Cal State Campus Brings Innovation Labs to 1,700 Students

When 28 fifth-graders from Empresa Elementary walked into Cal State San Marcos' Innovation Hub in early March, most had never set foot on a college campus before. By the time they left after designing playground prototypes with craft supplies, many were already planning their return as future students.

"The most powerful thing we've heard from them when they leave is, 'I think I want to go to college now,'" said Taresa McSpadden, an innovation teacher who has attended all 49 sessions that brought every fifth-grade class from Vista Unified School District to the university this spring.

The visits are part of the K-12 Collaborative, a new initiative that transforms the university's Innovation Hub from a college-only space into a learning laboratory for students as young as 10. Director Howard Chan guides elementary students through hands-on projects using basic materials like popsicle sticks and straws to teach them the five-step innovation process.

The program started with a chance reunion in early 2024. Scott Gross, who oversees the Innovation Hub, reconnected with Chan a decade after they first met on an educator field trip to Apple headquarters. Their conversation opened new possibilities for reaching students earlier in their education.

"The Hub was very focused on CSUSM students and faculty," Gross said. "But we started having a conversation about how we could reach back in the pipeline and help K-12 students get exposed to innovation earlier."

The program quickly expanded beyond elementary workshops. High school students now participate in work-based learning sessions where industry partners visit campus for interactive challenges. This solves a major problem since many companies hesitate to host teenage interns due to liability concerns.

The three to four hour campus experiences count as official work-based learning because they involve real industry professionals. Students have explored careers in policing, toured companies like Callaway Golf, and visited local businesses to understand workplace skills.

The Ripple Effect

The initiative keeps growing in response to community needs. This week, the Hub is hosting 100 elementary students from Escondido Union School District for hands-on learning in arts and theater. This summer brings the first cybersecurity camp, developed with industry partners.

Teachers and parents attending the sessions report being equally impressed. The campus tours include scavenger hunts that make college feel accessible and fun rather than intimidating. For many families, it's the first time anyone has seriously considered higher education as a realistic goal.

The collaborative now offers elementary innovation experiences, industry tours for educators, and summer academies across multiple subjects. Each program connects classroom learning to real-world skills and career possibilities.

What started as a single meeting between two educators has created a pipeline that reaches students years before they would typically think about college, planting seeds of possibility in minds still young enough to dream big.