Gratitude for Teamwork – Collaborating to Create Change
By Ali Roberts
Collaboration is a fundamental aspect of most successful projects, especially in STEM fields. Many of the projects that occur through the Center of Gender Equity in Science and Technology are possible because of our partnerships and teamwork spanning across institutions, states, and oceans.
Our residential Hawaiʻi summer camps have been a success thanks to the staff, faculty, and affiliates at Hawaiʻi Pacific University. From housing, to curriculum, to our graduate student Mentor Teachers, HPU has made each of these camps possible. As the project coordinator for this summer’s CompuGirls Hawaiʻi camp, I was able to see first hand how many different folks were involved in the planning and execution of a camp as rich as this one. Some members of our team fulfilled multiple different roles throughout the week to make sure our campers had a safe and engaging experience. I would like to use this space and time to extend my personal gratitude and recognition to the amazing individuals who contributed to the residential camp in June. It is difficult to contain what each contribution means to me and to the students, so I will do my best to capture some of the foundational impacts made.
BIG thank yous:
To Dr. Mary Smith for organizing the entire camp’s curriculum, leading computer science activities, and facilitating app development throughout the week.
To Dr. Georgianna Martin, Jess Hankins, and Dr. Carmella Vizza for planning and leading the lessons on astronomy & physics day, marine science day, and ecology day.
To Carin Iha, HPU’s Director of Outreach Programs, for working tirelessly with us to ensure a smooth-as-possible experience with facilities, housing, and meals.
To Han Whitaker, Brittney Locket, Montaye Adams, Jess Hankins, Caitlyn Ogbaekwe, and Rechelle Ancheta for the amazing mentorship each of you provided during the week for our campers.
A massive thank you to Dr. Brenda Jensen for orchestrating most of the logistical aspects of the camp, recruiting camp staff, and providing the support and mentorship needed by us all throughout the week.
To Dr. Kaʻiulani Murphy from the Polynesian Voyaging Society for sharing with us a portion of her vast knowledge with traditional wayfinding.
To Vance Kaleohano Kahahawai Farrant at the North Shore Community Land Trust for introducing our group to Kalou Fishpond in Waialeʻe and allowing us to contribute to the process of restoration.
To Kumu Kaleo Hanohano and her ʻohana for bringing their Hawaiian cultural knowledges into conversation with STEM learning and highlighting the significance of investing in these knowledges for current and future generations.
And to all of our amazing volunteers that helped us provide such an amazing experience for the campers.
Many thanks to our entire team at CGEST and at ASU for their expertise, support, and guidance throughout the process. There are so many who work every day to ensure that operations go smoothly, and I am thankful for them. So much gratitude to Dr. Camilla Fojas for providing a beautiful example of mentorship and optimism throughout the planning process, during camp, and in the debriefs that followed and to Dr. Tara Nkrumah for working with us as Co-PI and helping us stay on track with our project’s goals. And thank you to Dr. Kimberly Scott, who has made all of this possible through her unwavering drive to building a community that is committed to STEM education for under-represented students.
Projects like this camp do take an entire community of people to run successfully. The communities that are formed around our camps are vast, beautiful, and strong, creating places where hope and optimism for our futures springs forth, from the engagement and ideas of our students and from the collaboration that occurs between us all.
