SMASH

SMASH

Project Lead: Citlali Campos

SMASH was founded by Conner Richards in 2014 with the help of the Donald Strauss Scholarship. SMASH stands for Supporting and Mentoring Aspiring Students in High School. The goal of SMASH is to increase college enrollment in STEM fields among Riverside-area high school students, specifically those from under-represented, low-income, and/or first generation backgrounds. We accomplish this by tutoring and mentoring students during after school hours at Ramona High School and Poly High School.

We assist students with homework problems, create practice problems, and provide effective study habits. SMASH also leads events where aspiring high school students visit the UCR campus and learn about the college experience.

With our easily accessible tutoring service, we have been able to help students gain a better understanding of the material they are struggling with, and provide valuable mentorships. We strive to inspire students to pursue higher education and demonstrate that everyone has a place in science.