Our mission is to provide outreach to elementary, middle and high school students from predominantly underrepresented backgrounds (Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander) by representing these populations as we expose them to the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) with the goal of sparking their interest in STEM careers and/or higher education. For students who are new to the University of Washington, AVELA offers an opportunity to gain hands-on experience developing and presenting STEM activities to younger students, mentorship, and career development.