On Friday, November 14, fourteen MESA students from Skyline College and College of San Mateo visited Stanford University for the Community College Outreach Program (CCOP) Fall Symposium—the culminating event of the Fall 2025 CCOP Opportunities in Research Engagement (CORE) internship program.
CCOP offers paid, 10-week research internships for Bay Area community college students, helping bridge the gap between community colleges and leading research institutions. According to the program, CCOP “provides community college students with their first hands-on research experience… as they explore scientific fields, develop technical skills, and build confidence through mentorship from Stanford trainees and faculty.”
Joncarlo Estrada, a biology major at Skyline College and Fall 2025 CORE intern, shared that the internship confirmed his desire to pursue a career in science and research. What began with “major imposter syndrome,” he said, ended with a sense of confidence and belonging. He hopes to return to Stanford for another semester as a CCOP intern.
The Fall Symposium introduced visiting students to cutting-edge research across several Stanford biology and biosciences labs, offering insight into life as a researcher and the many career paths available in STEM.
The day began with small-group lab tours led by Stanford PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and current CCOP interns. Jasmin Khuu, a Skyline College biology major, shared that “being able to see the labs and get a look into some ongoing experiments was super cool.” Fellow biology major Atasha Espiritu Santo added that the experience helped her understand the different focus areas within biology and affirmed her interests in cell and molecular biology and genetics.
After the lab tours, students participated in a career conversation with panelists representing a range of pathways—from current and former PhD students, to a recent medical school graduate, to a former CCOP intern from Skyline who is now studying at UC Berkeley. All panelists began their academic journeys at California Community Colleges, offering an inspiring example of what is possible. Pamela Ortega, a Skyline biology major, found the panel especially meaningful. “Hearing what other people with similar backgrounds and experiences did to get where they are—and their advice—was very useful,” she shared.
The day concluded with research talks from the Fall 2025 CCOP intern cohort, including four CSM students and two Skyline College students. Interns presented the projects they had worked on over the past 10 weeks, walking the audience through their research questions, methods, results, and future directions. Their presentations highlighted the breadth and depth of the program while motivating their peers to pursue similar opportunities.
The visit offered students a powerful glimpse into academic research and inspired many to explore future pathways in science.
Spring 2026 CORE Internship applications are now open! For more information and to apply, visit ccop.stanford.edu/apply-now.
MESA – Math, Engineering, Science Achievement – is an academic enrichment program that helps educationally underrepresented students excel in math and science and graduate from college with degrees in math-based fields. Founded in 1970, the MESA program serves pre-college, community college, and university students at over 90 sites throughout California. Skyline College’s MESA Program is part of the MESA California Community College Programs (MCCP).
To learn more about or apply for the Skyline College MESA program, please visit www.skylinecollege.edu/mesa or email skymesa@smccd.edu.
Article by Stephanie Wells
