OCSEF-UCI CalTeach
Mentor Match Program
Building equity and access in STEM education through mentorship, collaboration, and community support
Get Involved
Choose your role and join the Mentor Match community
About the Program
A significant mission for the Orange County Science and Engineering Fair (OCSEF) Board is to support schools and districts in building a strong 21st century workforce in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers.
With specific intent on building equity and access for all students, the OCSEF Board, in partnership and collaboration with the UCI CalTeach Program, the Broadcom Foundation, and the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, has established the OCSEF-UCI CalTeach Mentor Match Program.
Addressing the Challenge
The underlying purpose of the Mentor Match Program is to address both a decrease in high school student participation and the limited diversity representation in science and engineering fair competition.
Our Goal
Our goal is to remove any barriers that may exist for these teachers and students, actual or perceived, that could diminish their success in pursuing STEM research. With multiple levels of adult mentoring support from both the UCI STEM students AND the OCSEF Board, we are paving the way for students' successful completion of their research projects.
Testimonials
Real experiences from our Mentor Match community
I am grateful for the mentor match program. The resources and guidance have been very helpful to me/WHS getting the number of students involved with OCSEF. I would not have managed it without you and the team's support. It was always a challenge to get students with my school's socioeconomic background to "compete" with the "top" tier schools. But your support has helped me get them to understand that science is not a me vs them (the smarter kids) but a me getting better and that it is not just a teacher (who in their mind this is part of my job) but there are others out there supporting their efforts.
Two-Prong Approach
The OCSEF Mentor Match Program has a two-prong approach to building both high school and diversity representation at the annual Orange County Science and Engineering Fair.
University Student Mentorship
Science, technology, math and engineering university students in the UCI-CalTeach Program will be assigned to middle and high schools with a high underrepresented student population.
Teacher Partnership
Science/STEM teachers at these schools will be identified and partnered with these UCI students to mentor their students as they engage in science/engineering research during the academic year.
As we plan for each new academic year, we invite other LA/OC colleges and university STEM programs to partner with OCSEF to help build replicability and sustainability in the southern basin to expand our reach to MORE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS!
Program Support Components
Comprehensive support for all participants in the Mentor Match Program
UCI-CalTeach Mentors
University student teachers providing direct mentorship to middle and high school students
15-18 weeks of onsite school/class support during fall and winter quarters
One 2.5-hour in-person training workshop
Electronic resources on research design and OCSEF regulations
Periodic site visits and troubleshooting support
Performance-based honorarium and transportation stipend
Certificate of Participation and Letter of Recommendation
Certificated Teachers
Master teachers and veteran educators supporting UCI student teachers and their students
Bi-monthly support and communication with Mentor Match directors
One 2-hour in-person training workshop
Access to electronic resources and guidance materials
Participation honorarium and financial support for materials
Ongoing support from OCSEF Outreach committee
Certificate of Participation
Program Expectations & Incentives
Detailed information about expectations and incentives for all program participants
Participating Schools & Districts
Participating schools/districts over the past six years of implementation include:
Santa Ana USD
Garden Grove USD
Huntington Beach Union High School District
Newport Mesa USD
Westminster School District
For More Information
Contact Dean Gilbert (Director of Outreach) at info@ocsef.org
Join the Mentor Match Community
Whether you're a teacher looking for support, a university student interested in mentoring, or a district seeking to expand STEM opportunities, we're here to help build equity and access in science education.