Melvin Houston Creates STEAM Academy, Graduates from Cal Poly Pomona, and Receives a Fellowship to Pursue a Master’s in Engineering at USC. 

 By Lynn Jackson

Melvin Houston III, Class of 2024, graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with two Bachelor of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. Melvin reflects, “My time at Cal Poly Pomona shaped my engineering foundation and leadership abilities. I want to thank the mentorship I received from staff and faculty and the connections I have made with fellow students; I would like to thank my parents and family for their continued support.”

Last year, Melvin completed a semester internship at Apple Headquarters in Cupertino, CA, and will continue interning while pursuing his master’s degree. I am grateful for the many opportunities to “learn by doing,” which has led me to specialize in Analog and RF Integrated Circuit design during my master’s program. 

This Fall, Melvin will continue his academic journey at the University of Southern California to pursue a master’s degree in electrical engineering.  Melvin was awarded a full merit scholarship, ” I am incredibly honored to have been selected for the GEM fellowship at USC, and I’m looking forward to this next chapter. “

In 2018, Melvin was instrumental in developing a STEAM Academy for high school students, primarily in Pomona and neighboring communities, held on the campus of Cal Poly Pomona.  The 6-week summer STEAM Academy (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math), developed into a year-long transformative educational experience.  Melvin recounts, “It has been an honor to collaborate with CPP professors, staff, and Dr. Coley, the President of Cal Poly Pomona, to create this opportunity”.  Professor Sarah Meyer is a co-creator of the program, “This year…I will continue our mission to engage students through hands-on project-based learning at a high education level focused on assistive technology for accessibility.”  The Academy has served over 200 students and many have returned to mentor new students.

In the photo, Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval poses with students (Melvin is seated behind the Mayor). As a graduate, five years later, Melvin stands at the same steps of the engineering building. “This is a rewarding and full circle moment; upon creating a STEAM program for high school students, I graduated CPP with a double engineering major,” said Melvin. The stairs symbolize Melvin’s journey, “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase; take the first step,” Martin Luther King Jr. 

                Melvin and his family are longtime residents of Pomona and are very active in the community. The STEAM Academy is provided at no charge to students. To learn more about the program, visit www.cpp.edu/steamacademy.