By Marizza Espinoza
Reporter

On February 18th, California State University of Bakersfield held a kick-off event to celebrate the CSUB Teacher Education Department receiving a five-year, $7.3 million grant to improve STEM educational capacity in rural communities.
According to the CSUB press release, “California State University, Bakersfield received one of 24 new teacher quality partnership grants from the U.S. Department of Education aimed at recruiting, training and supporting new teachers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in high-need school districts.”
“I believe preparation is the key to success,” program student and future teacher Frank Martinez said. “The GRO STEM Residency Program is the epitome of preparation for teacher candidates.”
Over the five-year grant period, 120 elementary teachers will complete their teaching credentials and masters degrees and the funding from the grant will provide scholarships, acceding to the CSUB press release.
“The GRO STEM residency is an opportunity we will never forget,” program student and future teacher Krystal Angulo said. “It’s a program that will transform us into the best versions of ourselves as teachers. Things can only go up from here.”

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CSU Bakersfield held their grand opening of the new Physical Education and Kinesiology labs on Tuesday, March 3. The grand opening of the labs included providing a public tour of both labs.
According to a CSUB press release, the Human Performance Lab focuses on perform an assessment, as it relates to sports and physical activities. It was also stated in the press release that the lab “features a variety of machines used to measure blood pressure, lung function, muscular strength and flexibility including a Bod Pod, a new machine that assesses body composition.”
The Gait and Posture Neuromechanics Lab focuses on biomechanics and motor control as it applies to human movement, according to the CSUB press release. This lab is packed with a state-of-the-art eight-camera Vicon motion capture system, AMTI force plates and a wireless electromyography system; capable of capturing the 3-dimensional perspective of the kinematic and kinetic components of motion as well as the sequencing of muscle activation.
“The new PEAK labs will give our students an enhanced learning experience for our students and provide CSUB the opportunity to offer more services to the community,” said Kris Grappendorf, chair of the Physical Education and Kinesiology Department in a press release. “Our facilities will transform us into one of the best physical fitness labs in the region.”
It was mentioned that in the beginning of fall 2016, CSUB will be changing the names of the Physical Education and Kinesiology Department to the Kinesiology Department.