Irvine Students: to Infinity and Beyond

THE CENTER OF COMMUNITY IN ORANGE COUNTY

IRVINE STUDENTS: TO INFINITY AND BEYOND

A cutting-edge STEM CubeSat will be launched in early 2017 from somewhere in India and, once in program sends high orbit, will collect data, take pictures, school students in Irvine and allow the students to perform or- on a mission to launch a bital maneuvers and experiments. satellite into space in 2017 If launching a satellite into orbit sounds expensive, there’s a good reason for that: it is. But fortunately, when it comes to STEM education (science, technology, engineering and BY TERENCE LOOSE mathematics), the Irvine community puts its wallet where its beliefs are. emember when powering Irvine Public Schools Foundation a light bulb with a potato (IPSF), a nonprofit group that raises wowed your science teach- money for the Irvine Unified School er? Well, those days are District, gave $150,000 in seed money Top: University High School students examine a 3-D printed frame of a miniature cube satellite long, long, really long gone. to launch the project, with the hopes to they made in class. Irvine high school students are teaming up to build a miniature satellite, called a CubeSat. Above: Students in the CubeSat STEM Program from six Irvine high schools, At least they are for Irvine raise a total of $500,000. applaud after a successful gamma-ray test on a nano satellite at UCI Nuclear Reactor Facility. high school students, who FivePoint Communities Manage- are working toward launch- ment, Inc., development manager for ing a satellite into space. Heritage Fields El Toro, LLC, the owner do. “Being a part of this project is a once ing vision Irvine itself is renowned for. RYes, a real satellite. Yes, real space. of the private development adjacent to in a lifetime opportunity that not only “The Irvine CubeSat project is a game It’s called the CubeSat Program and the Orange County Great Park, contrib- teaches students how to program and changer for STEM education in Irvine,” it involves 25 to 30 high schoolers from uted another $50,000 to sponsor the build a satellite, but it more importantly says Tinh Tran, STEM and engineer- each of Irvine’s six high schools. Col- team from the recently opened Portola teaches them how to be resilient when ing teacher at University High School lectively, the team is called Irvine01 and High School. faced with problems, how to manage and the man who, with two Irvine dads, they’ve been working together since “What is so wonderful about the city of their time effectively, and how to col- first conceived the program. “The Irvine early 2016 to launch a fully functioning Irvine is that our leaders, school district, laborate with other professionals from CubeSat STEM Program brings together 30-pound nanosatellite (picture the size corporate partners, local businesses, and around the country,” she says. schools, industry partners, non-profits, of a milk carton cut in half) 350 miles residents are all committed to making “These types of real-life experiences and others to train and inspire the next high into orbit around the earth. Each and keeping Irvine one of the best places inspire, encourage, and challenge our generation of innovative thinkers and high school’s team is responsible for a to live in Orange County,” says Neda students to literally reach for the stars; STEM professionals.” different part of the satellite – avion- Eaton, IPSF president and CEO. because with a growth mindset the Students will get hands-on practice ics, communication, propulsion, etc. “The schools are a big part of that stars are literally within reach!” with everything from hardware and – with each group working after school equation, which is why it is so critical to One of the mission-critical goals software challenges to electrical subsys- and with leading scientists in various have partners like FivePoint who under- of the project is to inspire that next tems and data analysis. They also get a disciplines. If all goes as planned, the stand the importance of providing the generation to pursue careers in STEM- lot of equally important soft skills, Tran next generation with related fields, according to Eaton. “We explains, including collaboration, pro- opportunities to thrive.” also want to reach a wider audience fessionalism, initiative, perseverance, Portola High School and stimulate opportunities for young flexibility, and meeting deadlines. is in its first year as women and minorities in the growing Mostly, though, they get to launch Irvine’s newest high STEM workforce,” she says. something into space – with absolutely school, with only fresh- The countdown to that sort of suc- no potatoes involved. men currently attend- cess is on in Irvine. Not only is the Ir- ing. So its CubeSat vine01 team culturally diverse, but also team is still in the collectively it’s made up of 35 percent FIVEPOINT’S COMMITMENT TO formative stages, says girls, with Irvine High School hitting INNOVATION AND EDUCATION teacher Erin Arredon- 50 percent. Nationwide, similar STEM Innovation is reshaping the way do, who will lead the programs average only 22 percent. students learn, helping educators conceive previously unimagined program at Portola. The program is all-systems-go, with strategies for teaching tomorrow’s “The CubeSat project the students’ CubeSat recently passing a leaders. The Irvine Unified School gives students in Irvine gamma-ray test at the UC Irvine nuclear District has been a leader in pursuing the opportunity to reactor facility. Next up is a December innovative programs, a forward- thinking mindset that FivePoint pursue their STEM pas- vibration and thermal test, nicknamed embraces as a community builder. sion by allowing them the more descriptive “shake and bake The CubeSat Program is one such to experience first-hand test,” at L.A. International Airport. initiative that we are proud to support what it is like to be an “Once the CubeSat passes this test, because it requires “big thinking” and connects students with real engineer,” says Arredon- it will be ready for integration and world opportunities and challenges. launch!” says Eaton, exuding the kind FivePoint applauds those who are of enthusiasm that makes a student- reaching for the stars to maintain the launched satellite possible. excellence of local public schools. It go to irvineinspired.com for more stories and videos is exciting and inspiring watching the In fact, the CubeSat Project represents future unfold in classrooms today. the kind of cutting-edge, forward-think-

Let’s make Irvine the very best it can be. Let’s keep our eyes and minds open to new ideas. Let’s go beyond the status quo. Let’s surprise ourselves with what happens next. Let’s go.

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