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“In towns and cities... there is no more important institution than the local paper.”
Warren Buffett
STEM TEAM: St. Paul of the Cross students and teachers pose together after competing at the state Invention Convention.
April 30, 2026
By Stepheny Gehrig
Students from St. Paul of the Cross School in La Mirada are proving innovation starts early, with ten students earning recognition at a statewide Invention Convention following a campus showcase of STEM projects.
The students represented their school at the state-level competition held April 18 at El Camino College in Torrance, where they presented original inventions and research. Participants included Jian Tubiera, Kamila Marroquin, Logan Watson, Malorie Villalobos, Rhea Martin, Lukas Villegas, Sarah Gonzalez, Gerard Moisa, Lupita Jurado and Scarlette Rivera.
Among the group, Moisa earned a Merit Award for his invention, highlighting the strength of the school’s STEM-focused program.
The recognition followed St. Paul of the Cross’ own Inventioneer Convention, where students from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade presented inventions, written reports and prototypes for judging. The event featured feedback from school leadership and community members, including clergy and guest professionals.
Guest speakers from aerospace and defense companies, including Raytheon and Relativity Space, spoke to students about careers in science, technology, engineering and math, helping connect classroom learning to real-world applications.
The program is led by longtime science teacher Elaine Salazar, who has taught at the school for 36 years. She said students take initiative early, often approaching her ready to present their ideas and refine their projects ahead of competition.
Salazar emphasized that the convention encourages students to think critically, communicate their ideas and understand the scientific process while developing confidence in their work.
School officials say the program has consistently produced award-winning students, with participation in the state convention becoming an annual tradition.