K-12 STEAM Programs

🚨FREE LASER CUTTING WORKSHOP OPEN TO ALL

Ever wanted to create your own custom laser-cut design? Now’s your chance! Join us at the Hartnell College Makerspace for a hands-on Laser Cutting Workshop where you’ll learn the basics of laser cutting and take home a project of your own.

✨ No experience needed
✨ Learn how laser cutters work
✨ Create and take home your own design
✨ Free and open to the community

📅 Date: Thursday, June 5
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Hartnell Alisal Campus
Building D, Room D110
1752 E Alisal St, Salinas, CA 93905

🎟️ Register now! Spots may fill quickly. Scan the QR code on the flyer or visit:
🔗 tinyurl.com/HartnellMakerspace

📞 Questions? Call 831-737-4218
📧 Email [email protected]

🧬🌿🚀On May 9th, we celebrated the conclusion of our Alisal Union School District Saturday Academies with a special Cafecito for families from across all participating school sites.

This year, students took part in 12 dynamic academies 6 NASA Academies and 6 K-12 STEAM Academies where they explored science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics through hands-on learning experiences.

Families joined us to enjoy coffee, hot chocolate, and pizza while students proudly showcased the innovative projects they created throughout the program. From engineering designs to NASA telescope explorations, each project reflected the creativity, curiosity, and dedication of our students.

We are grateful to our students, families, teachers, ambassadors, and partners who made these Saturday Academies such a meaningful experience. Together, we are inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, inventors, and leaders.

✨Our Community Makerspace continues to grow!✨

On Thursday, May 14, the Hartnell College Foundation K-12 STEAM Program welcomed faculty, staff, and community members to an engaging evening focused on 3D printing and digital fabrication.

Participants learned how our 3D printers work, explored student-created projects, and discovered how these tools are being used to inspire innovation throughout our programs. Attendees also designed their own creations, which will be printed and available for pickup at a later date.

Our vision is to establish a vibrant community makerspace where learners of all ages can explore emerging technologies, develop technical skills, and transform their ideas into reality.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped build a culture of creativity and innovation in our community.

🚀 Ready to bring your ideas to life? ⚙️

Join us for a FREE Makerspace 3D Printing Workshop and learn how to design and create your own 3D printed piece to take home! 🎉

🛠️ No experience needed just bring your curiosity
📅 Thursday, May 14
⏰ 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 Hartnell Alisal Campus, Building D, Room D110
1752 E Alisal St, Salinas, CA

Spots may fill fast don’t miss out!

🔗- Link In Bio Register now
tinyurl.com/HartnellMakerspace

📞 Questions? Call 831-737-4218
📧 [email protected]

🛠️⚙️ On April 25th, our K–12 STEAM Program brought 31 students from Alisal USD and Salinas City ESD—along with parents and educators—to represent our community at the Tech Challenge Showcase in San Jose.

Students applied the engineering design process through robotics, Arduino programming, and circuit design, showcasing skills developed throughout the program.

We thank Jose Fausto (AUSD) and Chloe Johnson (SCESD) for their leadership and continued support, and our partners at The Tech Interactive—Sherry Birch, Tiffany Sartor, and Christina Luke Luna—for their guidance, especially during Family Science Day.

We’re incredibly proud of our students for their innovation, teamwork, and determination, and grateful to everyone who made this experience possible.

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✨It has been a wonderful journey supporting Salinas district students through each stage of the Invention Convention process.✨

Students began with site-based showcases in late February, then advanced to the K–12 STEAM Program’s 20th Annual Family Science Day at Hartnell College on March 14 (Pi Day), where they presented to a larger audience and judges. From there, a panel—including partners like Joby Aviation—selected students to move on to the Sacramento Regional Showcase on April 18.

We are proud to recognize our Merit Award recipients and our National Finalist,

Sophia will represent our region at the Invention Convention U.S. Nationals in Michigan, June 3–5, alongside her parents and with support from her teacher, Mr. Victor Marinelli. Her project focuses on supporting agricultural labor in our community, reflecting a meaningful local need.

We extend our gratitude to Chloe Johnson, Brenda Payne, and Victor Marinelli for their leadership, guidance, and dedication to student success.

This journey highlights the power of community, education, and innovation. We look forward to sharing more as Sophia prepares for nationals.

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✨🔬Big things happening in STEAM! 🔬✨
On April 9, Dr. Rolando Cruz Hartnell alum and Stanford PhD helped bring new lab equipment to our program, including a portable autoclave system and flow hoods donated by &
But it didn’t stop there 👏 Dr. Cruz joined our K–12 STEAM team at the Hartnell College Alisal Campus to show us how it all works in real life from watching the autoclave in action to exploring how flow hoods create safe lab environments.
Hands-on learning just leveled up, and our students are ready.

Sacramento, we’re ready! 🚀
On April 4, we met with 22 amazing families who will be joining us on this journey—and the energy was incredible. We’re excited to travel as a team and cheer on our students as they showcase their hard work and innovation.
Huge shoutout to our dedicated Invention Convention Leads who’ve been guiding students all year 👏 and to the 22 SCESD students we’re proud to support.
Thank you to Chloe Johnson, Brenda Payne, and the entire Invention Convention team for making this opportunity possible. Let’s go! 🔬✨

🧬🔬🧪Our K–12 STEAM team connected with Dr. David Sun Kong at a Stanford research seminar—Director of the MIT Media Lab’s Community Biotechnology Initiative and leader of a global movement in biotech education.
Through the “How to Grow (Almost) Anything” course, we’re not just learning—we’re part of a worldwide network exploring the future of synthetic biology and how we design and grow living systems.
Proud to represent Hartnell College and bring these opportunities back to our community. The future is growing here. 🌱✨

Big things happening in STEAM! 🔬✨
On April 9, Dr. Rolando Cruz—Hartnell alum and Stanford PhD—helped bring new lab equipment to our program, including a portable autoclave system and flow hoods donated by BioLink Depot.
But it didn’t stop there 👏 Dr. Cruz joined our K–12 STEAM team at the Hartnell College Alisal Campus to show us how it all works in real life—from watching the autoclave in action to exploring how flow hoods create safe lab environments.
Hands-on learning just leveled up, and our students are ready.