“Our purpose was to expose our students who are interested in the STEM field to an extraordinary university that is almost in our backyard,” said Jennifer Ayres, PLTW academic counselor. STEM fields are science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Cal Poly Pomona, as it’s commonly known, is approximately 135 miles from Bakersfield. It is one of three polytechnic universities in California, including Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and the recently added Cal Poly Humboldt. The 43 students saw the student union, bookstore, Japanese garden, library, dorms, and the engineering department.
“Through the Project Lead the Way curriculum, students are exposed to many career paths. Our staff wants to show them where they can get a great education to pursue these fabulous career opportunities. When students walk the campuses and see the possibilities with their own eyes, it creates an excitement for the future,” Mrs. Ayres said.
Science teacher Antoinette Scheler, who also accompanied the students, said she talked to a Cal Poly student who was studying to be an astrophysicist. “He told me he was up very late working on a rocket that would travel at mach 1 speed. He chose to come to Cal Poly Pomona because it has wind tunnels on campus to test out aerodynamics. There are only two schools in California with wind tunnels.”