The graduate student-led organization Future Advancers of Science and Technology (FAST) has been recognized for its work with Bay Area high school students. The organization is one of three recognized with Stanford’s 2019 Community Partnership Awards, which recognize collaborative work with the university in support of the community.

FAST students and mentors gather at Stanford for a symposium to showcase the students’ projects. (Image credit: Julie Ko, FAST)

FAST is a partnership with East San Jose high schools that brings Stanford graduate student mentors to work with underrepresented minority students in STEM fields. The FAST program builds a pathway for underresourced Bay Area high school students to access college by exposing them to Stanford researchers, supporting them in their education and ambitions, and providing them with college prep resources.

The graduate student mentors work with high schoolers through conceiving, designing and conducting an original scientific experiment or engineering project and presenting those projects at symposia and local science fairs. In 2018, for instance, 70 students worked with 40 graduate students across 16 departments.

The program has resulted in 100 percent of the 2017 and 2018 FAST graduating students attending college or technical school. The program is also being replicated at the University of California, Berkeley, and Impact Academy in Hayward, California.

This year’s other award winners are the Children’s Health Council and CrashCourse.

Stanford’s Office of Government and Community Relations has sponsored the awards program for 15 years to recognize the partnerships among Stanford and its neighbors and to celebrate collaborative efforts that tackle real-world problems and advance the public good.

“Each of the awardees selected this year exhibit a strong focus on genuine partnership to address major challenges facing children in our community – from youth mental health to access to STEM education in underserved communities to health awareness about concussions,” said Jean McCown, associate vice president for government and community relations.

Award winners are nominated by members of the campus community and are selected based on initiative, leadership and involvement in projects that reflect genuine partnership and commitment to community. The three organizations will be recognized during a ceremony on Nov. 1.

“Stanford’s commitment to working with our neighbors goes all the way back to the university’s Founding Grant, which includes a dedication ‘to promote the public welfare by exercising an influence in behalf of humanity and civilization,’” McCown said. “Stanford faculty, staff and students learn, live and work as residents of the Bay Area, and together we remain committed to a healthy, thriving and livable community for all who reside here. The Stanford Community Partnership Awards are an opportunity to celebrate our history of partnership.”