President and Founder

"One of my fondest memories in elementary school was going to STEAM class every week. Being exposed to the growing STEAM field at such a young age has helped build me as a person. Aside from just learning about scientific processes and why they happen, I had the opportunity to perform hands-on experiments with my peers. I realize that not every child has the opportunity to experience the STEAM field through their school system or even through outside resources. I started Youth STEAM Outreach so that all children have the opportunity to be introduced to STEAM at a young age through fun and interactive activities using our kits!”

Chief Operations Officer

“Science has always been a part of my life from science camps in elementary school to STEM competitions in High School. I love STEAM and I love working with younger students. Being able to combine these two interests and expose students to STEAM is super powerful. I helped start YSO because I think we can make a huge impact in the community and hopefully, we can inspire some new young scientists!”

Director of Finance

“Throughout my life, whether it be school, extracurricular activities, or my own research, I’ve always had a love for STEAM. Learning about the wonders of nature, astronomy, chemistry, physics, and the environment have always piqued my interest and have served as the breeding ground for many of my passions. From science olympiad to robotics, I’ve been lucky enough to experience all the wonders that STEAM has to offer and it has definitely revealed to me how much fascinating and interesting knowledge lies in the field. This is exactly why I joined Youth STEAM Outreach; I want to replicate my gratifying experiences for those who lack access to these opportunities. Through YSO, I hope to ignite curiosity in children and inspire a lifelong passion for the wonders of the STEAM field.”

Creative Coordinator

“Having access to STEM opportunities and education is something that I am incredibly fortunate to have, and something I will always be grateful for—but with the inequitable access that exists within our communities, many people do not have access to these opportunities. I joined the Youth STEAM Outreach Team to not only understand the issue that we are dealing with, but to also provide STEM opportunities and experiences to kids. I hope more than anything that our experiments and work help spark their interests and passions, as well as opening their perspective on the world around us.”

Experiments Coordinator

“One of my core memories was extracting cheek DNA using Gatorade at a DNA science camp in 5th grade. Throughout my life I have built on those summer camp and opportunistic STEAM experiences, opening doors for possible future STEAM careers. I still remember the free STEAM kits I checked out from the Aberdeen library and building simple machines using gears and plastic tubes. I joined YSO because I want all kids to have the experiences that paved my early youth. One opportunity can unlock doors and pave ways, and I hope to deliver that opportunity with our STEAM kits!”

Outreach Officer

“STEM subjects have always inspired me to create and try new things. From trying new experiments in school to creating and conducting my own research outside of school, I owe a lot to the opportunities and education I have received from STEM. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to these same opportunities which is why I joined YSO. I believe that giving back to those who do not have the same access and experiences in STEM will help foster a love for creativity and critical thinking within younger students. Not only will this benefit the community in the future, but it also creates an environment for innovation and discovery, even among those who may be disadvantaged.”

Title I Schools Program Coordinator

“Coming from an underrepresented background myself, I was fortunate to engage in STEAM at a young age via programs similar to YSO at my own Title I elementary school. Through interactive activities and with help from student mentors, I developed a love for STEAM and I want to do what I can to bring STEAM to other underprivileged kids. I hope to bring my passion for STEAM to Title I schools and inspire kids to pursue STEAM careers like I am now, as I understand from my own experience that fostering this experience at a young age is truly powerful”

Title I Schools Program Coordinator

“I have always loved giving back to my community, regardless of whether it’s volunteering at the local soup kitchen or tutoring students online. However, the reason why I wanted to join YSO is because I am extremely grateful for the resources that were made available to me from such a young age, and I believe every child deserves the same. STEM is a vast field and important advancements are being made every day. Exposing underprivileged children to STEM fields from a young age will help cultivate a passion for these subjects and also aide them in tackling the problems of the future.”

Shelter Initiative Lead

“When I was in elementary school, one of the biggest things that helped me develop an interest and passion for STEM was hands-on activities led by older students who I looked up to. One example is Thomas Jefferson High School's annual STEM activity fair, Techstravaganza. I remember going to the school in 6th grade and hearing wonderful explanations from TJ students about a plethora of STEM topics, ranging from aerospace to neuroscience. Now that I'm at the same age those students were when I went to Techstravaganza, I want to help younger kids have an amazing experience in STEM just as I did. At YSO, I'm happy to be a shelter initiative lead to do exactly that by reaching out to shelters and making fun STEM events for kids.”

Shelter Initiative Lead

“Throughout my life, I have consistently had a deep appreciation for various STEM subjects. Guided by exceptional teachers, my passion for STEM has grown, and I am eager to inspire others with the same enthusiasm that has been nurtured by my mentors and peers. This is one of the many reasons behind my involvement with Youth STEAM Outreach, as it provides me an opportunity for me to pass my passion for STEM to children. Once transitioning into high school, I have actively engaged in organizations such as Techstravaganza and Miracle Foundation. Miracle Foundation aims to support underprivileged children in India by providing them access to education. Furthermore, I have actively participated in events such as Techstravaganza, Biocode, and HackTJ, which has enriched my knowledge and skills. I would love to pass down the wonderful lessons and experiences that I have gained with the STEM related activities I have participated in to younger children and help them gain an amazing introduction to STEM.”

Hospital Initiative Lead

“Through participation in activities like Science Olympiad and bi-weekly elementary school STEAM classes, I've been lucky enough to have access to STEAM experiences from a very young age. Due to my work advocating for women in STEM through organizations like Girls Who Code, I understand the importance of equal access in STEAM fields, something that Youth STEAM Outreach strives towards through the Hospital Initiative. As someone who has grown a genuine joy for STEAM as a result of my childhood, I sincerely hope to have the ability to give similar experiences to other kids through Youth STEAM Outreach!”

Hospital Initiative Lead

“Helping my community, volunteering, and giving back has been a passion of mine for years. It is so important for kids, teenagers, and adults alike to always keep learning about the world around them through STEAM. I have had the privilege to keep learning about my subject of interest, biology/medicine in high school. Becoming a hospital initiative leader, I am able to give kids who don't have the privilege that others do the ability to learn more about STEAM through experiments and fun, interactive kits that YSO creates! I joined YSO because I believe every child should have the opportunity to learn about how and why things are. Through YSO, I hope to foster a passion in children for the amazing fields of STEAM. I can't wait to see what's in store!”