From a young age, we immersed ourselves in STEM, beginning with Destination Imagination in third grade. For the first time, we were applying research and presentation skills outside of the classroom, learning how to think critically and solve problems creatively. That same year, we were introduced to robotics through our older brother’s FIRST Lego League team. Joining the program in fourth grade, we spent the next five years not just building robots, but also developing crucial skills—design thinking, teamwork, public speaking, and problem-solving. Through robotics, we had opportunities to speak with astronauts, present innovative ideas to organizations like 3CDC and law enforcement, compete at global tournaments, build working prototypes for real-world problems, test our solutions internationally, and so much more. For us, the program was about so much more than just technology—it was about innovation, collaboration, and making a tangible impact. We later joined a FIRST Tech Challenge team, where we continued to involve ourselves in robotics and outreach. 

​

Over the years we competed in FIRST programs, beyond competitions, we sought ways to extend our love for STEM into the community. We formed and mentored youth robotics teams, hosted and volunteered at STEM outreach events, helped organize STEM events for kids on the autism spectrum, and organized our own practice tournaments. Along the way, we explored other avenues as well, through designing a website for the nonprofit FourSeven, gaining more exposure through a Girls Who Code summer program, organizing monthly events for high schoolers in the Greater Cincinnati region as chapter leaders of a national organization called Teen Science Cafe Network, and beyond. Ultimately, these experiences shaped both our interest in STEM and our motivation to help other students without access to enriching out-of-school STEM opportunities find their spark. 

​

That passion led us to found stemventures, a nonprofit dedicated to providing young students with hands-on STEM opportunities. Through mentorship, enrichment programs, and community initiatives, we hope to inspire the next generation of innovators. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that STEM occupations will experience significant growth, with a projected 10.4% increase between 2023 and 2033, which is almost three times faster than non-STEM jobs. By supporting young students to explore and engage with these topics, we hope to empower them to pursue a STEM career as they get older. Through our own experiences, we’ve noticed that our access to STEM opportunities from a young age was what largely contributed to us wanting to have careers in STEM later on. Early STEM exposure matters. Studies show that 92% of kids who engage in hands-on STEM activities feel more confident in learning science and math (Education Development Center), and that students with STEM exposure before middle school are 2.5 times more likely to pursue STEM careers (Microsoft & The National Girls Collaborative Project). In other words, not only does early immersion with STEM engagements help students as they progress through school, but it also increases their likeness of pursuing a related career, both of which led to us deciding to focus our nonprofit’s efforts on the age group of 3rd through 8th graders.