One of the most special parts of attending F&M are the various impactful community organizations right around the corner. One such organization is the Lancaster County STEM Alliance, which connects students of all ages with meaningful STEM programming and experiences to prepare them for the workforce.
F&M senior Dominique Arambula ‘25 is a current intern with LCSA (Lancaster County STEM Alliance). She shared that working with this non-profit was a highlight of her college experience and connected me with Lauren Miller, the Executive Director of LCSA, so I could learn more about the heart of the organization. What I discovered during this chat made me proud of the Lancaster community and excited for its future.
When I asked Dr. Miller about her personal connection to the organization’s mission, she recalled what it was like growing up in Lancaster County with no clue what she wanted to do with her life. She noted, “When you’re 16, 17 years old, you don’t even know what your skill set looks like and how it translates to work.” LCSA, with programming in areas from coding and robotics to healthcare, helps kids get over this hurdle; it gives them the opportunity to develop different STEM-related skill sets and gain exposure to a variety of job options early on — before even graduating high school.
One of their initiatives, a platform called “Inspire Lancaster,” connects students directly with jobs, shadowing, internships, and mentors. It has been useful not just for high schoolers, but for teachers of elementary schools; they can use the site to find career day speakers, or even set up tours of local companies. Dr. Miller explained that “through these opportunities, these young kids can “begin to narrow down what they might be interested in”.
Ultimately, the organization thrives thanks to the teamwork of Lancaster community members. As Dr. Miller puts it, “It can’t just be teachers preparing the workforce. Businesses need to be involved, nonprofits, parents. Everybody.”
F&M students, too, can get involved with LCSA. If you want to play a part in helping kids discover their future careers, an LCSA internship just might be the perfect opportunity. Or, if you plan on staying in Lancaster County after graduation and are looking for connections to employment opportunities, LCSA can assist! As Dr. Miller relayed ‘the organization’s whole goal is to place people of all ages into careers to make Lancaster better. I’d love for more F&M students to be aware of the STEM Alliance but also be connected with us”.
Her final piece of advice for F&M students undoubtedly rings true for all of us— “Don’t underestimate the power of networking. The more connections you have, the more doors that open, and that’s so important as a young person.”
Senior Skylar Zachian is a Staff Writer. Her email is szachian@fandm.edu.