Upcoming Caltech Y Events

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.

Join us for a Caltech Y Student Activism Speaker Series (SASS) lunch to hear LMU Loyola Law School Professor Justin Levitt discuss "the legal frameworks and mechanics of the election process, and the plentiful challenges facing that process." He suggests that "but for all of the noise in the atmosphere at the moment, the reality on the ground points to a process that for most voters looks very normal" and strives to remind us that "we, the people, are very much in charge.”

Professor Levitt is a national expert on the law of democracy. Beyond his extensive scholarship, he has served in a leadership role in the Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice and as the Senior Policy Advisor to the President for Democracy and Voting Rights at the White House. He has also testified before federal and state legislative and administrative bodies and courts.

This November, California voters will cast their votes for Governor, Congressional seats, and numerous California ballot propositions and initiatives. Join us for a non-partisan overview provided by representatives from the Pasadena League of Women Voters, dialogue with other participants, and become a more informed voter as you prepare to cast your ballot. Hosted by the Caltech Center for Inclusion and Diversity and the Caltech Y.

The League of Women Voters (LWV) is a nonpartisan political organization (never supporting or opposing any political party or candidate) that encourages informed and active participation in government. The LWV carries out two separate and distinct roles: Voter Service / Citizen Education, presenting unbiased information (like they will at our lunch), and Advocacy in some cases, after study, take positions for or against particular policies.

Participate in monthly science demonstrations at a local elementary school with Pasadena LEARNs. We will lead hands-on engineering projects, chemistry experiments, and other interactive activities to engage local students in STEM.

What do we know and what is still up in the air? What happened and what’s next? What does this mean for the future? Join us for lunch and hear Caltech Professor Michael Alvarez break it all down as he discusses the midterm elections in retrospective.

Professor Alvarez is the Flintridge Professor of Political and Computational Social Science at Caltech, Co-Director of the Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project, and Co-Director of the Linde Center for Science, Society, and Policy. He is a fellow of the Society for Political Methodology and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has been recognized for his mentoring work, both at Caltech by the Graduate Student Council (twice) and by the Society for Political Methodology. He also received the Emerging Scholar Award in the Elections, Public Opinion, and Voting Behavior Section of the American Political Science Association in 2001.

The Los Angeles area has an abundance of great hiking – from our adjacent Griffith Park and San Gabriel Mountains to the Santa Monica, San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains beyond – there is so much to choose from. There is also a wide range of intensity levels - from the mellow stroll to the rigorous challenge - so everyone from the novice to the seasoned adventurer can find their adventure.

Join us for lunch and our hear Y-Outdoors student trip leaders share from personal experience about some of the great venues you can explore on your own. Questions can be directed to caltechy@caltech.edu.

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.

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.

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.