Students Graduate from Immersive STEM Program - Mike Hauser Academy

The Mike Hauser Academy wrapped up its immersive summer science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program with a graduation ceremony at Sonoma State University’s Person Theatre this past Friday. Students capped off their Academy experience with morning tours of the university as well as hearing from a panel of Academy Alumni who are currently in college.

2016 marks the ninth year of the Academy giving English Language Learner (ELL) students the opportunity to visit various STEM related companies to interact with engineers and professionals, observe demonstrations, and participate in hands-on activities that reinforce classroom math and science lessons. Nearly 100 students from Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Sebastopol and Healdsburg school districts spent three weeks making the connection between the importance of STEM studies and the possibilities of future careers.

The Mike Hauser Academy aims to support and increase ELL student high school graduation rates as well as encourage students to consider a path that leads through college to a career in technology. Survey results from the Academy’s 2015 Program Report bear out the program’s effectiveness in increasing student interest in STEM undergraduate majors and careers.

Launched in 2008, the Academy was the vision of the late Mike Hauser, former CEO of the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce. He understood the importance of ensuring an educated and trained workforce for the businesses in Santa Rosa and realized that, if we fail to increase the graduation rates of ELL students, we will lose their talents and any real hope of maintaining and growing our workforce.

Programs such as the Mike Hauser Academy exemplify the Chamber’s ongoing commitment to workforce development and its importance for our member businesses. Our business community’s future success is dependent on the workers’ skills, and the Mike Hauser Academy is one means for the Chamber to directly and dramatically improve the skills of our future workforce.