Members of the 2024 cohort of the 4-H STEM Ambassadors program on the Rutgers George H. Cook Campus. Photo credit: Office of Public Outreach and Communication/Chris Guttierez.
Since its inception in 2009, the Rutgers 4-H STEM Ambassadors program has engaged more than 550 high school students from New Jersey’s urban communities in year-round experiences designed to promote STEM identity and college readiness among those underrepresented in science and engineering.
The program trained its 16th cohort of students drawn from cities such as Trenton, Passaic, Paterson, Camden, Newark and New Brunswick during an intensive residential program on the Georg H. Cook Campus from July 8-12. These newly minted 4-H STEM Ambassadors return to their home communities to contribute a minimum of 50 hours of service each year, working with county-based faculty and staff to lead STEM experiences for youth in afterschool, Saturday and summer camp programs.
This transformative pre-college experience brings the university’s wealth of STEM resources to youths from economically less advantaged communities. Over the course of the week on campus, Rutgers 4-H faculty and staff connected these predominantly first-generation students to scientists and engineers across the entire university system, with the objective of encouraging young people to participate in and gain a better understanding of opportunities available in STEM.
“The most important resource offered to these students is our faculty here at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, and what we want, through Rutgers Cooperative Extension, is to send our faculty out into the community to be mentors and supporters of our young people as STEM role models for the future,” said Janice McDonnell, 4-H STEM agent with Rutgers Cooperative Extension. McDonnell is co-founder of the 4-H STEM Ambassadors program with Chad Ripberger, 4-H agent and chair of Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County.
Faculty member Karla Esquilín-Lebron of the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology.
Faculty members like Karla Esquilín-Lebron, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, emphasize that these students are an investment in the future of STEM, agriculture, and medicine because they learn the skills here and return to their communities to educate others.
“Programs like this help us translate the work that we do in a research lab or in a teaching lab to the public. It helps students learn how science is important because we make it engaging,” said Esquilín-Lebron.
Faculty are very intentional in engaging with the students in this kind of pre-college experience because for many youths, it’s where they form positive first impressions as to what a scientist contributes to society.
“Science communication and outreach is essential for young people to go back to their communities and their families to teach them what they’ve learned here. This is something very important for me, and I’ve very grateful to be a part of it,” she added.
4-H STEM Ambassadors teen leader Timothy Davis.
Among the 2024 cohort is 15-year-old Timothy Davis, who has been deeply involved in Mercer County 4-H.
“I have been with 4-H since my 7th grade year and I’m going on my 10th grade year, so about three years and I’m currently seeing about some family joining, as well.”
Timothy started off as an active participant in Mercer County’s six-week STEM Explorers camp where he discovered a love for science. Since then, he’s been very involved in several activities, including 4-H STEM Ambassadors Kick-off Week, 4-H STEM Ambassadors Climate & Sustainability Summit, 4-H STEM Equity Challenge, and as a volunteer with 4-H Fair, 4-H Teen Winter Camp, 4-H Science Saturdays and after-school enrichment.
He first participated in the STEM Ambassadors program as a member of the 2023 cohort. He returned this year as a leader in the 2024 cohort, making good on his commitment to continue to develop his STEM identity and to give back to his community.
As to what he’s learned through his involvement in the 4-H STEM Ambassador program? “I’ve learned what a college experience is like as well as a professional experience, and how to present myself. I’ve also learned that bonds in the right areas can get you far. And, finally, being in these programs not only gave me so many great opportunities but also widened my vision and gave me the inspiration to help others.”
Timothy is an avid musician. He plays percussion, writes, produces and mixes his own songs, and does his own vocals. He’s also a multi-sport athlete, participating in basketball, volleyball, baseball and track.
Thanks to the 4-H STEM Ambassadors program, he’s blossomed into a dynamic, responsible and engaged youth. And, equally important, he’s made the discovery that he wants to pursue biomedical engineering as a career.
