Dear AISS supporter,
Graduation is around the corner and so is our 7th Annual Bridging the Gap Celebration (BTG7)! BTG7 is May 2nd from 5:30 PM- 8:30 PM. Come celebrate with our scholars as they share their college acceptance letters and announce which schools they plan to attend in the fall. Don't forget to get your tickets here.
The AISS scholars are in the final stretch of their senior year. Wrapping up their final semester, our scholars are making their final decisions for college. They're also finishing up their last year in the program and are soon to be AISS alumni. As a result, this yearâs scholars gave their farewells to their mentors from Edwards Lifesciences, who had supported them through the college application process. The AISS team leads gave a special goodbye speech to the whole Edwards team.
 AISS Scholars preparing for their last mentor meeting
HOLA group director Linnette Torres was highlighted in this last mentor meeting for offering the scholars this opportunity and making such an experience possible. It wouldnât have been possible without her!
Here are some words the Edwards Lifesciences mentors about the most rewarding part of being an AISS mentor:
Cynthia Ong, Research Scientist: âWe (her and scholar Lizeth) met at last yearâs Bridging the Gap. We went to the same high school, have the same background, and itâs been great helping someone with the same questions whoâs so smart.â
Roland Moder, R&D Engineer: âTalking to mentees, hearing their life stories, and seeing their smiles when you help them figure out something.â
Anne Alcasid, Senior Engineer: âBeing able to hand down knowledge and help them avoid âderpienessâ. Getting to relive memories from one of the most exciting times of life.â
Ligia Albaine: âYou donât know how much impact your experience has until you share it.â
Ricky Villareal,Sr. Manager Corporate Strategy: âDonât let the fear of the probability of success limit where you could go.â
JosĂ© Rosario,Sr. Manager, Supplier Development Engineering: âCreate your life story by embracing opportunities and learning from your experiences.â
Thank you, Edwards Lifesciences!
This past month, our scholars also met Dorian Villalta, a representative from SpaceX. The entire class loved his visit and were very interested throughout his presentation. Mr. Villalta explained what he has worked on during his time in the company, important qualities for all jobs, and how he got involved in SpaceX. Mr. Villalta impressed our scholars when he informed them of his involvement with SpaceXâs very own spacecraft, Falcon Heavy. He listed for the scholars what, in his opinion, was most important for any job. Mr. Villalta believed passion was needed above all else because it is passion that pushes a person to do their best. The third most important, according to Mr. Villalta, is what got him his job at SpaceX: networking. Networking helps people receive the opportunities to show what they know to the people that can get them where they want. Mr. Villaltaâs presentation was very informative and engaging to our scholars and gave them great advice about their future pursuits.
SpaceX engineer Dorian Villalta & AISS Scholars
Though summer is fast approaching, our scholars still have a lot to get done before their final farewell. As of now, we are looking forward to the annual AISS Bridging the Gap Event at Edwards Lifesciences on May 2nd. Weâre so proud of all that our scholars have accomplished and look forward to hearing their final college decision!
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Lizeth Mendoza
Future Nurse
Saddleback High School
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My name is Lizeth Mendoza, a senior attending Saddleback High School. Growing up in a one bedroom home with my family, I was raised by strict parents that would never let me have sleepovers or walk home with my friends. Due to that, I grew up as a shy child that would resort books to bring me comfort and distract me from reality. Being antisocial, the first few years of my life have helped carve out a pathway in my future career as a nurse. I can thank my parents for leading me to these books and finding out what I am interested in. Even though I grew up as a shy, socially awkward student, I was able to develop skills that allowed me to form small groups of trusted friends. I am focusing more on becoming social and communicating better with others by participating in clubs and sports in high school.
Some school activities I am participating in high school are basketball, swim, marching band, Folklorico, AISS, and Project Lead the Way. PLTW is a biomedical course offered at Saddleback. It is usually a four-year program, but my school decided to change it to three years. I take part in it because this can help me pursue the career I want as a nurse. I want to be a Nurse Midwife because I have always wanted to help mothers and comfort them during one of the most important times in their lives. I decided to be a nurse because nurses are proven to be more involved with their patients as well as emotionally connected with them. I want to be able to emotionally connect with my patients, giving them the support they need. My family has always been supportive of me. My parents love their children with all their hearts.
AISS has helped me tremendously these past two years in order to better myself and my skills to become a nurse. AISS is a college prep program that supports students interested in a STEM career. For the Class of 2019, I was the only student that got involved in the program from Saddleback High School. Here, I have met many great friends from other schools and they have helped me work on my networking skills as well as my academic skills. They have furthered my studying skills to take exams, and they have also provided me with the confidence to communicate more with others. These attributes will help me next year when I embark on furthering my career in the nursing field at Cal State Long Beach.
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Karla Ramirez
AISS Class of 2009
Cal State University Long Beach
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My husband and I are proud business owners of Tera Engineering Co. I never anticipated being a successful business owner with 30+ employees this early in my life. There were a lot of hurdles I had to surpass to get to where I am today, but what is new. There are always financial hardships, difficult tasks, lack of time, and deprivation of sleep regardless of where you are in your life: whether you are a business owner, college student, or a parent, itâs all the same. The only difference is your goal. My goal is to grow a successful business that will allow us to make a positive impact not just in our community, but in our world as well.
Scholars, I will advise you this, when you feel depressed because you didnât get an A in class or because you failed a course or because you did not get into your dream school, keep an eye on your goal! You will learn far more from failure than you will from pure success. Pixar knows this too well and embraces its failing history:
âEven if you decide youâre in the wrong place, there is still time to head toward the right place. And all the thinking youâve done that led you down that alley was not wasted. Even if most of what youâve seen doesnât fill your needs, you inevitably take away ideas that will prove useful.â
â Ed Catmull, President of Pixar.
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Lizeth & Graciela Mendoza
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What skills, opportunities, or positive outcomes has AISS Provided your child?
AISS has taught my child to be more involved in school and at home. It has also taught her to be more confident
What is your dream for your child?
To finish university and have a good career.
What are you most proud of that they have accomplished while involved with AISS?
I'm most proud my daughter was accepted into college.
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- "Bridging the Gap" - May 2nd, 2018 AISS annual fundraiser hosted by Edwards Lifesciences. Buy tickets here.
- AISS Chapman Mentor Meeting â May 4, 2019, final meeting for the year
- AISS Summer Program â June 10, 2019 - August 4, 2019
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The mission of the Achievement Institute of Scientific Studies (AISS) is to guide high achieving, economically disadvantaged high school students interested in pursuing a career in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. We not only help students get accepted into college, but also with the years beyond - through graduation and establishing their careers.
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