icon of a figure raising their hand with a large open book in front of them

Youth Opportunities

To further strengthen UC Davis' commitment to pathway and pipeline programs targeting elementary, middle, and high school students, the parties involved in the Aggie Square Innovation District will focus on maximizing opportunities for underserved, low-income students in education and careers through partnerships with school districts and community-based organizations. The parties will develop metrics to assess current opportunities, and share program usage annually. Strategies include continuing existing youth engagement efforts, identifying opportunities for new programs through partnerships, and implementing sustainable youth programs that expose K-12 students to innovation-related careers.

  •  Learn more about the Youth Opportunity commitments
  • Below you will find information directly from the Aggie Square Community Benefits Partnership Agreement that applies to the Youth Opportunity commitments.
      

    1. (1) The parties recognize UC Davis’s longstanding commitment and support of pathway and pipeline programs that target elementary-school, middle-school, and high-school students, through partnerships with school districts and CBOs, to increase the number of underserved, low-income students’ exposure to educational and career pathways.
    2.  
    3. (2) The parties are focused on maximizing youth education and employment opportunities by strengthening partnerships with K-12 education systems, community colleges, and industry. The parties shall continue and expand the opportunities for youth, especially in the Neighborhoods, enabling access to educational support and programs that support career readiness. Beginning in 2022, UC Davis shall develop baseline metrics that show current youth educational opportunities and participation in the schools in the Neighborhoods. Annually, the Aggie Square Innovation District will share the usage of the youth programs by neighbors. The parties shall implement the following strategies and initiatives to achieve the goals in this paragraph:
    4.  
      1. (A) Continue youth opportunities. UC Davis shall continue K-12 youthengagement efforts across the region. Current examples of these efforts include the following:
      2.  
        1. (i) Health Equity Academy – Leaders for Tomorrow’s Healthcare
        2.  
        3. (ii)College Opportunity Program
        4.  
        5. (iii) Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP)
           
        6. (iv) Summer Mathematics and Science Honors Academy (SMASH)
        7.  
        8. (v) Girls in Robotics Leadership (GIRL)
        9.  
        10. (vi) Young Scholars Program
        11.  
        12. (vii) School of Medicine Tours for High Schools and Community Colleges
        13.  
      3. (B) Identify opportunities to expand or pilot new youth programs. UC shall pilot youth-opportunity programs by partnering with community colleges, the City, and industry. As part of this effort, the parties shall determine if an assessment should be performed on related UC Davis programs, school district programs, or other educational programs to identify opportunities and gaps.
      4.  
      5. (C) Implement sustainable youth programs.
      6.  
        1. (i) To keep the community informed, the Aggie Square Innovation District will share with neighbors, the City, and other stakeholders an annual youth-engagement plan and calendar highlighting programs available for neighborhood youths.
        2.  
        3. (ii) Wexford shall work with the Innovation Convener with the goal of holding monthly youth-focused programming as part of the Thursday events known as the Thursday Gathering. This programming is aimed at exposing K-12 students to innovation-related careers, as well as providing opportunities for their parents to connect to the innovation and start-up community at the same time.
        4.  
        5. (iii) Wexford shall work with the Innovation Convener with the goal of convening an event twice a year with STEM educators and practitioners to share best practices and to engage with the industry.
        6.  
        7. (iv) The Aggie Square Innovation Districtshall implement new youth opportunities by partnering with K-12 education systems, community colleges, the City, and/or industry.
        8.  
        9. (v) The parties acknowledge that the needs of the community may change over time. Programs identified and outlined in this section 1(e) are subject to change if the needs of the community change or if other areas of focus surface as community-identified priorities.

     

Progress SummaryStatus
A group of high school students pose for a photo
August 2025
Empowering Future Scientists: UC Davis Health Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine’s Summer High School Research Program Celebrates Its Completion at Aggie Square
In an inspiring demonstration of community partnership and educational innovation, UC Davis Health’s
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (BMM) wrapped up its annual Summer Research
Program for Sacramento Charter High School (SCHS) students.
 
An Asian American male stands in front of a fence with a sign on it that reads "Western Service Workers Association"
June 2025
Bridging Plants, People and the Planet
In fall 2024, a cohort of UC Davis undergraduate students took part in Plants, People and the Planet, as part of Quarter of Aggie Square. First-year environmental science management major, Seito Jax Ezawa, participated in an internship at the Western Service Workers Association (WSWA). 
Two men in the front of a classroom posed for a photo with class
April 2025
UC Davis Undergrads Present Aggie Square Design Concepts
UC Davis undergraduates showcased their exciting landscape and graphic design ideas for the Sacramento campus at Aggie Square. 
Two students presenting their non-invasive stroke detection device
December 2024
New medical technology emerges from Quarter at Aggie Square program
The Quarter at Aggie Square Biomedical Engineering cohort wrapped up their 10-week experience with a presentation of three medical prototypes for growth-accommodating heart valves, noninvasive glucose monitors and stroke-detection devices.  
Four students stand in the front of a room of students presenting about Aggie Square
October 2024
Youth Listening Session Recap
Students turned out in big numbers for the Aggie Square Youth Listening session at Hiram Johnson High School on Wednesday, October 30. 
A dog sniffs a kid's hand
July 2024
Elementary students learn about careers in healthcare during Discovery Day
Government and Community Relations, in collaboration with Aggie Square, co-hosted an event to expose students to a variety of careers available at UC Davis Health. 
Hands putting wires into a board
July 2024
Sacramento awards $40,000 to support youth STEM programs near Aggie Square
The City of Sacramento, in partnership with developer Wexford Science & Technology, LLC, has granted $40,000 to four local organizations to enhance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs for youth and schools around Aggie Square, which is located on the UC Davis Sacramento campus. 
A large group of students posing for a picture
April 2024
Youth Listening Session Recap
On March 20, the Sacramento Youth Commission’s Aggie Square subcommittee led a youth listening session with area students at West Campus High School. 
A group of students at a table talking
August 2023
Update on Biomedical engineering undergrads who won at the BigBang! Business Plan Competition
Quarter at Aggie Square’s 2022 fall quarter Biomedical Engineering cohort won the 2023 Big Bang! Competition in spring 2023 with Square Solutions, one of their two medical innovations. 
Whiting-Turner Aggie Square team presenting to a classroom
August 2023
Cranes and Construction School Visit
Whiting-Turner, or WT, the general contractor for the first three buildings and Wexford Science + Technology, the Aggie Square developer were excited to receive an invitation to deliver an educational program about the work taking place on the other side of the fence. 
Podcast interviewer poses with guest speakers
August 2023
Quarter at Aggie Square immerses students in real-life application of technological solutions
Not long after Quarter at Aggie Square launched in fall 2020, students quickly found success through the immersive, undergraduate academic experience. One team of undergraduates found success by creating not one, but two innovations as a result of their Experience last fall. 
Image of classroom of students raising both their hands above their heads. A teacher in front of two large projection screens does the same.
July 2023
Local Students Explore Careers at UC Davis Health
Students from The Language Academy of Sacramento who live in neighborhoods near UC Davis Health explored a number of potential careers in healthcare. 
An instructor demonstrating a skill to a student
June 2023
UC Davis Center for Health and Technology hosts AvenueM students
Community college students got a taste of what it is like to be a physician at the UC Davis Center for Health and Technology, where they received hands-on clinical training as part of a two-week educational experience provided by AvenueM. 
Three high school students pose with executive director of UC Davis Medical group
April 2023
High school students shadow medical center physicians
11 Sacramento-area high school students spent spring break learning about health careers by shadowing doctors at various UC Davis Health locations. 
Image of group of Whiting-Turner interns at the Aggie Square construction site wearing vests and hard hats.
September 2022
Students Welcome to Apply for Future Opportunities in Commercial Construction
Whiting-Turner provides interns with hands-on experience at Aggie Square.