The Associated Students of Biomedical Engineering (ASBME) is a student-led undergraduate biomedical engineering organization at USC that serves the engineering student body with a comprehensive calendar of pre-professional workshops, industry networking events, mentorship programs, and community activities. These events foster a collaborative, inclusive community that allows students to gain insight into both their chosen field of study and the opportunities that are specific to the biomedical engineering major, while serving our neighbors and community members. In short, ASBME strives to act as the ultimate resource for all students with a vested interest in biomedical engineering.

This school year, USC ASBME would like to host a Makeathon Jr. event. This 36-hour biomedical device prototyping competition will be for high-school students in the South Los Angeles community. The goal of this event is to help expose these young students to STEM curriculum. With Black and Latino students only making up 3.8% and 8.8% of Biomedical Engineering Bachelor's Degrees nationally, a need exists to expose these underrepresented groups in engineering to STEM and promote diversity within this field. During this event, students will hear from panels and keynote speakers, while learning valuable technical skills like Computer Aided Design (CAD) and 3D Printing/Modeling. It is at this event where young students will learn how to work in teams, analyze problem statements, gain exposure to technical skills, and create solutions. The first Makeathon Jr. was piloted last year with 30+ students in attendance, and we aim to have over 60 participants this year, so financial help is needed to make this event a success once again.

In order to host a Makeathon Jr. event, we need to raise $4,000 for the equipment, supplies, and resources we need, as well as to support other costs relating to this event. We need to purchase the equipment and materials that will be used to build prototypes; funds to rent the venue location and to provide food to keep the students focused and comfortable, as well as some funding for prizes to award the students with the best prototypes. We want to be able to host a positive, high-quality learning experience for the kids in the community so that they can take this experience and one day consider an education and career in STEM. We want them to walk away with a passion for science, technology, engineering, and math, be confident that they can analyze and solve problems, leave with better collaborative and communication skills, and the ability to take what they learn inside the classroom and apply them to real-world scenarios.

With a goal of $4,000, we will be able to provide an invaluable experience for young students in our community who otherwise may not have the opportunity to be exposed to STEM curriculum and experiences.

Thank you so much for your support. Fight On!

For more information about USC ASBME, please visit at:

Official Website: https://www.asbmeusc.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/asbmeusc?igshid=11ogqr06sq5en

Facebook: https://facebook.com/asbme.usc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/asbmeusc