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Precollege Programs

SMILE

Our Mission

Our mission is to increase underrepresented students’ success in STEM degree programs and careers, and deliver high-quality teacher professional development.

Our Vision

Our vision is to provide a broad range of pathway programs to help underrepresented students succeed in STEM degrees and careers. We provide professional development resources that create better teachers.

SMILE's Essential Attributes

1. Inclusive Community

We provide a safe and supportive place for participants to engage in challenging activities and risk failure. 

2. High Expectations

We promote participants' creativity and learning through hands-on, minds-on activities.

3. Positive Attitudes

We help participants develop and sustain confidence in their capacity to learn and succeed.

4. Continuous Improvement

We assess our programming and make changes to better meet the needs of our participants and our school district partners.

2024 Summer Teacher Workshop Highlights

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Group of teachers standing outside at annual teacher workshop

For our workshop field trip day on August 6, we took a break from the summer heat and traveled to Newport!

Spring Challenge Events Wrap-up

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Student stands by mentor during STEM challenge event displaying experiment

A total of 530 SMILE members participated in Challenge events and spent time on one or more college campuses this spring!

Students Call Local Fish Biologist

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Students at Riverside Elementary School in Grants Pass zoomed with a local fish biologist.

Riverside Elementary School's SMILE club recently zoomed with a local fish biologist. They had a great time getting to learn from someone in the field!

Broader Impacts and Engagement Efforts

SMILE works with faculty members on campus and other programs to bring a broad range of STEM content to K-12 classrooms and through SMILE Clubs. The SMILE Program adopted the National Science Foundation (NSF) Broader Impact perspectives, aligning with the guidelines developed by the National Alliance for Broader Impacts (NABI) and supporting the mission of The Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS). SMILE provides a solid structure for broader impact activities through robust K-12 relationships and innovative partnerships with researchers and educators.

Learn About Broader Impact (BI) Efforts