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< Back to all programs Stars Tuesdays or Thursdays | 4:15–6:15 PM | 393 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101 To Participate: Email caltechy@caltech.edu to get started About This is a new Caltech Y partnership supporting K–5th grade students in reading and homework help. 4:15–5:15 PM: Enrichment — support or lead activities 5:15–6:15 PM: Homework and reading support STARS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to mentoring and educating Pasadena-area youth. Its mission is to affirm, equip, and embolden young people to pursue lives of purpose, service, and meaning. Previous Program Next Program

get involved student opportunities The Caltech Y coordinates a variety of programs each term; some designed to heighten awareness of ethical, social, and political issues; some to serve the community, and some just to promote fun and relaxation. At the heart of Caltech Y programming is student leadership. Regardless of your level of experience or availability, the Caltech Y has an opportunity in leadership for you. COMMUNITY SERVICE STUDENT COMMITTEES community service opportunities rise tutoring Monday - Thursday | 4:30 - 6:00 PM | On Caltech's campus, online, and at John Muir High School The Rise Program is an afterschool math and science-focused tutoring program serving public school students. The Caltech Y has been administering the program since 2006 and the program has been successful at helping students who struggle with math and science. The tutoring is provided by Caltech undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduate students can use their Federal and Caltech Work-Study allotment to get paid for tutoring. TUTOR INFORMATION reading partners Reading Partners’ mission is to help children become lifelong readers by empowering communities to provide individualized instruction that produces measurable results. Volunteers are matched with a student and meet weekly to improve reading skills. Volunteers tutor students who are reading behind grade level using Reading Partners curriculum and are expected to contribute at least 1.5 hours weekly. For more info visit: www.readingpartners.org and email caltechy@caltech.edu . union station Prepare and serve dinner to the residents at Union Station Adult Center in Pasadena. Food and materials are provided. The Adult Center provides shelter, meals and supportive services for more than 150 homeless men and women each year. For more information and to RSVP email caltechy@caltech.edu youth of promise Tutor Pasadena & Altadena youth ages 11-18. Tutors work with students, one-on-one, for 30 minute blocks. The Youth of Promise (YOP) program invests deeply in youth exposed to trauma and adverse childhood experiences. YOP supports youth academically, socially, and emotionally. All youth receive one-on-one case management and participate in a curriculum of program activities that include academic support, mentorship, life skills, enrichment activities, caregiver engagement sessions, mental health services and more. For more info about YOP services, visit their website at: https://www.flintridge.org/our-programs/youth-of-promise/ . For questions or to get started volunteering, email caltechy@caltech.edu. LEAP PROJECT Donate your time or your lab equipment to the LEAP Project. The The Lab Equipment Access Program, or the LEAP project, aims to address the social issue that many public high schools lack resources like lab equipment, which are critical to students' hands-on science education. For more info and to get involved visit https://leap.caltech.edu/ make-a-difference day The Caltech Y is partners with agencies from all over Pasadena and the greater LA region for one day of community service. All members of the Caltech community are invited to participate in one of a variety of community service projects at the Boys and Girls Club, Monrovia Canyon, Habitat for Humanity, LA Food Bank, Hillsides Home for Children, and many more sites. You can choose to work with kids or animals, do construction or outdoor projects or visit with the elderly. Projects are led by other students and will be 3.5 to 6 hours - including travel, depending on the project. Meals, transportation, and t-shirts are provided. Alternative spring break Explore a new place, meet new people, serve a community, and have fun! Join other Caltech students for a non-traditional spring break experience and volunteer for a worthy cause. From the desert to the Sierras to more local urban experiences, there are a number of different community service trips that change from year to year. Communty Service

Rentals About We are pleased to announce the official launch of our new website for Caltech Y gear rentals! The platform has been upgraded and streamlined to enhance your rental experience. Rentals are only available to Caltech and JPL community members (students, faculty, staff, alumni). To facilitate a seamless rental process, please follow these instructions when you are ready to reserve items: Follow the prompts to create an account, providing all required information Register using your Caltech/JPL affiliated email address Select your desired pickup and drop-off dates Gear pickup and drop-offs are available exclusively on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 10AM-4PM Make your payment through our secure system Review and sign the required waiver forms Submit your request Please note that the request submission alone does not guarantee the reservation. A member of the Caltech Y will approve your request, at which point your gear will be reserved. Your payment will be refunded if your request is not approved. All rental prices are subject to change. Please be sure to make the reservation no later than 5pm of the business day before your desired rental pick-up day. If you have any questions, please call (626) 395-6163 or email us at caltechy@caltech.edu . We look forward to serving your gear rental needs! RESERVATIONS What We Offer room rentals The Caltech Y has one room available for reservation for meetings or small programs. This room has access to a restroom. Please note there may be limited availability for these rooms. Reservation Periods begin: Fall: August 30 Winter: November 30 Spring: February 30 Summer: May 30 *Room reservations must be re-requested at the beginning of each term for continuous weekly reservations* The Frank Dryden Multi-Purpose Room is a larger space that is versatile for a variety of functions. It is furnished with stackable chairs and is suitable for groups up to 10. It also has a TV and VCR/DVD. Please email caltechy@caltech.edu or call 626-395-6163 to reserve - Pickup and Drop-Off hours are exclusively from 10am to 4pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. - Reservation requests can be made at any time online; however, gear can only be picked up or returned on our designated rental days which are Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays. - On which days can I rent equipment? - What are the pickup and drop-off hours? - You should make your reservation as early as possible to ensure availability. Online reservation requests can be made as early as 90 days in advance of your planned return date: however, no later than 5pm of the business day before your desired rental pickup day. - You must cancel your reservation no later than 5pm on the business day before your scheduled rental pickup for a full refund. Failure to do so will result in a 1-day charge for each canceled item or items not picked up, with the remaining balance eligible for a refund. - What is the cancellation policy? - How early should/can I make a reservation? FAQ - You will receive an email the day before or on the same day when your rental starts with information on how to pick up your reserved items. On your pickup day, you may pick up reserved items from 10am to 4pm from the numbered bins on the porch outside the Caltech Y or by following special instructions. Bin number and/or special instructions will be included in the pickup email. - How will I receive information about my rental pickup? - All tents MUST be set up and taken down by the renter after staff inspection upon return. An additional $20 fee per tent will be assessed if you are unable to set up or take down your tent at the time of return. If you are renting multiple tents or a 6-person tent, you MUST bring extra people with you to help set up. This process ensures that the person who rents the tent(s) after you has all the pieces and the tent is in good working order. - Are there any specific instructions for returning tents? - You will be charged to replace lost or damaged equipment. In general, charges are based on how long we have had the specific equipment. - 1st Year = full replacement cost - 2nd Year = 80% replacement cost - 3rd Year = 60% replacement cost - 4+ Years = 40% replacement cost - We are closed on weekends and holidays and cannot rent or accept equipment for returns during those times. You will be charged for the full rental period (even if you use the gear for only one day/night) and will return the gear on our next open day. - I only need to rent for one day. Why can’t I return gear on other days besides Mon/Wed/Fri? What is the rental fee policy? - I broke or lost equipment. Will I be charged?

< Back to all programs Y-Tutor Ongoing opportunity | Flexible Schedule To Participate: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf8jzcbNajCIMUNHg4iLKakQD51eGZUXNab5KMTPdcRsSKbcw/viewform About Y-Tutor is a free, online math and science tutoring program for Pasadena college students. Volunteers make a direct impact by helping students strengthen their skills, gain confidence, and succeed in their STEM courses. About the Program Who we support: Pasadena City College students (through the MESA program, which serves low-income, first-generation STEM students) and Rise Alumni (former Rise Program students now in college). Format: Online tutoring sessions Schedule: Flexible, you set your own availability (students especially need evenings). Commitment: No long-term commitment required; students book sessions as needed. By providing academic support at the college level, Y-Tutor helps close achievement gaps and encourages more underrepresented students to pursue careers in STEM. Interested in joining this year’s group of tutors? Sign up here: https://forms.gle/ETNmvfgByU8LbbqB9 If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Camila Fernandez at camilaf@caltech.edu . Previous Program Next Program

caltech Y NEWS Caltech Y 2024 Annual Report Out Now! Congratulations to all the students who received year-end awards! SPHEREx Mission Takes Center Stage at Caltech Y Friends Dinner, Raising Over $2,500 for Fire Recovery Efforts Double Your Impact: Creating a Global Perspective Kicking off the Trip Ticket: Global Perspectives Campaign! Caltech Y Food Truck Open House Showcases Student Programs 1 2 3 4 5 publications Caltech Y News Publications 2024 Annual Report READ MORE 2022 Annual Report READ MORE Rise Report 2021-22 READ MORE 2019 Annual Report READ MORE 2023-24 Rise Report READ MORE Rise Report 2022-23 READ MORE 2020 Annual Report READ MORE 2018 Annual Report READ MORE 2023 Annual Report READ MORE 2021 Annual Report READ MORE Rise Report 2020-21 READ MORE

Marketing & Communications Co-Chair < Back Mitch Aiken Marketing & Communications Co-Chair Mitch has led Caltech's Educational Outreach efforts since 2013, through Caltech's Center for Teaching, Learning and Outreach. Previously, he directed education programs and centers at the X PRIZE Foundation, The American Film Institute and KCET. He earned a BA in Communications and an MEd in Educational Media and Instructional Design from the University of NC at Chapel Hill. Committee Affiliation: Communications & Marketing Committee Previous Next

< Back Greg Fletcher Program Director Prior to coming to the Caltech Y, Greg worked in Residence Life at UCLA and Cal Poly Pomona, and in Student Life on board the SS Universe Explorer for Semester At Sea. Greg is a native of Niagara Falls, Canada, and holds a Masters of Education with an emphasis in Student Affairs from Azusa Pacific University.

< Back Lila Rodriguez-Acevez* Committee Affiliation: Student ExComm Previous Next

< Back Vansh Kumar Vansh began working at Google in 2016 as a software engineer, and worked at Verily Life Sciences as a software engineering manager from 2021 to 2024. He is currently on a break from work to explore his interests. He earned a BS in Applied Computational Mathematics and Computer Science from Caltech. Committee Affiliation: Finance Committee Previous Next

Advancement Co-Chair < Back Cindy Bengtson Budzyn Advancement Co-Chair Cindy retired after 30 years of leadership positions with ARCO/BP and devotes her time to community service. At age 25 she created Big Sisters of Los Angeles.  41 years later, Big Sisters is merged as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles serving 1000 “high risk” children throughout LA County. Her other non-profit work has included memberships and Board roles in over 15 organizations, most recently Leadership Pasadena and Los Altos Auxiliary for Hathaway Sycamores. She graduated with a BS in Consumer Economics from Purdue University and completed numerous professional certification courses in employee benefits, taxation and gerontology. Committee Affiliation: Advancement Committee Previous Next

Governance Chair < Back Debbie Dison Hall Governance Chair Debbie is a Caltech alum (BS ’74), retired lawyer, and former partner at Allen Matkins’ Los Angeles office. She is a life member of the SURF (Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship) Board where she served as the Board chair from 2013 to 2015. Debbie was also a board member with the YMCA of the Foothills, President of the Caltech Alumni Association, and served on the Caltech Y’s board of directors from 2009-2014. While she was on the Y board, she served as Governance Committee Chair for several years. Debbie currently volunteers as a judge for the local court system. Committee Affiliation: Executive Committee, Governance Committee Previous Next

< Back Robert (Otis) Otieno* Otis (’27) is an applied & computational mathematics undergrad at Caltech and a member of Blacker House. At Caltech, he has been a practitioner of AI tools for offices such as Tech Transfer and a researcher into homomorphic encryption for creation of full-on user privacy tools. When he is not researching or studying, he enjoys training Olympic weightlifting for fun, reading sci-fi stories and djembe drumming. His first contact with the Y was through Liz Jackman who was his first-year mentor. Through Liz, he attended some meetings and signed up to be a Rise Tutor at John Muir high school. He has also enjoyed programs such as ASB trips to Costa Rica and MAD(Make A Difference) day. His future aspirations for the Y are to expose more students to the Y and have them participate in its various programs, while also researching logistics into possible Y safaris to Africa as he patiently awaits to launch a community impact non-profit organization of his own back in his home country of Kenya. Committee Affiliation: Student ExComm, Finance Committee Previous Next