In 2011, Sonoma State University developed a STEM first-year experience (supported by NSF STEP grant 1068445) that combines general education requirements in mathematics, biology, and critical thinking. The mathematics content includes topics from precalculus and elementary statistics, with a particular focus on using functions and modeling with mathematics, and serves as an alternative pathway to calculus. In this article, we share sample activities and student work to describe the philosophy, pedagogy, and mathematics content of the course. We also share pre- and post-survey results of student attitudes towards math, and data on student achievement in subsequent classes and persistence in pursuing STEM degrees. Coming up on its 8th iteration, the course serves 60 incoming freshmen each year and has become an integral part of the School of Science and Technology's recruitment and retention efforts.