Torero Tidbits: STEAM Conference; Latinidad Talk; Keck Fellows; Sports Academic Awards

Free, Virtual STEAM Youth and Community Conference — July 25

The fifth annual STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) Academy Youth and Community Conference takes place virtually on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The conference brings together students, families, educators and leaders to provide new pathways for youth to ignite, develop and pursue STEAM interests. Simultaneously, this elevates STEAM literacy, awareness and nurturing potential of the community.

Presentations and three workshop sessions with interactive STEAM games and exercises are hosted by students and educators around the county. Various activities include the use of materials that participants can find around the house. There’s also a raffle, a keynote speaker (Dr. Shakira Hobbs) and more.

This event is run by three USD faculty/administrators — Dr. Odesma Dalrymple (Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering), Dr. Perla Myers (Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences) and Dr. Joi Spencer (Professor and Interim Dean, School of Leadership and Education Sciences).

Registration is free. More information available.

July 25: Dr. Greg Prieto on “The Complexities of Latinidad in Today's Environment”

The USD Alumni Association hosts a virtual event on Saturday, July 25 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with Sociology Professor Dr. Greg Prieto sharing his research and discussing how colorism and recent events are impacting the Latino community.

The conversation will consist of whole-group and breakout room with Dr. Prieto and those in attendance. Kevin Pelaez '14, president of USD's Latino Alumni Network, will moderate.

Register now for this free event. A follow-up email will have the Zoom link for this event.

The 2020-21 Keck Undergraduate Fellows Cohort Announced

Student research opportunities are a hallmark of a University of San Diego education. One of the best research programs available at USD during the course of the academic year is getting ready to start.

The USD Humanities Center has announced its 2020-21 cohort of Keck Undergraduate Research Fellows. The seven Keck Humanities Fellows this year will work under the close guidance of their faculty advisor/mentor to conduct original, substantial research, scholarly activities and/or creative work advancing the interdisciplinary humanities over both the fall and spring semesters. The fellows will meet next month to kick-off their year of work.

Sara Badrani ’21, a philosophy major, will be mentored by Philosophy adjunct instructor Tyler Hower; Reijer den Dulk ’21, an industrial and systems engineering major, will be mentored by Associate Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Jae Kim, PhD; Emma Heflin ’21, a double major in English and philosophy, will be mentored by English Associate Professor Maura Giles-Watson, PhD; Samuel Hixon ’21, who is majoring in interdisciplinary humanities and biochemistry, will be mentored by English Assistant Professor Brad Melekian, PhD; Alyssa Mugavero ’21, majoring in sociology and interdisciplinary humanities, will be mentored by Atryee Phukan, PhD, chair and associate professor of English and the program director for interdisciplinary humanities; Delaney Tax ’21, an Ethnic Studies major, will be mentored by Ethnic Studies Assistant Professor Josen Diaz, PhD; and Sienna Todd ’21, double major in visual arts and international relations, will be mentored by Visual Arts Professor John Halaka, MFA.

To learn more about this program and to consider applying for the 2021-22 year, go here.

Volleyball, Swim/Dive Teams Earns National Academic Awards

The USD women’s volleyball team earned the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2019-20 academic year, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced July 20.

The award, presented by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and AVCA, honors volleyball teams that maintain at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale over the course of the full academic year. A record 1,313 teams were recognized for the 2019-20 season.

The Toreros posted a 3.43 team GPA for the 2019-20 academic year, earning Team Academic honors for the first time in 2020. USD was also a recent recipient of the NCAA's APR Public Recognition Award, honoring teams that scored in the top 10% of their sports in the most recent APR results. The Toreros earned a perfect APR score in 2019-20, receiving the national honor for the fifth consecutive year.

Four Toreros earned WCC All-Academic honors in 2019, including Laura Madill who was a first team selection. Annie Benbow, Lauren Turner and Roxie Wiblin each earned honorable mention for their work in the classroom and on the court.

San Diego went 25-6 in 2019, claiming its 11th West Coast Conference Championship and making its 10th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

In women’s swimming and diving, the Toreros extended their streak to 11 consecutive semesters being named a College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association (CSCAA) Scholar All-America Team in spring 2020, the organization announced.

The Toreros, who have earned the CSCAA Scholar All-America Team honor every semester since the spring of 2015, compiled another strong semester in the classroom this spring, combining for a 3.72 team GPA. The team also collected 14 All-Academic honors from the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in April.

USD was one of 461 schools recognized for the honor across Division I, II and III men's and women's teams as well as among teams from NAIA and junior college.

— Compiled by Ryan T. Blystone

USD Athletics contributed

Photos courtesy of USD STEAM Academy