TGR Foundation

Miguel Jimenez is a senior at Kennedy High School. With a lifelong interest in science, participating in classes at the TGR Learning Lab allowed him to broaden his understanding and discover aligned career paths while building transferrable skills.

While balancing academics and extra-curricular activities including honor band and sports, Miguel enjoys sharing what he’s learned with younger student-athletes on his track and cross-country teams.  

TGR Foundation announced John Lee as Vice President, Programs and Education. Lee, an experienced student-focused education leader, will oversee TGR Foundation’s education programs and staff responsible for delivering educational opportunities and resources to students from under-resourced communities in Southern California and beyond. 

As high school seniors approach the end of an era and work toward their college and career goals, getting started can often be overwhelming. This summer students across the country gathered for three sessions of our annual College Bound Academy. Through the program, more than sixty students participated in various workshops and activities to gain […]

With support from Broadcom Foundation, TGR Foundation partnered with the Centralia Elementary School District to pilot a two-week course introducing fifth and sixth graders to computer science using the Raspberry Pi. From February through May, TGR Foundation’s flagship TGR Learning Lab instructors were joined by Centralia Elementary School District access coordinators to visit all schools in the district and implement the curriculum with students. Through the program, more than a thousand students were exposed to computer science concepts and developed computer science skills using the Raspberry Pi.

As I approached graduation and reflected on the Earl Woods Scholar class of 2022, it became clear to me that the story of our college experience is one of resilience.

Each of us has endured countless struggles and tragedies and emerged much stronger and wiser. We have overcome every single obstacle that has come our way, from national distress to a global pandemic. Each of us is so much more than the worst thing we’ve ever experienced and nothing, not even the most formidable forces, can keep us down.

Through its ongoing partnership with DoD STEM, TGR Foundation recently opened registration to STEM Studio, virtual educator professional learning sessions offered at no cost in the summer of 2022.  

 There will be two sessions available for first-time STEM Studio participants taking place 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. PDT, daily June 21 – 23 and June 28 – 30. These sessions will cover practices to build an Inquiry Mindset in their teaching and students’ approach to learning.  

Through personal outreach, an internship with the American Heart Association and personal health adversities in my family, I found an interest in cardiology. As I learned how crucial the heart, lungs and their connecting vessels are to human health, I developed a desire to help those in need of heart and lung operations.

During my junior year, I had the absolute honor of being accepted into QuestBridge’s College Prep Scholars and the Earl Woods Scholar Program. I saw an immense connection in the way the resources from both programs were distinct, yet both were critical in constructing me as a strong holistic candidate. The Earl Woods Scholar Program provided an unmatched individualistic and personalized support system wherein I had mentors and advisors that I could turn to at any time. It was set to help me achieve any vehicle for success, in my case both the QuestBridge and UC processes. Anybody who’s seen the work of the EWSP can vouch for the fact that all staff involved are the most dedicated and hardworking people.

As educators face challenges of distance learning and look for strategies to keep students engaged in virtual, in-person and hybrid class formats, TGR Foundation’s four-part series of STEM Studio trainings provided a solution with a domestic launch in Anaheim, CA. In close proximity, to the foundation’s flagship TGR Learning Lab, many Anaheim Union High School District educators had already been connected to our programs.  

 In the summer of 2021, the cohort model was launched with a group of teachers from Dale, Sycamore, Orangewood and Walker junior high schools participating in Virtual STEM Studio One, Inquiry Mindset. From there we have continued working with cohorts from Dale that have moved forward in our Inquiry Pathway to a second Inquiry Workshop, Making Thinking Visible.   

DoD STEM, leader of the Defense STEM Education Consortium (DSEC), has recently chosen TGR Foundation to manage their DoD STEM Ambassador Program for the 2021-2022 academic year.

In September of 2021, TGR Foundation welcomed 16 STEM Ambassadors from across the United States. These highly qualified educators were selected from a wide applicant pool and come equipped with a variety and wealth of knowledge in STEM-related fields across the k-12 spectrum. 

At 16, Abigail Yun has already discovered a passion for technology and begun pursuing opportunities to gain experience and explore potential career paths.

In partnership with Bitwise Industries, TGR Foundation offered its students access to an eight-week pre-apprenticeship training and introduction to web development to teach the fundamentals of HTML and CSS. Upon completion of the training and high school graduation, participants would have an opportunity to join its paid apprenticeship.

After learning about the training, Abigail signed up immediately. We recently connected with her to learn more about her experience and career outlook.