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Helping students explore STEM, build connections, and gain the experience they need to succeed in tomorrow’s workforce.

09/21/2026

Sometimes all you need is one final push to send you in the right direction.

For Doanh, that push came from SD2. When he joined, he wasn't sure where he was headed. Through the SD2 Fellows program, he started to figure out what he wanted from a STEM career, made industry connections, and got to see where his interests could lead him.

If you're not sure where to start in your career in STEM, this is your push.

09/14/2026

Our 8th Fellows Cohort is officially here!

Over the next year, 35 San Diego high schoolers will gain real hands-on experience through the Fellows Program, where they will have 1:1 mentorship with STEM professionals, site visits at multiple San Diego companies, and a community of peers who are just as curious as they are.

These students already have the curiosity and drive to take them far, and we're so excited to have them in the program!

09/01/2026

Over the past summer, more than 25 of our students spent two weeks at Illumina's San Diego headquarters for the STEM Scholars program! Working alongside Illumina professionals, they practiced lab techniques, genomics, and data analysis, experiencing what a career in STEM can look like.

Through the program, students became more comfortable speaking up, asking questions, and picturing a future for themselves in STEM. An alumni panel also brought former scholars back to talk about how the program empowered them to build a career in STEM.

Since 2023, over 100 students have launched their STEM careers through the Illumina STEM Scholars program. We are thankful to the Illumina team for continuing to open their doors to future STEM professionals!

If you want to read Illumina's full feature on this year's program, and the impact it's had on students pursuing STEM, you can check it out here: https://bit.ly/4wZy9Cy

08/31/2026

Sometimes being a mentor means helping a student finally see what everyone else already does: how talented they really are.

That's the kind of relationship our mentors build with their Fellows, and it's exactly what Zilyan found with her mentor, Suki.

Want to be that person for a student? Apply to become an SD2 mentor at sd2.org/become-a-mentor/

08/24/2026

Our 7th Fellows Cohort has officially completed the program!

Over the past year, they've sat down with mentors every month, toured STEM companies across San Diego, and built friendships with peers who push each other. Our Fellows now ask the questions they used to be afraid to ask, because they know their future belongs in STEM.

We can't wait to see where these future leaders take it from here! Drop a congratulations for the cohort below 👇

08/17/2026

At SD2, our community is built on people who want to show up for you, and mentors like Kamyron invest in your future because they want to see you thrive.

Whether you're just starting your journey with SD2 or heading out into what's next, what matters is that you're here, and you're ready to succeed.

08/12/2026

Our Fellows gain more than skills. They gain someone who believes in them before they even know where they're headed.

That's what our mentors do. They show up, they listen, and they invest real time in students who are still figuring out where they fit. For a lot of our Fellows, their mentor is the first professional in the industry to tell them that they belong there.

If you work in STEM and want to be that person for a student this year, mentor applications are open: sd2.org/become-a-mentor

07/30/2026

John didn't think STEM was for him.

But after a year of mentorship with his mentor, Yohei, site visits where he met real industry leaders, and a cohort that turned into a community, he's no longer wondering whether he belongs. He's wondering where he wants to go next.💙

07/22/2026

Hands-on access is what turns STEM from an idea into a real possibility for a student.

Standing in a real lab, asking questions of the people actually doing the work, and seeing what a STEM career looks like up close are the moments where students start to see themselves in it.

We're always looking for companies ready to open their doors to our Fellows. If that's you, reach out at sd2.org/contact.

07/10/2026

A strong mentor relationship is shaped through consistency, trust, and showing up for one another.

The most meaningful mentorship experiences are built when there is mutual respect, clear effort, and a willingness to stay engaged beyond just moments of need. When approached the right way, mentorship becomes more than guidance. It becomes a lasting connection that supports growth well beyond one stage of a career.

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San Diego, CA

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http://www.sd2.org/

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