarship and breaking barriers!
STARBASE Class of 2013, Pursuing Biology
“What I remember about STARBASE was team building and coming together with others to figure out problems. STARBASE helped me to communicate with others where things have gone wrong and helped me form better relationships with new people.” Kai Polaski, better known to us at STARBASE by the callsigns “Landscape” and “Sasuke” is now a STARBASE Minnesota Scholarship recipient who attended STARBASE with his classes from Achieve Language Academy. This scholarship is funded by Collin’s Aerospace for former STARBASE students enrolled in post-secondary education.
At STARBASE, Kai remembers vividly “being shot back with a burst of air from an orange device when learning about air pressure.” After STARBASE built and launched rockets with his class, he went to the hobby store to purchase more rockets to launch! At the time, he thought it was so interesting to learn how things work together to operate. When he discovered biology and physiology, he realized his passion has always been learning how things work. From rockets to the human body, Kai will reach great heights learning how things work to improve the human experience in his career.
Between a part time job at CVS working in the pharmacy and a full course load, Kai is keeping busy. He completed two years at Century Community College before transferring over to the University of Minnesota to finish his bachelor’s degree in Biology, Society, and Environments. Growing up with a mother who is a doctoral nurse practitioner, he would hear her talking and diagnosing patients, giving them advice about what they could do to help manage their diabetes. At CVS, he also gets to see pharmacists problem solve, calm customers, and explain how certain medications will work for them. After his undergraduate degree is complete, Kai plans to pursue a doctorate in dentistry, optometry, or dermatology. Each of those pathways have been sparked by real-world issues he’s seen, such as when he goes to the gym and observing effects on skin. He knows he has time before he has to make this decision because of the different rotations he’ll go through in medical school. He looks forward to those experiences to help identify which will be the most interesting to him and that draw in his attention.
A message from Kai to future STARBASE students: “Enjoy your time at STARBASE and when you find something that interests you, think about pursuing it in the future.”
Congratulations, Kai, on your scholarship! STARBASE Minnesota knows the amount of lives you’ll impact in your medical pursuits and we are proud of your endeavors in the STEM field.
STARBASE Class of 2015, Pursuing Epidemiology
“I don’t really think many 9- or 10-year-olds know what they want to do when they’re older, but after STARBASE I knew I was going to do something in science.” STARBASE alumni and Collins-Aerospace funded scholarship recipient, Cassie Christian, remembers how exciting and new learning was at STARBASE each day she walked in the door with her 4th and 5th grade Achieve Language Academy classes. She has a vivid memory of the Nanotechnology classroom she learned in, which was sponsored by Boston Scientific, and how there was a model of an artery with plaque and blood cells on the wall. Cassie thought having the computers inside the desks was the wildest thing ever, remembers programming robots, and even recounted an activity where you used cards to determine how best to spend resources on Mars.
At the University of Wisconsin – River Falls, Cassie’s busy taking courses in Microbiology, Lab Safety, Calculus, Spanish, and Theater. When asked about her favorite course, she excitedly responded “I was just looking at my course in microbiology and saw that there is a lecture on epidemiology on my birthday!” Cassie’s passion for STEM pours through in conversation. She pursues microbiology to have a wide base of science but plans to attend the University of Minnesota for a PhD in Epidemiology after graduation. She enjoys topics like virology and immunology, but in the long term wants to work as a Disease Detective to figure out why disease outbreaks have happened to prevent them from happening again.
Cassie is actively involved in many different activities outside of her full 19-hour course load pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology with a minor in Spanish at The University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She is vice president of Chemistry Club, a Chancellor student ambassador, has a part time job, is in a rock-climbing sports club and participates in Jiu Jitsu, and she even takes time to volunteer in her mom’s classroom sharing science with kids in the community. Cassie even kickstarted a Nobel Prize night, where she laid out the prizes in laymen’s terms to help shed light on the importance of these people’s contributions to humankind. She attributes her ability to be so involved to her good time management and ability to know when to say no when it’s too much! She dedicates time to her studies and makes space for those extra activities that her heart is called to. She hopes that, working in public health, her Spanish minor will allow her to be able to communicate better with more people.
This STARBASE alumni loves her pursuit of STEM because “STEM is interdisciplinary: there’s a little bit of physics, biology, everything. If you want to reach out to broaden your horizons in other branches of science, that is encouraged because scientists want what’s best for everyone else.” When asked for her advice to students coming to STARBASE, she replied “Soak up every moment, the knowledge you’ll gain, and every opportunity. You’ll see new things that you don’t see or have in your classroom so soak it all in.”
Cassie’s passion for people, for STEM, and for staying involved in the community will allow her to reach great heights. Not only does Cassie exude confidence, we have full confidence that she will contribute to discoveries and innovation that will help others in her future. Congratulations, Cassie, and best of luck in your pursuit of STEM!
STARBASE class of 2015, Pursuing Cosmetology and Sports Management
Jazmine Hawkins, who attended STARBASE most recently in
2015, with a callsign of “Rocky”, is now applying her entrepreneurial spirit and her leadership skills that she began to hone at STARBASE toward a future career in Cosmetology and Sports Management. She expects to graduate in 2025. Jazmine is a first-generation college student attending West Los Angeles College and is the latest recipient of a $1,000 scholarship thanks to Collins Aerospace!
Jazmine grew up playing sports and is currently playing both basketball and volleyball at West Los Angeles College. On the court she works
hard, and her mantra is “look good, feel good, play good.” This is
exactly where the intersection of Jazmine’s interest in cosmetology and sports management came to be, addressing an unmet need for female athletes. Jazmine noted just how much chemistry and math are involved in this applied area of STEM, noting that when she is working with clients, she must consider the different environments of the athletes. This impacts the chemical formula for product performance and for the athletes to feel their best, and ultimately play their best.
Much of this involves trial and error, Jazmine explained, something she remembers experiencing at STARBASE when she designed and tested her rocket. “With the first design, I failed miserably, but it was okay because I could go back, fix it, and try something new to see how it worked.” Jazmine credits STARBASE as the place where she learned you don’t have to be perfect, and you can learn from what doesn’t work. She is appreciative of the opportunities that STARBASE gave her as an elementary student. At STARBASE, “we had access to experiences and technologies that we otherwise wouldn’t have had.”
Jazmine is the oldest of four siblings, and all of them went through STARBASE and have fond, shared memories of their experiences at STARBASE. Being the oldest and first in her family to go to college, Jazmine realizes she is a role model for her siblings who see her going to college and are now starting to dream about their own futures. “Being Mexican American, we aren’t really told to go to college, and I didn’t want that to be my story”, Jazmine goes on to explain that extra education is so important and goes a very long way. That nurturing style and support that Jazmine has with her siblings also shines through with the coaching in volleyball and basketball that she does when she is not working to pay for college. It is also core to her pursuits in Sports Management to work with the whole athlete, emotional and physical. “My athletes will always know I see them”, Jazmine relayed, as she talked about the deep investment she has in them and will continue to have as she inspires and leads the next generation.
Congratulations to Jazmine on her $1,000 scholarship, which she truly deserves! We know that by her challenging herself as she has done throughout her schooling and life and by pursuing her dreams, she will change the lives of those around her for the better.
STARBASE Class of 2014, Pursuing Chemical Engineering
All it takes is a spark, and that spark ignited for Chayeng Moua when he came to STARBASE with his classmates from Farnsworth Elementary School in St. Paul. As a 5th grader with a call sign of “Apollo”, Chayeng learned computer-aided design, (CAD), and applied it to building and testing a rocket prototype. “STARBASE piqued my curiosity to continue exploring the fields of science, eventually leading me to discover my passion for chemical engineering combined with 3D printing.” He continued to 3D print models in middle school and high school and was excited to learn that there was a 3D printing lab at the University of Minnesota where Chayeng is now a sophomore double majoring in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry.
Chayeng continued to be inspired in high school because he had a great chemistry teacher. At that point, his love of chemistry began to heighten, so he took Advanced Placement (AP) chemistry and Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) Chemistry. Taking these advanced courses helped land him at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities as a Chemical Engineering and Chemistry major. His current classes in Multivariable Calculus, Material and Energy, and Organic Chemistry are challenging, but interesting, allowing him to combine his passion for chemistry with making things.
Chayeng is the son of immigrants from Laos who have worked hard to build a life for their family in Minnesota and who are proud of him. To help take a break from his studies, Chayeng spends time with his friends and family who support him and “who have always encouraged me to pursue my interests and do well.” His four siblings, who all went through STARBASE, too, have been outstanding role models for him and have helped to influence applying his degree in the medical field. One sister is a nurse, one is in medical school studying to be a doctor, and a brother majored in computer science.
Chayeng also has an interest in sustainability and the environment and may pursue further education with a Master’s or a PhD.
When asked what advice he has for 5th graders going through the STARBASE program, Chayeng said, “Have at it! Explore what STARBASE has to offer and maybe you will find something that you love.” He also encourages parents to have their children experience the STARBASE program “in hopes that they find their own interests just like me and make unforgettable memories.” We know that with Chayeng’s passion, hard work, and determination, he will continue to do great things and we look forward to catching up with him in another few years to learn of his accomplishments. Congratulations, Chayeng!
One thing that makes STARBASE so unique is that the experiences and memories made here follow our students through their years of schooling and beyond. Daisy Arroyo Ambrosio, recipient of one $1,000 scholarship from STARBASE Minnesota funded by a special grant from Collins Aerospace, vividly remembers being a part of the Charlie team at STARBASE Minnesota and doing hands-on projects alongside her classmates. Daisy, callsigns “Starfish” and “Stary”, attended STARBASE in 2013 and 2014 with her classmates from Emerson Dual Language School in Minneapolis. Fortunate enough to still be in touch with former teachers, she learned of this annual scholarship through a former elementary teacher of hers who had been attending STARBASE recently with her current group of 5th grade students. She recalls, “STARBASE was the first time I experienced and learned about the field of STEM”.
Daisy will graduate in May of 2025 from St. Catherine University. She is a first-generation college student, pursuing a degree in nursing. One of her biggest goals is to land her dream job in labor and delivery or with the pediatric population. Her interest in nursing grew after her mother gave birth to her youngest sister 6 years ago. She felt she had an opportunity to care for her in those postpartum days the same way her mother had done for her her whole life. Being a part of a maternity clinic and assigned to the nursery reinforced and cemented her passion for this career path. During her time at STARBASE, she learned problem solving and critical thinking skills that she applies to her current career pursuits. “Even though I was young, I was able to practice those skills and then eventually connect those skills with my interest in nursing.” She recalls the power of teamwork at STARBASE and how she now is working towards such a team-oriented career.
As a third-year student at St. Catherine University where Daisy is taking courses in Pathophysiology, Nursing Interventions, Healthcare Teams, and Application of Theory in Nursing Practice, she is hoping to complete an internship at M Health Fairview’s Masonic Children’s Hospital or The Birthplace at M Health Fairview in 2024. Daisy hopes to graduate with a high GPA and complete her clinical rotations in various units to gain a diverse experience of opportunities. Beyond her coursework, Daisy is an on-call resident aide at an area nursing home and is a College Possible community leader. College Possible’s college access and success programs help to empower students from under-represented communities on their path to a college degree. See https://collegepossible.org/ for more information.
STARBASE Minnesota is proud to award this alumna with this scholarship and know that her patients will always be in her good care. After hearing the news that she was being awarded the scholarship, she stated “I’m thankful for the memories at STARBASE like completing hands on experiences. Those were core memories for us as kids and we will remember them long into adulthood!” Daisy feels that receiving this scholarship will be a reminder of her childhood and of some of her favorite memories coming to STARBASE. “I never felt judged or made fun of while at STARBASE. Even when I made mistakes, I was in a safe environment.”
She is a wonderful role model to her younger sisters who can watch their big sister out conquering the world as the only person in their entire family pursuing a post-secondary degree. She feels lucky to have the chance to represent her family in this way by furthering her education.
When asked what advice she has for current and future STARBASE students, she said “Everything feels new. If you don’t know something, you can’t stay quiet. Be open-minded and participate!”
Congratulations, Daisy, and best of luck in your pursuit of STEM!
Dedicated, hard-working, persistent, positive, and determined are all words to describe STARBASE alumni Langston Butler. STARBASE Minnesota is proud to award him one of this year’s $1,000 scholarships, five funded by both Collin’s Aerospace and two by the STARBASE Minnesota Board of Directors, for former STARBASE students who attended STARBASE in elementary school and are currently enrolled in post-secondary education. Expressing his great appreciation, Langston said, “I wouldn’t expect that something I did so long ago could have an impact on my life right now.”
“The memories of exploring STEM subjects and launching rockets still resonate with me today. STARBASE ignited a spark within me, fueling my determination to excel in technology and math. I am immensely grateful for the opportunities and inspiration it provided, and STARBASE will forever remain a significant influence on my academic journey.”
Currently, Langston is a student at The University of Minnesota Twin Cities where he has big plans for his future. He keeps busy working 32-40 hours a week doing an overnight shift at an area hotel and has a full 18 credit course load. He’s taking classes in Family Policy, Community Engagement, Psychology, Family Theories, and Introduction to Personality working towards a bachelor’s degree in psychology and Family Social Science. Eventually, he would like to pursue a Juris Doctor degree in Family Law, aspiring to go beyond the legal realm to receive a doctoral degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.
Stumbling upon a quote early in college that really stuck with him, “Pick a career that you would do for free” Langston was steered toward therapy, counseling, and psychology. He wants to understand how people think, act, and feel so that he can be the person to listen and guide them through whatever they’re facing in life. “People are in pain, and I want to do what I can to help alleviate that.” Following a career path in psychology allows him to understand people and know their needs. After being overwhelmed by so many different career options, it only took one course in psychology to know the direction he wanted to move in. He will use his education to gain a foundation of understanding human behavior and family dynamics, giving him a basis to advocate for families and their well-being. Twenty years of age but wise beyond his years, Langston strives to use his academic and professional pursuits to “positively impact the lives of others, promoting understanding, empathy, and resilience.” He knows he can contribute to creating a happier and more compassionate world through his work.
Perusing through photos of STARBASE, Langston beamed with pride and excitement seeing his peers. He mentioned still spending time with many of those faces from all those years ago. “These memories are worth more than a million dollars to have; they are such keepsakes.”
When asked what advice Langston has for students as they come to STARBASE this year, he stated “You need to have fun, enjoy the experience. Just do it! Go for it.”
Congratulations to Langston. STARBASE Minnesota wishes him the best of luck in his future. We know he will do incredible things.
At the corner where hard work and perseverance meet, you’ll find Pheng Xiong. “STARBASE inspired me to think differently and achieve goals that others hadn’t considered at the time.” Pheng explained that when everyone at STARBASE was designing “normal” turbine blades at STARBASE, he was attempting to make his look like a flying pig. Even at an early age he was finding ways to think differently to reach his goals. We congratulate Pheng on being selected as a very deserving recipient of a STARBASE Minnesota Scholarship funded by Collins Aerospace in 2022-23 awarded to STARBASE alumni enrolled in post-secondary education.
Pheng attended STARBASE Minnesota with Farnsworth Aerospace Lower School in 2014 as a 4th grader with the callsign of “Pluto” and then again in 2015 as a 5th grader, called “Meteor.” Pheng remembered working with LEGO robots and, while launching rockets, thinking a 2-fin rocket would fly farther than a 3-fin rocket because it was lighter. As an elementary student he was determined to go to space as an astronaut. STARBASE inspired him to think outside of being an astronaut and it helped him to see other options.
On his post-flight survey, Pheng said, “I think STARBASE will help me with math and science more at school.” He now pursues a degree in computer science at The University of Minnesota with plans of inventing AI that surpasses what humans are capable of. And he is off to a great start. In his first semester as a freshman, he is a busy student with an array of honors classes including Honors Calculus II, Honors Physics, and Honors Intro to Programming Concepts. He is following in the footsteps of an inspirational uncle of his who immigrated here from Thailand, faced many challenges, and is now working in computer science. Pheng emphasized the impact of this scholarship, stating that he wants to “be my own person and take care of myself”.
When asked what advice he would give STARBASE students, Pheng encourages students to think about problems differently and to find the fun in all learning. That has been his angle of attack and it shows in his love of learning, in the classes and career path he has chosen, and in thinking big about the possibilities for the future. Congratulations, Pheng!
“I never expected STARBASE to have such an impact on my life all these years later,” exclaimed Gabriella Vanda, a first-year student at Century College and a recipient of one $1,000 scholarship from STARBASE Minnesota funded by a special grant from Collins Aerospace.
Gabriella was the first to graduate high school in her household and, as the oldest among her siblings, the first to go to college, too. She was the top 100 in her high school class graduating with an A- average. “That was a really big step for me and my family. I wanted to show my younger sisters that if I can do it, they can make a good future for themselves, too.”
When recalling her time at STARBASE with Battle Creek Elementary School, she said “I remember designing a rocket with 3D-printed fins. It was cool watching the 3D printer make our stuff. I loved seeing my ideas come to life in front of me.” When at STARBASE, she went by the call sign “Paris” because of her love of France. She still dreams of taking a trip to France one day with an aunt who has had a great influence on her life. Although she felt science wasn’t always her strongest class, she said that “the hands-on activities at STARBASE really made me like science a lot more: STARBASE expanded what I wanted to be.” Now, Gabriella is on a path towards a STEM career as a student at Century College.
Growing up, Gabriella loved watching documentaries and true crime. As a sophomore at Tartan Senior High School, she learned about the career of forensic science in class and was so excited to explore more about it. Presently, she is pursuing her Associates Degree at Century College, taking courses in Ethics, Physical Geography, Police and the Community, and the Criminal Justice System. She mentioned that this field of forensics and crime scene work has consistently drawn her attention, even as she has been moving through her general education classes. In the future, she will continue her education with a 4-year degree in Criminal Justice or forensic science. She envisions being a part of a team of people solving a crime to bring justice and give peace to families.
Gabriella’s kind and caring attributes and desire to help others began in high school when she began volunteering with The Waters of Oakdale: Assisted Living and Memory Care and The Boys and Girls Club. On both ends of the life journey, she loved creating a bond with the elderly during BINGO and reading books, handing out snacks, and interacting
with kids in games. Due to her good grades and work within the community, as a senior in high school she was asked to be a part of the National Honor Society.
In her Intro to the Criminal Justice System class, she commented that she just completed a report about policing in MN. With everything going on in the world right now, she sees this career path as a way to make change and have a positive impact on the world. She says that
she loves her smaller class sizes at Century and that there is really good
balance of gender diversity in the classes and field she is pursuing.
When asked what advice she would give to students as they come to STARBASE, she said “Make the most of your time there. That week goes so fast. Have fun. Don’t make it too serious, and have fun with the people you’re with.” Even Gabriella remembers all the teamwork that takes place in a week at STARBASE!
In awarding Gabriella this scholarship, she beamed and replied “Thank you so much for this opportunity. All my hard work is paying off and I know I will be able to make a difference in the world.”
Gabriella has poured energy and value into her education and will continue to impact the world and community with her pursuit of helping right social and criminal injustices. She has a passion for learning and for people that will guide her through her future career.
Congratulations, Gabriella!
STARBASE has a lasting impact on students who come through the program, and this could not be more true for “Secret Agent 22 Jr”, Ben Broich, the most recent recipient of a $1,000 scholarship from STARBASE Minnesota funded by a special grant from Collins Aerospace. Ben attributes his love for hands-on STEM to STARBASE and still has his rocket that he built in 5th grade. He loved the experiments at STARBASE and said the experience felt like magic to him. Fast forward 8 years to today as Ben is pursuing a Chemical Engineering degree at the University of Minnesota and aspires to help others and make a difference in the world by making processes more productive and efficient.
Secret agent 22 Jr attests that “STARBASE helped me to grasp the
idea of what it meant to be an engineer and inspired me to begin solving problems in systematic ways.” As a 5th grader at STARBASE, he was able to conduct experiments that were hands-on and that sparked his interest and made him want to do more. “If I hadn’t had that experience, I don’t know that I would have known that I really wanted to pursue STEM.”
Chemical engineering degrees require some challenging courses and Ben is facing them head on. When he was in high school, Ben found himself drawn to chemistry and felt that is what he wanted to do as far as a career. Ben felt that adding engineering would open more pathways for him, however, he is still deciding if he wants to do more chemical research or more on the industrial side.
When he is not studying or attending classes, Ben enjoys rock climbing, trap shooting, and working with the Solar Vehicle Project at the University of Minnesota. As a team, they are working towards completing their fifteenth car to race in the 2023 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, which will take place in Australia. Specifically, Ben is part of the solar array subteam, and is currently working closely with club members, as well as 3M personnel to finish encapsulating the solar cell modules that will soon be wired onto the car.
“I hope to influence the trajectory of the world and create an environment that is safe, as well as effective.” Ben wants to pursue a STEM career because he wants a hands-on career where he is able to find solutions to problems that arise. Even back in 5th grade, Secret Agent 22 Jr wrote that “it is important to learn science and engineering because you might run into a problem that involves them.” He wants to make a change in the world by improving the processes of how things, such as medicines, are made. Ben hopes to secure an internship at 3M to continue to learn in the field and have that hands-on learning before graduating with his Chemical Engineering degree and potential Master’s degree in Materials Science.
Congratulations to Ben on receiving this scholarship! We can’t wait to see the difference that you are going to make in this world!
Alexander Vang, callsign “Batman”, loved the teamwork he experienced at STARBASE back in 2014. Along with his classmates from Farnsworth Aerospace Elementary School, he remembers having his STARBASE instructor’s encouragement while designing his rocket fin in CAD. Today, Alex has just begun his pursuit of higher education at St. Paul College, where he loves the teamwork approach. He says the faculty emphasize communication and working together to achieve goals.
With dreams of working in computer science after graduation in a few years, Alex knows technology is the future, and he remembers his coding and robotics experience in his STARBASE classroom! Another favorite memory was applying the engineering process in order to save his 3D printed astronaut from the force of inertia as it landed on Mars (aka slid down the zipline in the classroom).
Alex is a recent recipient of a STARBASE Minnesota Scholarship funded by Collins Aerospace in 2022-23 awarded to STARBASE alumni enrolled in post-secondary education and we are proud to support his educational and career pursuits in STEM. Alex will be the first member of his family to attend college and they are proud of his hard work and dedication.
When asked what helps him stay motivated, Alex says he believes in his future and in himself, even when he feels like giving up. Alex’s inspirational advice to future STARBASE students: “Once you get to STARBASE, your experience will skyrocket!”
“I learned about flight technology. I learned about Newton and his three laws. I learned all about airplanes so I could grow up to be a big smart scientist.”
– Static Shock, 2005, STARBASE Minnesota- St. Paul
Fast forward to 2022, STARBASE Minnesota is fortunate to have Jessica “Static Shock” Scott as a member of the STARBASE instructor team. Jessica now goes by Artemis, drawing inspiration from NASA’s lunar missions.
Jessica attended STARBASE Minnesota- St. Paul in 2005 with St. Agnes Grade School. Experiencing the flight simulator and touring airplanes left strong impressions. Jessica remembers how it felt to fly a plane in the simulator and learn facts about different aircraft. One classmate of hers now works for Cirrus installing flight controls on aircrafts and fixing non-airworthy problems. Another memory that stands out for Jessica was working in small groups to design a solution to an emergency in space. She remembers the feeling of solving the engineering problem as a team, drawing on each other’s strengths.
The start of the 2021-2022 school year marks Jessica’s seventh year as a teacher. When asked what appealed to her about becoming a STARBASE teacher, Jessica said it was always her dream to come back to STARBASE. A rush of flashbacks of her own experience came to the forefront and she was so excited about the possibility of bringing that same impactful STEM experience to students. Jessica says, “STARBASE had such an impact on me. It is a privilege to teach with that perspective. I want my students to look back at STARBASE and feel the same way I felt as a STARBASE student.”
As a classroom teacher, Jessica always sought to bring STEM into her classroom. However, she says she never had the access to resources and materials now available to her at STARBASE. As a full time STARBASE Instructor and Instructional Technology Coordinator, she enjoys learning about educational technology at a deeper level and working to create meaningful curriculum integration.
STARBASE Minnesota- St. Paul is lucky to have Jessica as part of the team and thankful of her reflections as a former STARBASE student. Thank you, Jessica!
Not every student knows exactly what they want to be when they grow up like Leslie Rivera did. When she attended STARBASE as a 5th grade student, Leslie noted her desire to become a nurse on a pre- and post-survey.
We congratulate Leslie on being selected as one of two 2021 recipients of The STARBASE Minnesota General Tim Cossalter Scholarship. She is currently pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse at The College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth!
Leslie attended STARBASE Minnesota with Achieve Language Academy, a Saint Paul charter school. As an elementary school student, she recognized how much she learned, recapping in her survey some of her favorite lessons doing the work of a young scientist and engineer exploring Mars.
These days, Leslie shows dedication to her studies in anatomy and physiology lab, and dedication to serving others while working as a certified nursing assistant at a local care facility. She appreciates the opportunity to learn in class, then practice her skills at work!
When asked why she chose to pursue this career path, Leslie explained, “Nursing is empowering, and I’ve always wanted to do something very important.” She noted that people recognize her for being caring and compassionate. With cousins who pursued nursing and other medical fields, Leslie is a first generation college student among her immediate family.
Looking back on her time at STARBASE, Leslie remembers airplanes, 3D printers, launching rockets, and getting more interested in science as a result. “Math has to be done one way, but science is my favorite – things change constantly. It’s so interesting how we can think we know something for a long time but then things change and we learn that we were wrong!”
Her advice to this year’s STARBASE students? “Enjoy it! When you’re having fun you don’t realize you’re learning!”
Leslie graduates from The College of St. Scholastica in 2024 and will surely achieve her goal of becoming a registered nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or in Labor and Delivery. STARBASE Minnesota is proud to count Leslie Rivera among our alumni and we wish her continued success!
It’s a beautiful thing when a career and a passion come together. It is without a doubt that former STARBASE student Evan Most is pursuing his passion for aviation and we are pleased to congratulate him on being selected as one of two 2021 scholarship recipients of The STARBASE Minnesota General Tim Cossalter Scholarship.
Evan is currently studying Commercial Aviation at the University of North Dakota, following his dream of becoming a pilot. He worked towards and earned his private pilot license in the summer of 2019. Evan is enrolled in Instrument Training at UND, learning how to fly in situations with zero visibility. He has loved his flight courses because he is able to work in the airplane and gain flight time. Private pilot class has been his favorite class so far in furthering his education; he has been fortunate to have great teachers, flight instructors, and resources. Evan has already faced many challenging written, oral, and flight tests. He has persevered with a lot of studying.
Currently in his training, Evan is flying a Piper Archer plane and simulator, working towards flying a multi-engine Piper Seminole. His favorite plane that he looks forward to flying one day is a Boeing 777 aircraft. He will graduate in 2-2 ½ years and hopes to become a commercial airline pilot for Delta, or any other major airline, with hubs out of Minnesota.
During Evan’s time at STARBASE in 2010, he vividly remembers seeing the airplanes outside on his first day. He was able to tour and sit in the cargo area of a C130 and he also specifically remembers seeing the F16, as those airplanes were his favorite at the time. He stated that “STARBASE had a huge impact on my career decision; I was fascinated with the planes I saw at STARBASE. Being able to explore them, I felt like I was a kid in a candy store.” He took away knowledge about parts of the plane such as the fuselage, the forces of flight, and the idea of aerodynamics.
Most will be the first pilot in his family and they are very proud of his achievement. He looks forward to using this scholarship to further pursue his education. He expressed that “it is nice to know that there are other aviation enthusiasts out there and that they are looking to support me in this STEM career field.”
His advice to current STARBASE students? “Pay attention to everything you learn. It is such a once in a lifetime experience, so keep an open mind and find something that interests you that you want to learn a lot about. You will see a lot of cool things, just pay attention to all of it and have fun with it.” We wish Evan all the best with his future endeavors and look forward to seeing him soar to great heights.
“STARBASE gave me confidence to keep pursuing my passion and helped me realize my dream job as an astroinformatics scientist.” Ruhi Doshi recollects a pivotal moment in her STEM journey- attending STARBASE Minnesota’s Next Generation summer program. Today Ruhi is even closer to achieving her dream job. She studies data science at the University of California, Berkeley where she contributes to dark energy research, participates in the statistics association, and even helps teach a data science course.
Growing up Ruhi had a passion for science and math, but often felt frustrated being the only girl in the room at most STEM camps. On the first day of a robotics camp, Ruhi walked into a room full of boys who made decisions without her and told her to sit and watch. “I almost ran out crying,” Ruhi recalls. “I remember feeling so frustrated. Just because I may not have had the exposure beforehand didn’t mean I wasn’t capable. It just sucked the fun out of all these supposedly fun summer camps.” Ruhi was ready to give up on math and science, but then, she explains, “When STARBASE happened the first thing I could do was make friends with other girls. It was so refreshing to be able to do that. And that I wasn’t the only person who had these experiences was really empowering to me.”
At STARBASE Ruhi used a 3D printer for the first time and solved problems like an engineer. Working with her teammates, Ruhi tested the strength of shapes to solve a design challenge of building a bridge capable of holding significant weight. After completing the challenge, Ruhi learned that engineers use trusses to build strong structures in real life. “I was just mind blown. That’s the kind of problem solving that is really appealing to me about STEM, about creating new solutions…I’m never going to forget that.” Ruhi learned Pro/Engineer, a computer-aided design modeling software, to design and 3D print rocket fins. “It was just absolutely fascinating,” Ruhi remembers, “to see all of the different shapes my friends and I designed.”
The positive week at STARBASE not only revived Ruhi’s self-efficacy and interest in STEM, but propelled her into advanced learning experiences. The very next year Ruhi’s Engineering Technology and Design teacher offered her more complex projects because of her experience using Pro/Engineer while at STARBASE. Ruhi pursued STEM outside of the classroom by joining Science Olympiad, where she found a community of like-minded STEM enthusiasts. Over the years her role has transitioned from avid participant to leader and mentor, “Now I help write textbooks and test questions, and help proctor the tournament. It’s definitely one of the communities that I really enjoy being a part of.”
While in high school. Ruhi had the chance to conduct research alongside professors at the University of Minnesota, an experience that led her to declare a data science major at the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to taking classes like Data Inference and Decisions Statistics, Ruhi contributes to STEM research as an intern with the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) Survey. As a member of the software team at DESI, Ruhi works on creating a data quality monitoring application that astronomers use to make sure incoming data is of good quality. Ruhi and her undergraduate teammates had the opportunity to present at the 235th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Hawaii earlier this year.
When asked what skills she uses most often, Ruhi responds with conviction, “Perseverance is so key. When you see a problem you don’t know how to do, you just try from a different angle or come back after a little while. That’s the whole point, you don’t stop working on a problem if you get stuck.” She goes on to say that teamwork is another key skill, “Science, engineering, and any kind of STEM work, is not done individually. It’s all collaborative. You don’t solve problems on your own, and if you get stuck you go and talk to your teammates and you find out what they would do instead. Find out how to grow and learn those methods yourself so you can help other people too.”
We asked Ruhi to share words of advice with current STARBASE students. She recommends, “Stay involved and keep trying new experiences.” She advocates for students to communicate and support fellow classmates. “STARBASE is a great launching point, being able to talk to other students and not feel shy about asking them what their rocket design looks like, how it’s different from yours, and what shape they think is best to support a bridge. Those are the ways you grow, learn, and keep staying interested in STEM.”
Many thanks to Ruhi for taking the time to reconnect with STARBASE! We enjoyed catching up and hearing about her fantastic STEM experiences. We wish her the best as she continues STEM research, STEM mentoring and teaching, and pursues a career in data analytics!
STARBASE Minnesota Alum Maya “Nova” Steen attended STARBASE’s 2011 and 2012 Next Generation summer programs through a STARBASE partnership with Microsoft and other local STEM corporations. Maya recalls a positive and validating STEM learning environment where students worked to take on real world problems. “STARBASE really helped me gain confidence and not be afraid of big questions, tough challenges, and finding creative solutions to problems. All the adults, the teachers and staff, took the kids seriously. I felt like I was a real scientist for the first time.”
Currently, Maya is working toward a bachelor’s degree in astronomy and physics at Boston University. We asked Maya what skills she learned at STARBASE that she still uses in her studies today. She recollects working in teams to find solutions for human survival in the harsh environment of Mars. “We had a big plan that we would make a greenhouse and all these other colony buildings. It was cool to work in small teams, solve problems, and develop our ideas as a group.” Today, Maya uses teamwork in astronomy labs and in her physics study groups. “Being able to work in teams is a key skill to develop as early as you can. Teamwork is one of the most important skills you need in any career path.”
Since she was a young astrophile stargazing with her grandpa in southern Minnesota, Maya has developed skills in technology to learn more about celestial objects, space, and the physical universe. At STARBASE, Maya was introduced to how CAD and 3D printing can help solve STEM challenges. “I remember how new the technology was to me and how cool that was. It felt very exciting and current. Using CAD was the first time I had ever done that kind of learning with computers.” Maya now uses computer programs and telescopes to track Saturn and Betelgeuse in nighttime astronomy labs. “We program the desktop computer in the next room over from the ten-inch telescope. One person focuses the telescope while someone else programs the computer. We usually work in groups of 10 when we’re in the observatory and this is a really fun group.” Maya reports that using the telescopes is one of her favorite parts of college because she enjoys collaborative teamwork and hands-on use of technology.
Today, Maya uses perseverance to work through challenging astronomy and physics concepts, a mindset she developed early on when learning STEM concepts and the engineering design process at STARBASE. “Being able to tackle big questions and find creative solutions is a big deal and we did that a lot at STARBASE.” We asked Maya what words of advice she has for current STARBASE students who are passionate about STEM. She shared, “If you’re interested in it, go for it. Don’t be afraid of it being hard or overwhelming. I’ve found that I’ve learned the most from the hardest classes and the hardest experiences. Don’t back down from the challenges, because you can do it if you persevere and use your skills.”
Maya will graduate from Boston University in 2023. We wish her the best as she continues her studies and look forward to hearing about her future career! Thank you, Maya, for sharing your story with us.
STARBASE Minnesota alum Angela Lenling attended STARBASE in 2013 with Battle Creek Elementary School, St. Paul Public Schools. She always had enjoyed STEM and space and after attending STARBASE recalls, “I came back and thought, I want to do that every day to learn even more. It was really exciting to go to STARBASE for the whole week. That was the best field trip I’ve ever been on because I learned completely new things every day and it was super exciting!”
Currently, Angela is finishing up her senior year in
School District 622 and will join the 208th Weather Flight upon graduation. Weather Flight is a globally separated unit that supports the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard’s pilots and their missions. Angela chose to join the military because of the opportunity to further her STEM knowledge. She was also encouraged by her family’s extensive history of military service.
Angela is excited to begin military and scientific training, which will include boot camp, meteorological training, and hands-on practice with meteorological tools used in Weather Flight operations. After training, Angela will join her fellow service members in the day-to-day operations at 208th Weather Flight. She will provide commanders and pilots with mission execution forecasts, flight weather briefs, long-range forecasts, climatology reports, trafficability forecasts, and all other meteorological requests. Weather Flight can also deploy combat weather teams within 72 hours of notice, something that Angela will most certainly be a part of in the future.
Angela “Sparkly Unicorn” has many memories of STARBASE. She remembers CAD and 3D printing, studying the density of the air by experimenting with hands-on models, and using teamwork and perseverance skills to solve STEM challenges. When asked to name one skill learned at STARBASE she still uses today, Angela reports, “Teamwork was a really important part of learning at STARBASE. Even if something is difficult and might not have an obvious answer, there is always a different way to approach it. We did that a lot at STARBASE. Getting other people’s views and perspectives on a problem is helpful.”
STARBASE motivated Angela to pursue math activities outside of her multivariable calculus class. “I was a member of the math team, which is a team of about twenty people in all grades in high school. We competed with different schools.” Angela viewed each competition as a learning experience. “It was more of a fun challenge instead of being super serious. I liked being with other people on the team and trying to figure out the answers to our problems. It was really fun to see how other people work through issues and problems. I wasn’t disappointed when I didn’t score too well because it was more fun to think about what I know and how can I improve.”
When asked to share advice with current STARBASE students, Angela advises to lean into challenging experiences and to welcome unexpected opportunities. “You’re not always going to be on the path that you want to be. Just keep finding ways to include STEM in your life.” Angela shared that the STEM field is fulfilling because there is always something new to learn. “A STEM career is most interesting because every day is different and always changing. Keep working hard and being interested in things that are challenging. It will help you in more ways than one.”
Thank you, Angela, for your future military service. We appreciate your positive attitude and inspiring story! We wish you all the best as you continue your STEM education and career.
Name: Airman First Class, A1C, Emily Berg
Call Sign: “Torque”
Year at STARBASE: 2009
Interviewed by: Santi Bromley, STARBASE Instructor & Military Volunteer Engagement
Date: December 12, 2017
Santi: Tell me a little about what you have done since you participated in STARBASE in 2009. Read More
A1C Berg: During my senior year of high school, I enlisted in the Air National Guard as an airplane mechanic, graduated high school with honors, and left for basic training and technical school. I was awarded a Commander’s Coin for my high grade point average in my military training, and since then (February 2017) I have gone on multiple TDYs, and have started to further my education at Winona State University with a major in Nursing.
Santi: How did you decide on your nursing major?
A1C Berg: For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to have a career where I could help people. Going to STARBASE really expanded my perspective that there are many ways to do that, and helped me discover my passion for science. Ultimately, I decided that going into a healthcare field was the right fit for me.
Santi: Tell me what you remember about STARBASE.
A1C Berg: I remember showing up to STARBASE on my first day and being very nervous. But soon after we got started I met one of my fellow students named Elastagirl. She and I got along like two peas in a pod. I had so much fun at STARBASE. After making my rocket, I felt so much more confident and knew I wanted to go back the next year, but unfortunately I was too old.
Santi: In the time shortly after completing the STARBASE program, were you motivated to do any further STEM activities?
A1C Berg: After STARBASE I decided that I wanted to start competing in science fairs. I did projects on metal corrosion, buoyancy, psychology, and many other topics.
Santi: Can you identify anything you learned at STARBASE that you still use today?
A1C Berg: The biggest concepts that I learned at STARBASE were critical thinking and problem solving. These concepts are very important in my career and in everyday life.
Santi: What are your plans after you complete your nursing program?
A1C Berg: I would like to go into either psychiatric nursing or aeromedical evacuation after college. Staying involved in the military is very important to me and I would like to continue to be a part of such a great organization.
Santi: How did you end up choosing to go into the military?
A1C Berg: STARBASE showed me that just because you have never done something before, doesn’t mean you can’t. It boosted my confidence and without that confidence I don’t think that I would have been able to progress to where I am now and be able to make the decision to enlist.
Santi: What is the work you do on Maintenance on the flight line at the 133rd?
A1C Berg: I do a wide variety of tasks on the flight line. I do anything from refueling and servicing different systems on planes, to changing tires and other important parts to inspecting and preparing the planes for the aircrews that get to fly them.
Santi: How has being in the military impacted your life?
A1C Berg: Being in the military has impacted my life a ton. It is the best decision I have ever made. It has let me travel to places I didn’t think I would ever go, taught me not only about planes, but about other people and myself, and given me a supportive community that is always willing to give me a hand when I need it.
Santi: Do you have any advice for current STARBASE students as they complete the program and look to their futures?
A1C Berg: Be creative! Don’t just try to do what everyone else is doing – think outside the box.
We are thrilled by the inspiration that A1C Emily “Torque” Berg found from her experience at STARBASE Minnesota as a student attending in 2009 and we hope that the students who go through the STARBASE program are as equally inspired in their approach to education, training and life. Thank you, A1C Emily for your service to our country, and for being such an outstanding role model to the thousands of students who participate in our STARBASE now and in the years to come.
Michael Efejuku attended STARBASE with Risen Christ Catholic School as a 4th grader in 2006 and 6th grader in 2008. He has fond memories of building and launching rockets, viewing airplanes, and using the 3D printer. He remembers leaving STARBASE amazed by science and all of its applications. Michael later attended DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis, graduating in 2014. While at DeLaSalle, he continued to build off of his experience at STARBASE, by joining the school’s science club. Read More
Michael is now a student at the University of Saint Thomas studying Mechanical Engineering where he is active in research related to bubble size in sprays. He is also on the school’s Board for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and a member of St. Thomas’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC). In the future, Michael looks forward to joining the Air Force after college and would like to work in the biomedical field with technologies such as prosthetics.
When asked what advice he has for current STARBASE students as they complete the program and look to their futures, he says “It is a valuable program to be in, the hands-on component is important, embrace it and don’t be afraid to fail.” This is certainly sage advice for the over 3,500 students who come through STARBASE each academic year.
“In 8th grade I attended Washington Technology Middle School. I signed up for an elective class in engineering and city planning. As the only girl in the class, I was shy and afraid because I viewed my intelligence as something not “up-to-par” with boys. I remember the encouragement that girls can solve “big-world” problems just as equally as boys can. During this time, I was also an English language learner. There was tremendous stress and pressure for me academically, socially, and culturally. Trying to learn English and excel in my engineering class took a lot of effort. I wasn’t talented in it naturally like my peers, but I knew that if I worked hard to learn, I could excel in it. Looking back, I felt that STARBASE helped prepare in me, a heart for learning.” Read More
“Stemming from my exposure to STARBASE and my middle school class, I pursued Urban Studies as my major during my undergrad because I wanted to learn more about the urbanization in America and its systems. When I graduated, I was given the opportunity to work at CAPI USA, first as an AmeriCorps Employment Navigator. Then I moved to a case aide position and finally moved on to becoming an employment counselor. I am now working with a state program called the “Minnesota Family Investment Program”, which is an adaptation of the federal “Temporary Assistance for Needy Families” program, also known as TANF. This program is designed to help needy families achieve self-sufficiency. What I do and what these programs do are so much more than just words on a piece of paper. At CAPI, I specifically work with refugee and immigrant families. Through my experience working there I got to see how policy-making and economics played a huge role in my community and in people’s lives.”
“Today, I am pursuing education as a graduate student at the University of St. Thomas in their Collaborative Urban Educator program (CUE) to become an English language teacher. During the fall of 2015, I returned to STARBASE as a pre-service teacher. I was so excited to visit the very place that started it all. Through my experiences there, I now have a different view looking at STARBASE from when I was a student. As a student I just wanted to have fun and learn. Now, with the eyes of an educator and community leader, I want to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of a program– I want to solve problems and identify them. And from that, I am able to learn and improve my ways too.”
The second recipient of the Brigadier General Tim Cossalter STARBASE Minnesota Scholarship is Annie Francis. Annie attended STARBASE with St. Bernard’s Elementary School as a 4th grader in 2006 and a 6th grader in 2008.
At the time that Annie attended STARBASE, she found that school was challenging. She had to work harder than most students because of a learning disability. “STARBASE was an amazing opportunity for me. I have a learning disability that makes it very difficult to read and write. The hands-on learning that happened at STARBASE made learning exciting and fun. I could understand what I was doing because I was actually doing it!”. Read More
After graduating from East Ridge in 2014, Annie attended Winona State University where she majored in Business, but later transferred to the University of Minnesota to study Early Childhood Education, a path that will allow her share what she has learned about perseverance in learning and education. In the future Annie hopes to teach kindergarten in an urban environment.
When asked what advice she has for current STARBASE students, Annie says “Enjoy the experience and look for similar programs, so that you can continue to learn.” These are truly wise words from someone who embodies dedication and perseverance in learning.
Congratulations to Kai Polaski, recipient of a $1,000 STARBASE alumni scholarship. “What I remember about STARBASE was team building and coming together with others to
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