Program Overview: The Junior Latimer Fellowship is STEMCAT’s flagship 4-year leadership program, inspired by the legacy of inventor Lewis Latimer. Fellows join in their first year and continue through graduation, meeting one Saturday a month across all four years to build lasting relationships with mentors, industry leaders, and fellow Skilled Minds — while progressing through a structured leadership curriculum that grows with them, from early exposure to career-ready leadership.
Fellows are introduced to STEMCAT’s workforce pathways, meet their first mentors, and begin identifying their own strengths and interests through hands-on exposure activities.
Fellows build core leadership habits through group projects, structured team challenges, and communication practice.
Fellows deepen their mentor relationships and begin exploring a workforce pathway aligned with their interests through job shadowing, guest industry speakers, and specialized workshops.
Fellows complete a capstone leadership project, formalize a post-program plan, and step into a mentorship role for incoming Fellows.
Fellows meet one Saturday a month throughout the school year across all four years of the program, alongside select STEMCAT events and workforce experiences. The Fellowship is open to STEMCAT-affiliated students entering the program in Year 1, with continued enrollment contingent on attendance and participation. Curriculum topics are reviewed and refined each year by STEMCAT staff and mentors.
