Patrocinio Ryan Reyes is a six year veteran within the STEM Summer Learning Labs Program, being a part of the very first summer program STEM LEAPS in Police as an oncoming freshman. While not placing in his first year in the program, Ryan decided that he would try again next summer. That’s where him and his team came up with their project, “First Eyes”, a flame-resistant drone that would do internal reconnaissance inside of burning buildings to prevent firefighters from endangering their lives without knowing what was around every corner. The team’s philosophy was that the price of a drone was nothing compared to a firefighter being able to come home to their family. The project was Ryan first ever placement for the summer program, landing him and his team in 3^rd place. Ryan and his team would then go on to give a presentation to the city council, as well as an exclusive presentation to Mayer Rusty Bailey along side other LEAPS projects.

They pursued the project for the rest of the year before most of his team graduated and went their separate ways. The next year Ryan, along side his girlfriend Mia Dominguez, would pick up where the disband team had left off to compete in the “End of the School Year” STEM competition. A special version of the SSLL program that lasted the entirety of the school year, and had specially picked teams that had competed in the program previously for another prize of $1,000. Even though Ryan once again placed in third, he still sees the drone’s value what with California’s never ending fire problem.

In Ryan’s last year of competing, he and his team came together to create their 2^nd place winning project, “The Bomb Suit”. While lacking a creative title, the project served to update the EOD suits that police had adopted for their bomb squads and bring it in line with its military cousins. It also adopted a new ceramic plating that would be stronger and lighter than what is currently used. While the project held a lot of promise, the team could not pursue long term investment as the team consisted of students from different school in different areas.

After having graduated in 2020, Ryan wanted to give back to the program that had a massive influence, and came back to SSLL as a College Student Mentor, along side his friend and STEM PULL 1^st place winner Kyle Suk, for the first fully online summer program. Feeling that he wasn’t doing enough to give back, Ryan came back this year as a part of the Planning Committee for SSLL and is ready to serve you in any way he can.

Erika Zuvia has been a teacher for 17 years in the Riverside Unified School District. She is currently the Health Careers Academy Coordinator and HOSA Advisor at Ramona High School. Prior to teaching she was an Emergency Medical Technician on an ambulance and in an emergency room. She brings her wealth of knowledge and experience into the classroom and has been a member of the STEM Summer Learning Labs since it's first year.

SAHARA DANIELA HUAZANO

Director of Programs

Sahara has interned for various organizations where she obtained skills to return to her home community of Mecca and partner with people to improve living conditions. She interned for the Sierra Club in Washington D.C., U.S. Representative Raul Ruiz, Pueblo Unido CDC, and she created a group called Gente de la Tierra.

Sahara completed her undergraduate studies in Environmental Studies at the University of California Santa Cruz in 2014. She focused her studies on the systemic challenges of rural communities through an environmental justice lens and completed a one-year research thesis, “Resort Development and Environmental Injustice: A Historical Analysis of Land Use, Race, and Class in the Coachella Valley, CA (1940s-1990s).” Her mission is to continue building bridges between people in her community and outside her community so they can work together to make the Coachella Valley a place for people to thrive. Before moving into her current role, Sahara led Alianza’s environmental justice work.