Highlights

Announcements & Upcoming Events

  • State of SMASH is Saturday, January 14th from 10am-12:30pm.
  • Berkeley & Stanford Final Scholar Assessments are available here.

SMASH Alumni

See SMASH Alumni Class Representatives here, update your contact info here and keep us apprised of all your successes!

Summer Math and Science Honors Academy

We are excited to announce that SMASH is continuing to expand and will be held on four college campuses in summer 2012: UC Berkeley and Stanford, and now for the first time at UCLA and USC. 


Learn about SMASH! 

SMASH is...

  • A three-year 5-week summer math and science enrichment program.
  • For high achieving, low-income high school students of color.
  • Focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
  • Successful in preparing scholars for college and achievement in higher education.
  • Free of cost.

SMASH scholars spend five weeks each summer at a SMASH site on a college campus (currently at UC Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA and USC) immersed in rigorous STEM classes.  SMASH Scholars live on campus for five weeks each of three summers (after their 9th, 10th and 11th grade years) with other high potential Black, Latino/a, Native American, Southeast Asian or Pacific Islander high school students. LPFI admitted 120 new students to participate in SMASH Academy for summer 2011 an expects to admit approximately 120 new scholars for 2012.  We welcome applicants who are excited to work hard and to take advantage of our many resources. SMASH is free for all admitted students.

SMASH scholars also receive year-round academic support including SAT prep, college counseling, financial aid workshops and other activities to ensure continued academic success.  SMASH is expanding to additional college campuses nationwide in the future.

Goals of SMASH

  • Prepare students of color from groups that are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to be competitive in STEM related studies at top universities.
  • Educate students about graduate school opportunities and encourage them to eventually attend in order to further pursue professional, STEM-related studies or careers.
  • Encourage a sense of social responsibility through promotion of critical thinking, civic awareness and leadership.

Apply to SMASH

Applicant registration for SMASH 2012 is now open. Applicants must be registered by February 23, 2012 and completed applications are due March 1, 2012.  Applicants must be in 9th grade now to be eligible to apply.  Read the other eligibility requirements here. 

START YOUR APPLICATION HERE


Follow SMASH on Facebook and Twitter @SMASHAcademy to be alerted to 2012 application deadlines.   Also, sign up below to receive our e-newsletter.

SMASH Logo

If SMASH isn't a fit for you, click here for a list of other math and science-focused summer programs and their application deadlines.

SMASH Academy Residential Program
SMASH Scholar

SMASH students live in UC Berkeley or Stanford campus housing in gender-specific suites. Campus housing activities are monitored by trained resident assistants. Scholars participate in planned weekly recreational activities, and have use of many terrific campus resources in their limited free time. Room and board are free to all SMASH Academy scholars.
Meet the 2011 SMASH: Berkeley Residential Team. 
Meet the 2011 SMASH: Stanford Residential Team.

SMASH Integrated Curriculum
SMASH Integrated Curriculum

With its finely tuned integrated curriculum, SMASH guides its scholars through an inquiry-based process that allows them to use math and science to solve real-world problems of relevance to them. They learn content through its application, and have access to modern lab equipment. Through research projects and group work, scholars complete college-like assignments.

SMASH: UC Berkeley

Since 2004, SMASH has been on the UC Berkeley campus. Scholars live in the dorms, take classes and use labs at the University.  The residential environment simulates the college experience so that when scholars do begin college, they are prepared. 

SMASH: UC Berkeley will have 80 scholars in 2012 and will run from June 23 - July 28, 2012.

SMASH: Stanford

SMASH Academy at Stanford University campus in Palo Alto, California began in summer 2011 with 80 scholars.

SMASH: Stanford will again have 80 SMASH scholars in summer 2012, and will run from June 30 - August 4, 2012.  Meet the 2012 Site Director, James Sarria and the 2012 Residential Director Katiana Carey-Simms. 

SMASH: UCLA

SMASH Academy will be held on the UCLA campus in Southern California for the first time in 2012, in partnership with UCLA's Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science’s Center for Excellence in Engineering and Diversity (CEED). 

SMASH: UCLA will launch with 30 1st year SMASH Scholars (between their 9th and 10th grade years) and will be held from June 23 - July 28, 2012.  Application information may be found here. 

SMASH: USC

SMASH Academy will be held on the USC campus in Southern California for the first time in 2012, in partnership with the USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI).

SMASH: USC will launch with 30 1st year SMASH Scholars (between their 9th and 10th grade years) and will be held from June 23 - July 28, 2012. Application information may be found here.

For Teachers
SMASH Instructor

TEACH AT SMASH:  We are hiring top-notch math, science, college success and and science writing instructors for SMASH Academy at UC Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA and USC over the summer.  See complete job descriptions and apply here:  https://lpfi.recruiterbox.com/ Positions are open until March 14, 2012.