On Saturday, March 21, 2026, Skyline College hosted its 42nd annual Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) conference, welcoming middle and high school girls from San Mateo, San Francisco, Alameda, and Santa Clara counties. Designed to spark interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers, EYH engages students through hands-on, interactive workshops led by professionals. Participants represented more than 47 schools across the four counties, with the majority coming from San Mateo County. Approximately 86% of attendees were middle school students, highlighting the program’s strong reach among younger learners. The program is available at skylinecollege.edu/eyh.
Scientists from across disciplines volunteered their time to lead workshops, joined by Skyline College students, alumnae, faculty, and staff who presented sessions and mentored student workshop leaders. The college also extends its sincere appreciation to the student volunteers who served as “gofers,” helping guide participants throughout the day. Their collective dedication was essential to the success of the conference. The college also extends its sincere appreciation to Accenture for generously sponsoring a portion of the students’ lunches, helping ensure that participants were well supported throughout the day.
The event began with a welcome from STEM Division Dean Jessica Hurless and Vice President Dr. Carol Hernandez, followed by an inspiring keynote address from Astrid Ankerl, a postdoctoral researcher at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory specializing in nuclear and particle physics. She encouraged the students to pursue their ambitions with confidence.
Throughout the day, students participated in three of 25 concurrent workshops spanning a wide range of STEM fields. In hands-on engineering sessions such as Bridge Builders: Create, Collaborate and Engineer the Future, students designed and tested structures while learning from professionals in transportation engineering.
In technology-focused workshops like Build an AI App Your Friends Will Want to Try and Girl Code Power: Build Your Own App, participants explored coding and artificial intelligence by creating their own digital projects. Students interested in health and life sciences took part in immersive experiences such as Breathe Life: Step Into the Role of a Real-Life Hero! and Rescue Ready: EMT Essential Workshop, where they practiced life-saving skills and explored careers in emergency medicine.
Others investigated biology firsthand in sessions like Your DNA Discovery Lab and Eye Spy: The Science Behind Sight!, extracting DNA and examining the anatomy of vision. Creative and interdisciplinary workshops also brought science to life—Galaxy Girls: Cosmic Rays & Aurora Art combined space science with artistic expression, while The Scientist in the Kitchen: Molecular Gastronomy blended chemistry and cooking to transform ingredients into surprising textures. Environmental applications were explored in workshops such as Sea Ya, Salt!, where students learned about water purification.
Expanding Your Horizons aims to inspire girls to pursue math and science courses in high school, connect them with female role models in STEM fields, and foster meaningful
interaction between students, educators, and industry professionals. Through these experiences, participants discover exciting career opportunities while exploring STEM pathways and challenging gender stereotypes in traditionally male-dominated fields.
In addition to the day’s activities, participating students demonstrated their talents in a math and puzzle contest, where top performers earned a special opportunity to spend a day with a scientist. This experience includes visits to Stanford and the Aquarium of the Bay, where students will shadow professionals, explore research environments, and gain firsthand insight into careers in STEM.
By providing access to inspiring role models and real-world experiences, Expanding Your Horizons promotes education as a pathway to confidence, opportunity, and a fulfilling future.
Article by Nadia Tariq
Pictures by Claudia Paz and Nadia Tariq
