CITRIS at UC Merced hosted its 7th annual ¡Valle! Get Your Start in Tech! workshop in November. The accelerated program spans three days, providing resources to underrepresented Central Valley college students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Over the weekend, 32 students from UC Merced and Merced College explored pathways to graduate school, developed their networking skills, exercised their coding chops with Google Earth Engine and a drone sensing challenge, and more.
The event was made possible by workforce development funding from the state of California. It was organized by Erin Hestir, director of CITRIS at UC Merced; Hanna Bartram, managing director; and Eleanor King, outreach and education coordinator. Speakers included Leigh Bernacchi, Jill Finlayson, Kimberly Gibson and Linda J. Garcia, with a panel featuring De’Liz Amador, Elizabeth Amankwah, LaMonika Dent and Morgan Lavenstein Bendall.
Since its inception, ¡Valle! has benefited over 200 students. In 2026, it will expand to a new location at UC Santa Cruz.