At the heart of the Texas Christian University chemistry department, there are two main factors contributing to chemical education: professors and students. Our students are vitally important to the chemistry department as they not only receive education but are educators themselves. TCU chemistry club members serve as sources of experience, knowledge, and study skills, including those outside the context of chemistry. The challenge of chemical education is the “translation” of material to a diverse student body. What is special about these “student educators” however, is their ability to do so to individuals of all ages and all skill levels. The TCU chemistry department has many different teaching opportunities in both general and organic chemistry labs and lectures such as Teaching Assistants (TAs) and peer tutors. Of these positions, many are filled by the TCU chemistry club student body. Our Chemistry Club students go beyond the education of fellow undergraduates, as they educate students in the local elementary schools about science. Our Chemistry Club members have become well-rounded and effective educators through the variety of services provided to them such as, peer guides, university classes, and supportive professors. The Chemistry Club students provide knowledge of chemistry but they also encourage confidence, and serve as a source of mentorship in the Fort Worth community. At TCU we strive to not only learn but also share the wealth of wisdom gained during our time in the chemistry department at TCU.

Historically, students have envisioned scientists as white males in lab coats, reinforcing exclusionary stereotypes that can discourage diverse participation in STEM. Mentorship has the potential to broaden perspectives, enhance self-esteem, and support identity development, yet research on its specific impact in middle school remains limited. This study examines how a structured mentorship program influences middle school students’ perceptions of scientists and their own scientific identity, particularly in STEM and healthcare professions, asking: How does mentees’ identity in science and healthcare professions develop through interactions with mentors and peers? This qualitative study follows seven 7th- and 8th-grade students (ages 13–14) in a year-long mentorship program led by junior college undergraduates. The research employs a pre- and post-intervention assessment using the Draw-a-Scientist Test (DAST) alongside open discussions and interviews to evaluate shifts in students’ identity perceptions. DAST drawings are analyzed with a rubric evaluating gender, activity, location, and skin tone to identify shifts toward more inclusive representations. The study anticipates that students will depict more diverse scientists over time, moving beyond traditional stereotypes. Findings are expected to reveal more diverse depictions of scientists, offering insights into how mentorship fosters inclusivity and belonging in STEM for underrepresented middle schoolers. 

Crafts and Conversations collaborates with Trinity Terrace and Brookdale assisted living facilities to foster a connection between TCU students and the residents living there. Through monthly meet ups with crafts and music, inter-generational relationships are built between students and residents. Crafts such as painting with mini easels or making yarn octopi provide a base talking point that expands into other natural parts of conversation, such as telling stories. Students that volunteer at crafts gain friendships, valuable interactions that combat stereotypes against the elderly, and improved communication skills. Additionally, students have the opportunity to perform music, enabling them to further expand their creativity. Residents at assisted living facilities also gain valuable friendships and interactions that combat the potential loneliness of at a retirement center. Crafts and Conversations strives to enrich the lives of all those involved through engaging activities that bring people closer together.

Beautiful Feet Clinic, founded by Dr. David Capper, provides free medical, dental, and holistic care for individuals experiencing homelessness in Southside Fort Worth. One of the critical challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness is the lack of access to preventive screenings, flu vaccinations, and health education, leading to the late detection of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. Many patients at Beautiful Feet Clinic do not routinely engage in preventive care, as their immediate survival needs—such as securing food and shelter—often take precedence over long-term health maintenance. Without timely interventions, undiagnosed and unmanaged chronic illnesses contribute to higher emergency department utilization, increased morbidity, and worsening overall health outcomes.

To address this gap, we partnered with Lauren, a medical student at TCOM, to offer flu vaccinations and organize a Community Health Screening Day on March 29th, 2025, offering essential health screenings and practical nutrition education aimed at empowering individuals experiencing homelessness to improve chronic disease management and overall well-being. Patients will learn simple meal modifications to make healthier choices within their available food options through educational pamphlets with a focus on nutritional education to reduce chronic illnesses. The event also enhances medical student training, with efforts to secure an OB-GYN physician to guide manual breast exams and oversee preventive education regarding breast and skin cancer screenings. The initiative also administered 22 flu vaccinations to address gaps in preventive care, reducing the risk of seasonal influenza among unhoused individuals who face significant healthcare barriers. Additionally, in collaboration with Moncrief Cancer Institute, a mobile cancer screening clinic, we will provide free cancer screenings in summer 2025, to promote early detection for at-risk individuals.

Beyond medical care, Beautiful Feet Clinic also faces communication barriers with Spanish-speaking patients, limiting access to critical health services. Many patients and healthcare providers recognize the need for language accessibility and the importance of qualified interpreters in delivering effective care. To address this, we translated the clinic’s intake forms into Spanish and established a list of medical students proficient in Spanish who can assist with interpretation over the phone. This initiative enhances provider-patient communication, ensuring that Spanish-speaking individuals receive accurate medical information and compassionate care.

By integrating screenings, outreach, language accessibility, and hands-on clinical training, this initiative fosters health empowerment and long-term community-based healthcare solutions. It emphasizes collaboration between healthcare institutions, students, and local clinics to bridge gaps in care for vulnerable populations.

Geodesic nets are types of graphs in Riemannian manifolds where each edge is a geodesic segment. One important object used in the construction of geodesic nets is a balanced vertex, where the sum of unit tangent vectors along adjacent edges is zero. We prove the existence of a balanced vertex of a triangle (with three unbalanced vertices) on a general two-dimensional Riemannian surface when all angles measure less than $2\pi/3$, if the length of the sides of the triangle is not too large. This property is a generalization for the existence of the Fermat point of a planar triangle.