The 2024 CELP Scholars are Defining their Program Experience

August 22, 2024

Since the announcement in May, the fifteen students named to the 2024 cohort of the CELP Scholar Program have been actively engaged with the Aquarium. The CELP Scholar Program, which stands for Community, Equity, Learning, and Persistence, aims to broaden participation in marine science and encourages students who identify as a member of a group historically underrepresented in the field to find their own community in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). The 2024 Scholars are already participating in activities to help them grow as scientists, increase their persistence in the field, and chart their own STEM pathway.

Beyond the financial award, the CELP Scholar Program offers both community building events and individually curated opportunities for students to explore potential career pathways related to the Aquarium. Each scholar’s experience is individualized based on their interests. Program components include regular Zoom check-in meetings, professional introductions that align with their academic and career goals, networking opportunities, alumni-led professional development workshops, and in-person and virtual community building events.

Individual introductions may include meeting Aquarium staff members to learn more about their roles behind-the-scenes. For example, Natalie Garcia, a community college student studying chemistry, met staff in the water quality lab, and spent the day shadowing their work. Mariah Cox, a veterinary and Spanish major, met with Dr. Brittany Stevens to learn more about her role in the Molina Animal Care Center. Alex Lozano, an art and biology major, was interested in the planning details for Pride Night, so he shadowed staff working the event. Since the Aquarium network extends beyond its walls and includes community partners, the potential professional networking opportunities are as broad as the scholars.

To help scholars connect with to each other, they attend quarterly virtual check-ins to catch up with each other, socialize, and tackle a topic of interest. In June the first check-in meeting discussed imposter syndrome, how to work through it, and considered how to support each other through those challenging experiences. Other check-in topics include resume prep, applying for grad school, and preparing their “lightning talk” for the September Scholar Symposium. Community building events are a chance to strengthen bonds and include things like a field trip to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles and a virtual “Draw with me” session lead by Scholar alumnus Jacqueline Rajerison.

“I loved our first check in and greatly appreciate you sharing your experience with us! This is just the group I needed for supporting me in grad school,” - 2024 CELP Scholar Madeleine Pacheco.

Connecting Across Cohorts

There are many ways Scholar alumni are supporting the 2024 cohort. They are invited to participate in all program components and are encouraged to lead a session that contributes to the community’s culture of near-peer support. By leading a session, alumni develop their teaching, facilitation, and mentorship skills, while also sharing their own experiences. Many members of the 2024 cohort are already looking ahead at the chance to serve as an alumni mentor for future scholars.

“I love the community the CELP Scholar program has worked hard to cultivate. I enjoyed facilitating a meeting for current and past scholars to grow professionally and I look forward to many more supportive meetings like this in the future,” - Scholar Alumnus Genece Grisby.

As scholars start another school semester this fall, the opportunities to connect and engage will continue. More opportunities for field trips, community building, and professional growth are ahead, along with great personal accomplishments. While each scholar experiences their own CELP Scholar journey, many are already seeing the value of participation.

“I have a hard time feeling like I fit in or belong with my peers…having the Aquarium and other scientists look at the work I’ve done and basically inform me that I AM a scientist is something that’s been really affirming for me because it makes me realize that I do belong, I’m just coming at it from a different path,” - 2024 CELP Scholar Alex Lozano.