Banning, Beaumont Middle Schoolers Get Inspiration from Science, Math at MSJC

The following was submitted by Mt. San Jacinto College: 

About 300 eighth-grade girls from the San Gorgonio Pass attended the annual Math & Science Conference this week at Mt. San Jacinto College.

The Jan. 10 event, organized by the American Association of University Women and hosted by MSJC at its San Jacinto Campus, is designed for eighth graders from middle schools in Banning and Beaumont. Leaders from the private and public sectors provided workshops that helped the teens explore careers and relate the need for math and science in those particular fields.

Dr. Roger Schultz, Superintendent/President of MSJC, welcomed the group and recognized Beaumont and Banning school officials in attendance, including Beaumont Unified Superintendent Maureen Latham.

Keynote speaker Amber Price, a documentary filmmaker and motivational speaker, urged the teens to believe in themselves. During her talk titled “Power, Passion and Pursuit – Female Leadership in the 21st Century,” Price encouraged the audience to recognize their own power, support other females and to pursue their dreams.

“You have no idea how powerful you are. Anything you want to take in this world, you can take it,” Price told the eighth-graders. “There is no reason why you shouldn’t have anything you want in this lifetime. That is how special you are.”

Kate Goodman, 13, of Beaumont sat in the front row with her friends, laughing, cheering and listening to Price’s talk. The San Gorgonio Middle School student said she likes math and science, but aspires to get into acting. She said listening to Price made her want to do everything.

“It was so inspiring,” Kate said.

After the keynote presentation, the group headed out to the workshops, where they were encouraged to continue math and science studies in high school. Hands-on workshops were held by organizations that included UC Riverside, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, American Medical Response, the California Department of Justice and Riverside County Department of Animal Services.