About
Links to STEM Program includes STEM enrichment summer camps and a hands-on program that meets two Saturdays out of each month. Students take part in laboratory science, computer programming, robotics, math, hands-on science activities, special projects, and field trips. Participants have visited places such as the 3D Printing Lab at Spectrum Library (National University), toured and worked with engineers at Hewlett Packard, toured and worked with scientists at Mirati Therapeutics, attended the annual Science Expo, and presented their creative ideas to Tesla and the City of Chula Vista Smart Cities.
• Ages: 9–14 years old
• Schedule: The program runs from June to April and includes a hands-on program that meets two Saturdays out of each month.
Each year, Links to STEM Program consists of approximately 30 students in the 4th through 8th grade, with the majority coming from low- to moderate-income households. The program was launched in 2014 and has concluded its seventh year, with over 23 students having graduated since 2014. Elementary and middle school students are challenged to master computer science programming, robotics, and artificial intelligence platforms, learn to program EV3 robots, and program and fly drones. Students have the chance to compete in a science, innovation, or engineering fair, compete in the First Lego League (FLL) as the Giga Bears robotics team, and participate in technical competitions such as Try-Math-A-Lon MATHCOUNTS, an Engineering Design Competition (Robotics-based), the PCI Science Fair, and NSBE conferences, and compete for scholarships and awards as they graduate high school.
The Links to STEM program was created by the San Diego Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, an international, not-for-profit corporation established in 1946 whose San Diego Chapter was formed in September 1957. The San Diego Chapter, of The Links, Incorporated is part of an international service organization focused on community service, especially to youth, and has an array of programs geared toward enriching and educating underserved communities. This program addresses the significant under-representation of persons of color, especially women and African Americans, and specifically the significant under-representation of African American students pursuing STEM-related college degrees and careers. The Links, Incorporated membership consists of more than 17,000 professional women of color in 302 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, The Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the United Kingdom, and has five facets of programs: National Trends, Services to Youth, International Trends, The Arts, and Health and Human Services.
In 2016, Links to STEM was recognized as one of the Best Services to Youth programs in The Links, Incorporated. The Giga Bears robotics team has earned multiple awards, including its first robotics team trophy for Robot Design in November 2016, 2nd place (out of 26) for robot design and 4th place for robot performance in November 2017, 7th place (out of almost 30 teams) in robotic performance and 8th place (out of 37) with a perfect score in Core Values in March 2019, and 1st Place Tournament Champion Honors competing against twenty-three teams in October 2019. In 2016, the San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce recognized the Links to STEM program at its annual gala, and California State Assembly Member Shirley Weber recognized the San Diego Chapter of The Links, Incorporated as the “2016 Nonprofit of the Year,” specifically highlighting the Links to STEM program. The program has also been featured in the Voice of San Diego.
In 2020, the Links to STEM program established a NSBE, Jr. Chapter, and as members of NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers), students have the opportunity to participate in technical competitions and NSBE conferences and compete for scholarships and awards as they graduate high school. The first graduates of the Links to STEM program have finished high school and entered college at Spelman University (Atlanta, GA), University of California San Diego, and California State University, Northridge, and another cohort is expected to graduate high school in May 2021 and attend colleges and universities including UC Berkeley, Tuskegee University (Tuskegee, AL), and Morehouse College (Atlanta, GA). Engineering coaches in the program are employed by local companies such as General Atomic, SDG&E, Solar Turbines, Qualcomm and the United States Navy, and the program is powered by volunteers, sponsors and families. President Kim Ballentine Lane leads the San Diego Chapter, and one student, De’Andre Little, is described as an engineer in the making, has been a member of the Links to STEM program for three years, and served as the President of the Links To STEM NSBE Jr. chapter. One student testimonial about the program states, “Now, I dream BIGGER!”
Last updated March 14, 2026.
• Ages: 9–14 years old
• Schedule: The program runs from June to April and includes a hands-on program that meets two Saturdays out of each month.
Each year, Links to STEM Program consists of approximately 30 students in the 4th through 8th grade, with the majority coming from low- to moderate-income households. The program was launched in 2014 and has concluded its seventh year, with over 23 students having graduated since 2014. Elementary and middle school students are challenged to master computer science programming, robotics, and artificial intelligence platforms, learn to program EV3 robots, and program and fly drones. Students have the chance to compete in a science, innovation, or engineering fair, compete in the First Lego League (FLL) as the Giga Bears robotics team, and participate in technical competitions such as Try-Math-A-Lon MATHCOUNTS, an Engineering Design Competition (Robotics-based), the PCI Science Fair, and NSBE conferences, and compete for scholarships and awards as they graduate high school.
The Links to STEM program was created by the San Diego Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, an international, not-for-profit corporation established in 1946 whose San Diego Chapter was formed in September 1957. The San Diego Chapter, of The Links, Incorporated is part of an international service organization focused on community service, especially to youth, and has an array of programs geared toward enriching and educating underserved communities. This program addresses the significant under-representation of persons of color, especially women and African Americans, and specifically the significant under-representation of African American students pursuing STEM-related college degrees and careers. The Links, Incorporated membership consists of more than 17,000 professional women of color in 302 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, The Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the United Kingdom, and has five facets of programs: National Trends, Services to Youth, International Trends, The Arts, and Health and Human Services.
In 2016, Links to STEM was recognized as one of the Best Services to Youth programs in The Links, Incorporated. The Giga Bears robotics team has earned multiple awards, including its first robotics team trophy for Robot Design in November 2016, 2nd place (out of 26) for robot design and 4th place for robot performance in November 2017, 7th place (out of almost 30 teams) in robotic performance and 8th place (out of 37) with a perfect score in Core Values in March 2019, and 1st Place Tournament Champion Honors competing against twenty-three teams in October 2019. In 2016, the San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce recognized the Links to STEM program at its annual gala, and California State Assembly Member Shirley Weber recognized the San Diego Chapter of The Links, Incorporated as the “2016 Nonprofit of the Year,” specifically highlighting the Links to STEM program. The program has also been featured in the Voice of San Diego.
In 2020, the Links to STEM program established a NSBE, Jr. Chapter, and as members of NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers), students have the opportunity to participate in technical competitions and NSBE conferences and compete for scholarships and awards as they graduate high school. The first graduates of the Links to STEM program have finished high school and entered college at Spelman University (Atlanta, GA), University of California San Diego, and California State University, Northridge, and another cohort is expected to graduate high school in May 2021 and attend colleges and universities including UC Berkeley, Tuskegee University (Tuskegee, AL), and Morehouse College (Atlanta, GA). Engineering coaches in the program are employed by local companies such as General Atomic, SDG&E, Solar Turbines, Qualcomm and the United States Navy, and the program is powered by volunteers, sponsors and families. President Kim Ballentine Lane leads the San Diego Chapter, and one student, De’Andre Little, is described as an engineer in the making, has been a member of the Links to STEM program for three years, and served as the President of the Links To STEM NSBE Jr. chapter. One student testimonial about the program states, “Now, I dream BIGGER!”
Last updated March 14, 2026.
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