José Patino (he/him) was a 2024 Community-Academic Scholar working with Curriculum and Instruction Prof. Mike Tissenbaum, The Well Experience, and Driven to Reach Excellence & Academic Achievement for Males (DREAAM) to interact and engage with middle-school students involved in a summer maker camp. The camp is part of the Connected Spaces project, an effort to support community and belonging as well as inspire learners to pursue careers in STEM+C.
José is a James Scholar majoring in human development and family studies, passionate about supporting youth and improving academic success in underserved communities. As part of the project, he was able to work directly with students and help them create the projects they envisioned to address real-world using various STEM-related tools, including coding, wires, LED lights, and others.
I felt encouraged and valued as a member in the project. I was guided and trained in the use of the STEM-related tools that students used in the summer camp in order to be effective in my role as a facilitator. I was supported and provided with guidance to contribute to the team.
“While working with the professor and research team in this project, I felt encouraged and valued as a member in the project. I was guided and trained in the use of the STEM-related tools that students used in the summer camp in order to be effective in my role as a facilitator. I was supported and provided with guidance to contribute to the team,” José said.
José’s experience in the Community-Academic Scholars program helped him further develop his leadership and collaborative skills. After working directly with a research team and assisting with data collection and analysis, he plans to continue pursuing a career in research.
The Community-Academic Scholars will be featured as part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Orange and Blue Days, March 4-6, 2026. More information on how to support the program can be found on the IHSI website