Testing, Tinkering, and Twenty Years of STEM at This Year’s Day of SCervice

For the past several years, the Joint Educational Project has partnered with the USC Dornsife Alumni Office to host an Alumni Day of SCervice project at the JEP House. Over time, these projects have taken many forms, from assembling learning kits for ReadersPLUS classrooms to sorting and organizing materials stored in the JEP attic. 

This year, the focus turned toward supporting JEP’s STEM Education Programs in celebration of their 20th anniversary. In honor of this milestone, alumni were invited to support the program in a unique way: by stepping into the role of both learner and collaborator.

Throughout the afternoon, more than 40 alumni gathered in pairs to work through STEM lesson plans designed for students from first through sixth grade. Their task was simple in concept but meaningful in impact. As they moved through each experiment, they documented the process step by step, capturing photos, noting areas of confusion, and helping refine the lessons for future classrooms.

The day began with a welcome from USC Dornsife Alumni’s Tom Arteaga, JEP Executive Director Susan Harris, and STEM Education Programs leadership, including Director Dr. Dieuwertje Kast and Assistant Director Jess Stellmann, who had designed and set up each station in advance. From there, alumni chose the lesson that sparked their curiosity and got to work.

Across the JEP House, the space quickly filled with the sounds and sights of experimentation. Toy cars rolled through obstacle courses. Play dough became a tool for identifying animal tracks. Beakers bubbled as participants tested chemical reactions, and microscopes revealed details many hadn’t seen in years.

“I have not used a microscope in so long. Getting to try it again has been really fun,” shared alumna Riya Relhan.

The range of lesson plans meant there was something for everyone. Some alumni gravitated toward simpler experiments, while others took on more complex challenges like water filtration or microscopy. Along the way, many found themselves learning something new.

“I think it’s really important for students to experience science in a hands-on way,” said Prianna Singhania. “That’s how you build creativity and problem-solving.”

Beyond the experiments themselves, what stood out most was the sense of connection in the room. High school students worked alongside long-time alumni. Recent graduates found themselves paired with professionals in their fields. Some participants arrived with friends or family, including alumnus Puneet Khurania, who brought his son along to experience the day together.

“I wanted to come back and also show my son what we can do and how we can help,” he shared.

Others returned for reasons that had become part of their own traditions. Among them was Gail Uyeda, who once again chose to spend her birthday at JEP, continuing a yearly ritual of giving back through Day of SCervice.

By the end of the afternoon, more than 40 lesson plans had been tested, documented, and improved, each one now a little clearer and more accessible for the students who will use them next.