Mt. San Jacinto College, in partnership with the Redlands branch of American Association of University Women, recently hosted the 32nd annual AAUW STEM Conference for Eighth-Grade Girls, an event is designed to encourage girls to explore STEM fields through engagement with female professionals, educ ators and industry leaders from throughout the Inland Empire. The Jan. 8 conference at the college’s San Jacinto campus offered 264 students from across the Pass Area a day of hands-on learning and exploration in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Participating students represented the Banning Unified School District; the Hemet Unified School District, including Idyllwild and Anza; and two Yucaipa charter schools, Competitive Edge and Inland Leaders. Throughout the day, students rotated through interactive workshops in a range of STEM disciplines. Sessions included civil engineering and flood protection; physics and materials science; forensic science and crime scene investigation; health care and rehabilitation fields such as physician assistant studies, physicaltherapy and occupational therapy; and museum science and collections management, led by educators from the Western Science Center. Mt. San Jacinto College student volunteers escort groups of eighth-grade students to workshop classrooms during the Redlands branch of American Association of University Women’s 32nd annual AAUW STEM Conference for Eighth-Grade Girls, held Jan. 8, 2026, at Mt. San Jacinto College’s San Jacinto campus. (Courtesy of Mt. San Jacinto College) Professionals from Garner Holt Education through Imagination led animatronics workshops in the college’s Makerspace, introducing students to careers in design, engineering and creative technology. The event opened with welcoming remarks from Kathryn Brown, co-president of the Redlands branch of AAUW; Diana Galindo, vice president of human resources at Mt. San Jacinto College; and Betsy Grimes, STEM Conference co-chairman. For the second consecutive year, Erica Alfaro, an author, international keynote speaker and education advocate, delivered the keynote address, “You Can Succeed Despite Adversity.” Alfaro also remained on campus to connect with students during lunch. “For 32 years, this conference has demonstrated the power of access, mentorship and possibility. By welcoming these eighth-grade students to our campus and connecting them with women leaders in STEM, we are helping them see themselves as scientists, engineers, innovators and problem solvers,” Roger Schultz, superintendent and president of Mt. San Jacinto College, said in a news release. “This conference reflects AAUW’s mission to advance gender equity through education and advocacy by removing barriers to success in both education and the workplace,” Pamela Ford, co-chairman of the conference, said in the news release. “By reaching girls before they make their high school course selections, we help counter early disengagement from STEM subjects, expand awareness of real-world career pathways and introduce students to MSJC’s STEM facilities and the college environment.” Related Articles Inland Empire Health Plan extends deadline for Living the Mission Awards nominations Perris welcomes new job training center Temecula-based Michelle’s Place offers scholarships for students impacted by cancer Recent grant gives ‘essential’ boost to Inland Empire nonprofit Bethel Christian Schools in Riverside get new playground Organizations and individuals whose support made the conference possible include the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Laura May Stewart Foundation, Sun Lakes Country Club Charitable Trust Board, Carole Nagengast, Debbie Wilson and Susan Bentley. Also supporting the event were Mt. San Jacinto College student volunteers who served as campus guides. ...read more read less