Student Success Stories

Danica

Danica began her journey with the Gene-ius Day Program through her participation in Saturday Gene-ius Day when she was in 4th grade. She has also worked within the program as a High School Intern and is currently employed by the Gene-ius Day Program as an undergraduate student assistant. Due to her extensive time in the program Danica was able to explore a plethora of fields, such as: biology, forensics, and environmental science. Being exposed to a wide area of STEM areas encouraged her to take more advanced science courses in High School and during her college career. Danica also discovered a passion for helping others through her work as a High School Intern and Undergraduate Assistant helping instructors and program coordinators lead lessons. She has been encouraged to pursue science as a profession and is currently majoring in Nursing with a minor in Public Health. Ultimately, Danica’s goal is to be a neonatal nurse or a labor & delivery nurse. She wants to use the skills gained within the Gene-ius Day Program and the Public Health Department to contribute to the broader Hawaiʻi community.

Camryn

Camryn had the opportunity to participate in the Hawaiʻi AgDiscovery Program (HADP) in the summer prior to her senior year of high school. During her time in HADP she developed an appreciation for agriculture through interacting with local businesses, farms, veterinarians, USDA, and other government agencies. Camryn discovered that she had a passion for natural resources and biotechnology which influenced her to later serve as a HADP chaperone for 4 years. Working as a chaperone reignited her love of agriculture. Through both her time as a participant and mentor within HADP she gained significant skills in leadership, mentorship, and teamwork. Camryn has graduated college with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Her experiences in the Hawaiʻi AgDiscovery Program have allowed Camryn to be a leader in her college experiences and led her to pursue her job as an Accounts Payable Specialist for the Lakefield Veterinary Group in Kent, WA.

Royce

Royce started participating in the Gene-ius Day Program from 3rd grade! Beginning in the Saturday Gene-ius Day Program Royce later was a GEAR-Up qualified student and also had the opportunity to work for us as a high school intern. While in college he has also been a Hawaiʻi AgDiscovery Chaperone. The Gene-ius Day Program allowed him to learn and experience science in a fun and highly interactive way. Through the hands-on experiences, Royce gained biotechnology skills and built his scientific inquiry, both of which he extensively uses in his academics and my career. Without GENE-ius Day, Royce would have not been so passionate about STEM education and participating in critical healthcare research projects. This has inspired him to earn his B.S. in Human Biology with a minor in Health Care Studies at the University of Southern California (USC). Royce will also be earning his M.S. in Global Medicine with an emphasis on INterprofessional Healthcare at USC. Participating in the Gene-ius Day Program has led Royce to pursue positions in STEM; he has been a Medical STEM Program Teaching Assistant for the USC Joint Educational Project and a Teaching Assistant for statistics. Royce aims to teach cancer biology to 3rd grade South Central LA Students.