“Do or do not. There is no try.”
– Yoda
The Fleet Science Center’s mission is to realize a San Diego where everyone is connected to the power of science to create a better future. Voted San Diego’s Best Museum of 2025, the Fleet Science Center serves over 425,000 children and adults annually at its flagship experience in Balboa Park and throughout the community. With programs designed to foster youth development, support San Diego’s education ecosystem, and connect with the community, the Fleet contributes significantly to building a region rich in STEM identity and has established a reputation as a national leader in community engagement. Loreen Collins is a Board Member and Gala Co-Chair for the Fleet.
#1 Loreen Collins grew up in Revere, Massachusetts which is just north of Boston. After high school, I attended college nearby and later Boston College Law School.
#2 My mother made the biggest impact on my life as she gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams even when others told me that they were not attainable.
#3 I started taking karate lessons when I was 14 and only recently stopped being involved in martial arts due to arthritis in both my hands. I have a black belt in Karate and a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo. I have also practiced kickboxing, Krav Maga and Muay Thai.
#4 I love traveling to anywhere I can see animals in the wild. Last year I saw orangutans in the Borneo rainforest and this year I saw lions, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes and cheetahs in Tanzania and gorillas in Uganda’s Volcanoes National Park.
#5 I would like to someday snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef and swim with whale sharks in the Sea of Cortez.
#6 My family and I live with lots of pets which are all rescues. We have a dog, 4 cats, a large outdoor tortoise, a pond turtle, koi and a fish tank.
#7 Everybody, young and old, can use a little help. Whether it is advice on what colleges offer the best financial aid or how to look for a job. The selfish part of me gives back to the community because I like to see people happy.
#8 One of Loreen Collins favorite events each year is when I volunteer locally as a referee for First Robotics, the international high school robotics competition.
#9 By being on the Board of the Fleet, I can now encourage other girls to pursue a career in STEM and help the Fleet connect everyone in San Diego by the power of science.
#10 Proceeds from the Fleet’s Gala will go towards our many hands-on education programs and community initiatives that connect more than 60,000 students and youth to science, technology, engineering and math each year.
Fleet Science Center
“Science of the Sea” Gala
Saturday, April 11, 2026
The Prado Courtyard and Grand Ballroom, Balboa Park
