DoD STEM Ambassador Impact Project

DoD STEM Impact Project:

When I was first tasked with creating a high-impact project as a DoD STEM Ambassador, I must admit, I was completely overwhelmed. The mission of the Department of Defense's STEM program is huge: to inspire the next generation of STEM talent and build a diverse, agile workforce. The "Impact Project" felt like an immense, blank canvas, and I spent hours staring at it, my mind spinning with grand, complex ideas.

But as I've learned time and again, the best ideas are often the ones you don't have to invent from scratch. A little nudge (and, let's be real, a whole lot of genius) from my wife Alyssa Cervantes Benavides helped me see it: the project was already a part of me. It was something I had started cultivating years before, right in my own classroom.

History and Influences:

My mission has always been straightforward: to empower students, particularly in science and STEM fields. I've always wanted them to look beyond the textbook and see the "bigger picture”, to connect the dots and realize that science isn't just a subject; it's a dynamic framework of facts and possibilities. It's how we understand our world, our society, and our potential. This mission drove me both inside and outside the classroom, leading me to sponsor four different student clubs at Del Valle High School.

The roots of this specific impact project, however, can be traced back to one student, in 2016, who asked a question that changed everything for me: "Why don't we have a biomed program on our campus? It's not fair that we have to go to other schools to get this education."

It was a tough question to answer, but it sparked a fire in me. I went to our administration and asked what it would take to do so. Their response was simple, yet daunting: "Find the money, and we'll support you."

Three years later, I had made little progress. The funding seemed impossible to find. 

Society for Science and Its Impact on Our Project 

Then, in the fall of 2019, a seemingly random email about a High School Research Teachers Conference from the Society for Science appeared in my inbox. It was a lottery for an all-expenses-paid trip to D.C., and I decided to take a chance. I was selected!

That conference changed everything. I fell in love with the Society for Science's mission and its incredible outreach work. I became a part of their community and, most importantly, was selected for several of their grants. These grants were the spark that ignited something incredible—they provided the crucial foundation for planning and building our biomedical sciences program. Our campus, our community, and our students will forever be grateful for their unwavering impact and support. Thanks to them, we now have a thriving biomedical sciences program on our campus, and a special shoutout to Emily Freeland for being there every step of the way. 

Our Biomedical Sciences Program:

In 2021, with the help of the University of Texas at El Paso and the Ysleta Independent School District, we inducted our first student cohort. Our team has worked tirelessly with campus administration, district leaders, and other community partners to secure over $1 million in funding. This is the first pathway of its kind in our district, and it's a launching pad for students in our community to pursue their dreams in the medical sciences.

The journey continues! We recently celebrated the launch of our brand-new, state-of-the-art Biomedical Sciences Laboratory, a project made possible by the incredible support and dedication of Dr. Alyssa Cervantes Benavides, the Office of Interprofessional Education Program, and students from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences - Alejandra Muñoz and Briana Olivares. This lab isn't just a building; it's a testament to our commitment to the students and community of Del Valle High School.

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