05/20/2026
As our time with our current co-hort of STEM Ambassadors comes to a close, we wanted to share their reflections from their ambassadorship. We couldn't be more greatful for our Ambassadors & wish them all the best in the future!
From Our STEM Ambassador, Carlos Cruz
One of the most meaningful parts of this experience was the networking. I was able to meet people I may not have crossed paths with otherwise, and those connections became more than just names in a room. They turned into real conversations, real ideas, and real opportunities.
One example that stood out to me personally was how a connection through this experience helped benefit my son with an internship placement. That mattered to me. It showed me that STEM Alliance is not just about talking about opportunity. It can actually help connect people to opportunity. That is a big deal.
It also reminded me that this kind of work has a ripple effect. When educators, professionals, families, and community members are connected, those connections can lead to something real for students. Sometimes the impact is a program. Sometimes it is an event. Sometimes it is one student getting connected to the right person at the right time. That is where the power is.
One thing I kept thinking about during my time as an ambassador is how powerful this group could be when people are given space to share ideas, connect, and build on each other’s experiences. Some of the best ideas do not always come from formal presentations. Sometimes they come from real conversation. Someone mentions a need, someone else knows a person, another person has seen a program that worked, and suddenly there is a possible solution sitting on the table.
That is where I think the ambassador role has real potential.
Professionally, this experience helped me think more about community connection. As a teacher, I already think about how to get students excited about science. But being part of LCSA helped me think bigger. How do we connect schools, families, businesses, professionals, and students? How do we make STEM feel less like a school subject and more like something students can actually see themselves doing?
I think one of the biggest ways ambassadors can support STEM Alliance is by helping gather ideas directly from the community. There are students, families, teachers, and local professionals who could benefit from STEM Alliance, but they may not always know what is available or how to get involved. Ambassadors can help bridge that gap. We can listen, bring ideas back, share opportunities, and help STEM Alliance give back in ways that are useful, visible, and exciting.
My recommendation for future STEM Ambassadors is to make the role even more community-facing. Get out where people already are. First Friday, school events, community nights, career fairs, pop-up STEM demos, and other local events could be great ways to make STEM Alliance more visible. These kinds of events could help kids, families, teachers, and professionals see STEM as something alive, creative, and connected to their own futures.
Nobody falls in love with STEM because someone handed them a brochure. They get excited because someone lets them build, test, break, fix, question, and wonder.
Overall, I am grateful for the experience. It helped me grow, gave me new connections, and reminded me that STEM outreach works best when it is personal. The future of STEM in Lancaster is not just about programs. It is about people, relationships, and follow-through. I would love to continue seeing how the ambassador role grows and how this work can become even more connected to classrooms, families, students, and the larger community.
Thank you
