TGR Foundation

Last week, TGR Foundation wrapped its 6th annual College Bound Academy, held at the TGR Learning Lab in Anaheim, California. We welcomed nearly 50 rising high school seniors from the Anaheim Union High School District for a two-week immersive course in all things college! Although the program aims to introduce students to the college application process, it does much more. It helps them build resilience and confidence.

In today’s post, our Senior Director of Programs, Cristina Fernández, writes in to celebrate Earl Woods Scholar alum Mikaya Dell’Orfano, who recently completed Army Ranger School – one of the most challenging programs in the military. Proceeds from our golf tournaments, including the Quicken Loans National, which begins this week in Washington, D.C., directly supports our Earl Woods Scholars on their path toward success. Continue reading to learn more about Mikaya.

Calling all kids – it’s time to get excited! At this year’s Quicken Loans National, youngsters and their families will once again have a chance to take a break from the golf action and indulge themselves at the TGR Learning Lab Activity Zone. Free to all fans at the tournament, the learning lab tent will feature four unique activities, all connecting science, technology, learning and fun into one. Here’s a look at the featured activities.

TGR Foundation is devoted to high quality, no-cost educator professional development across the United States. Wait, is that across the world? Yes, we’re expanding our reach to an international audience. Our belief is that all students deserve a high-quality education and highly-trained teachers, and that should not stop at any border’s edge.

A little over a year ago, the Earl Woods Scholar Program admitted its first cohort of Washington, D.C. high school students at the end of their junior year. This past weekend, we hosted this inaugural group at our first D.C. High School Graduation Celebration Luncheon at Catholic University. In addition to honoring our scholars, the luncheon provided an opportunity to thank all of our families, teachers, counselors and partners who make our work possible and are invested in our scholars’ success.

Empowering teachers to deliver engaging STEM curricula, TGR EDU: Create’s summer STEM Studio workshops will drive design, innovation and collaboration in Southern California, Washington, D.C. and around the world. STEM Studio, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, will unite a diverse group of professionals with unique teaching experiences and perspectives. The workshops also encourage teachers to leave their comfort zone and engage in new learning experiences to spark ideas in their classrooms.

For over a decade, The Boeing Company and TGR Foundation have worked together to drive positive and lasting change through high-quality STEM education programs in underserved communities. Truly an integrated partner, The Boeing Company has been a key investor in our pilot STEM programs at our TGR Learning Lab, supporting educator professional-development workshops and providing executive leadership to guide the foundation’s expansion efforts.

Thanks to the release of a new digital module, To Our Solar System and Back, on TGR EDU: Explore, the study of space and careers focused in this area has come closer to earth. To Our Solar System and Back was inspired by the TGR Learning Lab’s Aerospace Rocketry class, challenging students to physically design a rocket that could be launched, safely recovered and used again. This digital module expands on this design thinking by allowing exploration of everyday items we depend on, but which were originally developed for the space program, such as solar panels and cell phones.

For a long time, back to my high school days, I remember wanting to become a civil engineer at my dad’s advice. I’ve had my eye on this particular goal in large part because I had a strong desire to help communities by designing and implementing safe civil infrastructure. As an Earl Woods Scholar and with the support of my family, I set my dreams in motion when I was accepted as an engineering student at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.

In some schools, a focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) can look like buying a few 3D-printers or turning a small area into a “maker space.” For twenty-seven administrators, teacher-leaders, curriculum coaches and teachers, from five Washington, D.C. public and charter schools, their commitment goes a lot deeper.