Upcoming Caltech Y Events

Prepare and serve dinner to residents of Union Station Adult Center in Pasadena. The Adult Center provides shelter, meals, and supportive services to more than 150 homeless men and women each year. Food and materials are provided.

The Y-Hike Pre-Orientation Trip is a great way to begin your Caltech Adventure and a great way to meet other students! You will camp and hike in one of the most spectacular places in the world - Yosemite National Park.

Our groups typically have a range of experience levels - so everyone from the novice to the seasoned outdoor enthusiast can enjoy the experience. Past groups have included new and returning students, undergraduate and graduate students, as well as women and men. The Y-Hike is organized and led by current Caltech students.

Join us for an afternoon of service with Arroyo Farms, a local organization that combats food insecurity, teaching students how to grow food organically and care for the environment, through urban agriculture and regenerative living. Their farm labs and outdoor learning gardens give students access to project-based learning opportunities. Arroyo Farms designs and installs drought-tolerant landscapes with California native plants, to build soil, attract pollinators, clean our air, and ultimately transform urban habitats into a thriving ecosystem.

No equipment needed. Just a willingness to get your hands dirty and a desire to make a difference.

First Year Students Only.

YWCA Glendale and Pasadena’s TechGYRLS® program seeks to empower young girls in the areas of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and to encourage them to pursue careers within these fields. TechGYRLS® is a place to dream, explore new ideas, learn new skills, and be creative through STEAM activities.

We’re seeking volunteers to guide girls through projects and learning on the Caltech campus. Volunteers can attend every session or drop in when available. Email caltechy@caltech.edu to get started!

Support K–5th grade students with reading and homework help.

Volunteers are matched with a student and meet weekly to improve reading skills.

The Caltech Y Stefanko Advocating Change Together (ACT) Award provides motivated Caltech students with an opportunity to learn about themselves and their place in society, and to act to make a difference in the world through community engagement, activism, and leadership.

The Paul Studenski Memorial Award is a grant of up to $6000 established in the memory of Paul Studenski, a Caltech student who was killed in an automobile accident while traveling across the United States in 1974. It is awarded to a Caltech undergraduate who having reached a crossroads in life and would benefit from a period away from the academic community to gain a better understanding of self and explore possible directions for the future.

The Arnold O. Beckman Political Award offered through the Caltech Y promotes engaged citizenship by providing motivated Caltech students with an opportunity to explore the various facets of elective government—both as possible careers in government and to increase general understanding of the legislative process - at the local, state, and national levels. Students propose an experience they design that meets the overall goals of the award. Proposed experiences can span multiple days to several months.

Interested students should independently seek and research internships and other opportunities in the area of elective government and propose an experience that meets purpose of the award.

The Patrick Hummel and Harry Gray Travel Fund was initiated by Carla and Paul Hummel, along with Patrick Hummel (Caltech, BS, MS 2006), to honor Harry B. Gray on his 80th birthday. In response, Prof. Gray, the Arnold O. Beckman Professor of Chemistry and Founding Director of the Beckman Institute, and his wife Shirley generously doubled the value of the fund. This award supports undergraduate and graduate travel that fosters professional and leadership development while broadening students' perspectives as responsible global citizens. It also celebrates the special relationship between Gray and Hummel families.

The Gunilla Hastrup Adventure Award was created by family and friends of Gunilla Hastrup, a Caltech Y Board Member who not only loved sharing her Swedish traditions, but also enjoyed travel, exploring, and learning about others. This memorial award provides students the opportunity to explore their family roots or family origins to gain a better understanding of their cultural identity and/or explore and learn about a culture different from their own. This could be another country or a different part of the United States.

The Caltech Y, in partnership with the Caltech SURF Program and the Indian Institute of Technology in Gandhinagar (IITGN), is coordinating a trip to Gandhinagar, India at the start of the winter break, right after Fall 2026 finals. This trip, which is part of an annual Caltech-IITGN Exchange Program, is open to all Caltech undergraduate students.