On January 22, 2026, REACH Leadership STEAM Academy in Riverside hosted its annual science fair, welcoming students, educators, and community partners for a late-afternoon event that highlighted curiosity, experimentation, and discovery. UC Riverside’s College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) participated by sending graduate students to serve as judges and mentors, reinforcing the college’s commitment to community engagement, science education, and local recruitment.

The REACH Leadership STEAM Academy science fair marked the first of several regional science fairs supported by CNAS this month. CNAS graduate students also participated in the Val Verde Unified School District Science and Engineering Fair on Friday, January 23 and will serve as judges at the Riverside Unified School District Science and Engineering Fair on Tuesday, January 27. Together, these efforts reflect CNAS’s ongoing goal of being a consistent and visible partner in Inland Empire schools.

REACH Leadership STEAM Academy Vice Principal Toiya Allen said hosting a science fair—and welcoming university partners—helps students connect classroom learning to real-world possibilities.

“Having graduate students here shows our students what’s possible,” Allen said. “They get to interact with people who are actively studying and working in science, and that helps make science feel real and attainable.”

During the science fair, REACH students presented projects exploring a wide range of scientific questions. CNAS graduate student judges circulated throughout the event, engaging students in conversation, asking questions about their methods and findings, and offering encouragement and feedback.

Stephanie Dingwall, Divisional Dean of Student Academic Affairs for CNAS, said

 participation in local science fairs is a meaningful way for the college to support early interest in STEM while building long-term relationships with schools and families.

“These science fairs are about showing up for our community,” Dingwall said. “CNAS wants to be a partner—to encourage students’ passion for science, support educators, and help students see themselves as future college students and scientists.”

Dingwall emphasized that CNAS graduate students play a particularly important role in these efforts by serving as near-peer mentors who can help demystify higher education and research pathways.

Among the CNAS participants was Cameron Zappetta, an M.S. student with the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (BMB) program, who said he was impressed by the level of thought and engagement students brought to their projects.

“You could tell students had really spent time thinking through their ideas,” Zappetta said. “They were excited to explain their work and answer questions, and that kind of curiosity is exactly what science is about.”

Camille Groneck, a Ph.D. student in the Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology program, described the experience as a reminder of why outreach and mentorship matter.

“Seeing students so engaged and enthusiastic about science is incredibly motivating,” Groneck said. “Opportunities like this can spark confidence and help students realize they belong in science.”

For Reuben Franklin, a postdoc with the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology program, who also received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UCR, shared that serving as a judge was a way to give back and support the next generation of scientists.

“Moments like this can really shape how students think about their futures,” Franklin said. “Being able to encourage them and take their ideas seriously is important.”

Allen said the presence of CNAS graduate students added depth and excitement to the science fair experience.

“Our students benefit from having conversations with people who are further along in their academic journeys,” she said. “It helps them build confidence and see new possibilities for themselves.”

As CNAS continues its participation in regional science fairs across Riverside County, the focus remains on strengthening community partnerships, encouraging curiosity, and supporting students at every stage of their educational journey. By engaging with students early and often, CNAS aims to inspire future scientists while reinforcing UC Riverside’s role as a committed and accessible community partner.

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