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A big birthday, big achievements get a Bravo!

July 30, 2023

Local teens inspire kids to get interested in science

Audrey Zhang and Lyn Huang are looking to make science cool and exciting for kids. The students at Orange County School of the Arts co-founded EpiSTEMic, a nonprofit summer science camp for children in fifth through eighth grade in Santa Ana and Orange communities.

With the help of funding from organizations such as the Dragon Kim Foundation and Google Fiber dedicated to supporting the visions of American youth, EpiSTEMic has been able to provide two weeks of free creative learning for students in Orange County.

Participants of the EpiSTEMic science camp co-founded by Audrey Zhang and Lyn Huang gather at the Mathnasium of Orange.
(Photo courtesy of Audrey Zhang and Lyn Huang)

High school students perform lab tests during the Pharmacy Summer Research Program at Chapman University’s School of Pharmacy. Nearly 50 students participated in the two-week program.
(Photo courtesy of Chapman University)

High school students in Chapman University’s School of Pharmacy summer research program received hands-on experience and expert mentorship in performing lab tests to observe processes like blood clotting and making a pharmaceutical gel in the compounding lab..
(Photo courtesy of Chapman University)

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Zhang and Huang started the project hoping that through the camp, students would gain new interest in and passion for science that they can remember and carry with them.

It all started with a question: Do you remember what was taught in your middle school science class? After asking around, the response the two got from most students was “No, not really,” and their idea was born.

From building roller coasters to learning how to perform CPR, and then a final day field trip to Santa Ana’s Discovery Cube, camp participants got the opportunity to experience applied science and gain new perspectives and interests in real-world STEM topics.

Big birthday wishes

Dorethea Tierheimer recently celebrated her 103rd birthday.

The birthday girl has lived in Garden Grove since 1967, having moved to town with her husband from Lynwood.

She retired from Northrop Grumman after 25 years and in the years since has enjoyed being a member of the Buena Park Emblem Club — including the organized bus trips to casinos with her friends, her daughter said.

For her 90th Tierheimer arrived in style to her birthday party on the back of a Harley Davidson, her daughter said.

Chapman gives high schoolers hands-on pharmacy experience

High school students recently conducted pharmaceutical lab tests, made medical gels, and discussed the workload and community impact of future pharmacists in the dynamic and unique Pharmacy Summer Research Program at Chapman University’s School of Pharmacy.

Nearly 50 young scientists, more than double the number since its first year, participated in the two-week program.

Witnessing the increasing enthusiasm for pharmacy education among high school students, Chapman faculty members designed the program to shed light on the multifaceted role of pharmacists and delve into the realm of pharmaceutical sciences, said associate professor Hamid Montazeri, director of the program.

Through hands-on experience and expert mentorship, young minds harness the power of scientific literature to craft and showcase their own research projects.

“It has exceeded our wildest dreams,” Montazeri said.

Chapman’s program immerses the young science-minded students into its lab environments with the latest technologies and techniques used in pharmaceutical sciences, he said.

The high school students performed lab tests to observe processes like blood clotting, made a pharmaceutical gel in the compounding lab, asked current students questions about everything from study habits to juggling extracurricular activities, and got advice from the School of Pharmacy’s career specialist.

The students were paired with a Chapman University faculty member to study their specialties. Erica Kim, an incoming senior at Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton said, “Learning about Montazeri’s research into delivery systems targeting cancer cells was interesting because a lot of things he’s talking about I’m learning, especially in bio or chem, but he goes into more depth.”

The high school summer research program supports Chapman’s strategic plan goal to strengthen and expand graduate health science programs, advancing health care to meet community needs.

– Submitted by Chapman University

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