Fostering STEM Engagement: Evaluating the Impact of the #GOALS Program on Middle-School Students' Interest and Motivation in Science and Technology

Valentina Kuskova; Sugana Chawla; Robyn Brenza Kress; Stacy Garrett-Ray; Kim R Jassem

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Conference: 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Publication Date: June 22, 2025
Start Date: June 22, 2025
End Date: August 15, 2025
Conference Session: Expanding STEM Access and Belonging: Programs and Practices for Inclusive K–12 Engagement
Tagged Division: Pre-College Engineering Education Division (PCEE)
Tagged Topic: Diversity
Page Count: 9
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/56594

Paper Authors

biography

Valentina Kuskova University of Notre Dame

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Valentina (Valya) Kuskova is the professor and associate director of Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society at the University of Notre Dame. Her main areas of interest are complex networks, AI-driven analytics, and advanced statistical methods.
Dr. Kuskova has extensive corporate and academic experience. After an MBA from Boise State University she had worked in a variety of corporate roles, from programmer/analyst to senior strategic planning analyst at major Fortune-200 companies. Following a master’s in applied statistics and a PhD in business and decision sciences (both from Indiana University, Bloomington) she had spent over 10 years in academia. In addition to academic responsibilities of research and teaching, she was the founding director of a network-analytic think tank, and founded and supervised two master’s programs in advanced analytics. She has a lot of experience working for corporate clients such as Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Volkswagen, Association of European Business, and many others, where she has held the roles of PI, co-PI, or advanced analytics methodologist. She is passionate about using science for the benefit of industry and society.

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Abstract

The #GOALS (Go Out and Love Science) program, spearheaded by the Ascension Foundation for Health Equity, aims to engage middle school students from underserved communities and ignite their interest in healthcare careers. It is currently in its third year of implementation, rolled out at limited middle schools throughout the country. The program includes one-day events held at partner institutions such as Meharry Medical College, where students are exposed to various careers in STEM and medical fields. This research examines how participation in the #GOALS program influences students’ educational and career trajectories, with a particular focus on healthcare and STEM fields. The primary objective is to evaluate the program's effectiveness in increasing students' interest in healthcare careers and their engagement in STEM education, with additional researcher-designed interventions such as summer camps, mentorships, parental involvement, and field trips. Feedback from students, parents, and educators will guide continuous program refinement. To understand the program's impact, the study will follow a cohort of middle school students over five to six years, assessing changes in career interests and academic achievements. Pre- and post-event data will be collected to measure both immediate and long-term effects. Surveys developed by the researchers and Ascension teams will capture shifts in student aspirations and performance at various stages of the program. Initial data will be gathered before each event to establish a baseline of students' attitudes, academic standing, and career interests. Follow-up data will be collected immediately after each event to gauge the event's influence on students’ perspectives. A long-term tracking system will monitor the academic progress and career development of students who complete the #GOALS program, enabling a comprehensive analysis of its lasting impact. This extended tracking will help determine how early exposure to healthcare and STEM fields affects long-term aspirations and outcomes. Several innovative approaches will be implemented to enhance learning and engagement. For example, the program will integrate Roblox to offer virtual learning experiences related to healthcare and science careers, while social platforms like Roblox and Snapchat will be used to provide students with timely updates on opportunities and program events. Recurring school information sessions, featuring guest lectures and Q&A sessions with professionals from medical and science fields, will be held every two months for grades 6-8 to ensure sustained exposure and engagement. Key stakeholders, including the researchers, Ascension Foundation, participating schools, and educational partners such as Meharry Medical College, will support the program’s implementation and evaluation. The anticipated outcomes of this study will highlight the influence of early exposure to healthcare and STEM on shaping students’ long-term aspirations. By tracking their progress, the research will pinpoint which program interventions are most effective in fostering sustained interest in healthcare careers. The findings will inform strategies for enhancing and scaling the #GOALS program, making it more broadly applicable and impactful in promoting diversity within the healthcare workforce.

Citation
Format

Kuskova, V., & Chawla, S., & Kress, R. B., & Garrett-Ray, S., & Jassem, K. R. (2025, June), Fostering STEM Engagement: Evaluating the Impact of the #GOALS Program on Middle-School Students' Interest and Motivation in Science and Technology Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Montreal, Quebec, Canada . https://peer.asee.org/56594

TY - CPAPER
AB - The #GOALS (Go Out and Love Science) program, spearheaded by the Ascension Foundation for Health Equity, aims to engage middle school students from underserved communities and ignite their interest in healthcare careers. It is currently in its third year of implementation, rolled out at limited middle schools throughout the country. The program includes one-day events held at partner institutions such as Meharry Medical College, where students are exposed to various careers in STEM and medical fields.
This research examines how participation in the #GOALS program influences students’ educational and career trajectories, with a particular focus on healthcare and STEM fields. The primary objective is to evaluate the program&#39;s effectiveness in increasing students&#39; interest in healthcare careers and their engagement in STEM education, with additional researcher-designed interventions such as summer camps, mentorships, parental involvement, and field trips. Feedback from students, parents, and educators will guide continuous program refinement.
To understand the program&#39;s impact, the study will follow a cohort of middle school students over five to six years, assessing changes in career interests and academic achievements. Pre- and post-event data will be collected to measure both immediate and long-term effects. Surveys developed by the researchers and Ascension teams will capture shifts in student aspirations and performance at various stages of the program. Initial data will be gathered before each event to establish a baseline of students&#39; attitudes, academic standing, and career interests. Follow-up data will be collected immediately after each event to gauge the event&#39;s influence on students’ perspectives.
A long-term tracking system will monitor the academic progress and career development of students who complete the #GOALS program, enabling a comprehensive analysis of its lasting impact. This extended tracking will help determine how early exposure to healthcare and STEM fields affects long-term aspirations and outcomes. Several innovative approaches will be implemented to enhance learning and engagement. For example, the program will integrate Roblox to offer virtual learning experiences related to healthcare and science careers, while social platforms like Roblox and Snapchat will be used to provide students with timely updates on opportunities and program events. Recurring school information sessions, featuring guest lectures and Q&amp;amp;A sessions with professionals from medical and science fields, will be held every two months for grades 6-8 to ensure sustained exposure and engagement.
Key stakeholders, including the researchers, Ascension Foundation, participating schools, and educational partners such as Meharry Medical College, will support the program’s implementation and evaluation. The anticipated outcomes of this study will highlight the influence of early exposure to healthcare and STEM on shaping students’ long-term aspirations. By tracking their progress, the research will pinpoint which program interventions are most effective in fostering sustained interest in healthcare careers. The findings will inform strategies for enhancing and scaling the #GOALS program, making it more broadly applicable and impactful in promoting diversity within the healthcare workforce.
AU - Valentina Kuskova
AU - Sugana Chawla
AU - Robyn Brenza Kress
AU - Stacy Garrett-Ray
AU - Kim R Jassem MHA, MSDA, PMP
CY - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
DA - 2025/06/22
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Fostering STEM Engagement: Evaluating the Impact of the #GOALS Program on Middle-School Students' Interest and Motivation in Science and Technology
UR - https://peer.asee.org/56594
ER -