Our Mission
Ensure America’s technological future by generating Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) interest in middle school students by augmenting classroom math/science education with real-world examples and technical professionals in a SUSTAINED program.
About RST
RST is a 501C-3 non-profit, all-volunteer organization comprised of technical professionals and engineering
graduate students dedicated to exciting students about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and inspiring them to pursue a
career in those fields by conducting an after-school program for 24 weeks during the school year. Since 2005, RST has developed
and honed a classroom-proven approach that has the potential to be expanded for use across the country.RST believes it is imperative to create interest in math, science and engineering before students enter high school. A common complaint by students is “Why study math… I’ll never use it!” since they typically do not see the link between math and science. Because algebra is the gateway to higher-level math, and therefore science and engineering, the student’s failure to grasp algebra effectively limits the pursuit of a technical career. For this reason, RST addresses the challenge at the 8th grade Algebra level. RST has demonstrated that students benefit from technical professionals helping to generate interest in STEM. It should be noted that RST volunteers include female technical professionals who provide outstanding role models for female students.
RST works under the direction of the teaching staff to reinforce lesson plans in a weekly after-school session structured to excite students about "aerospace" applications of math being learned in the classroom. Our purpose is to support the teacher by first helping students learn the classroom material and then to gain an appreciation of this material through discussions, examples and sample problems.
The main themes introduced/reinforced throughout the sessions are "Math is a Tool", "Math is the Language of Science" and "Science and Engineering Create Our World".
RST is in its seventh year of conducting after school programs, operating at five Santa Ana, CA middle schools. Test scores from the first year have shown that students who have attended the sessions on a regular basis have improved their class grade. Analysis of student performance for subsequent years is ongoing. There is significant anecdotal evidence that the program is succeeding in creating interest. A long term study is active to follow-up with students who have attended the program. We are continually seeking volunteers to expand our effort. If we Engineers won’t do it, who will?