Our Team

Rishi Shah, President

Rishi Shah is a sophomore in High School with a core GPA of 4.5. Beginning his STEM path in middle school, Rishi grew fond of biology and mathematics. Rishi has fostered his passion for STEM, from ranking 9th nationally in Math Kangaroo to earning various medals in Anatomy and Physiology for SciOly. In recent years, Rishi has extensively continued his path in biology where he was a semifinalist in the USA Biology Olympiad. He has also grown a strong passion for debate. Rishi co-founded STEM SURGE in the hope of increasing passion and involvement in STEM. He aims to help spread STEM to underprivileged areas to help them get more involved. However, when he is not surrounded by books, you might find him baking another delectable pastry!

Rishi teaches school-curriculum geometry and intro to comp math. However, he also tutors for biology and various programming languages.

Benjamin Sun

Ben is a high school sophomore and co-founder of STEM SURGE, with a 4.5 core GPA. Since elementary school, he's seen math as a means to explore the beauty of nature. He's followed this passion for years, which even yielded him results in competition math, such as qualifying for the AIME. More recently, he's been using math to approach practical problems in robotics, with his contributions helping his team reach the state level.

Ben co-founded STEM SURGE with the hope that he would be able to cultivate the same passion for STEM in students as well. Ben's love for math and robotics, coupled with his achievements, make him an accomplished individual, a success he wants to share with others. But when no one's looking, he'll also draw or juggle!

Ben teaches both school-curriculum math, as well as competitive math (e.g. MATHCOUNTS, AMC Prep). He also does 1-on-1 tutoring for the same subjects.

Kailin Kang

Kailin Kang is a sophomore at Livingston High School with a remarkable academic record, including a current core GPA of 4.65 and a 1500 PSAT score. Ever since starting STEM in middle school, her passion for STEM has only grown, especially in regards to math, physics, and chemistry. By following her passion, Kailin has managed to accomplish many things in the fields of STEM, including qualifying for the AIME, winning numerous medals in Science Olympiad events like Codebusters, Write-It-Do-It, Optics, and Code Analysis, earning Honor Roll for the AMC 8, qualifying for MATHCOUNTS States, and winning the 1st Place Best Paper Award for Thermodynamics and Optics in the Art of Physics Education competition. Kailin's diverse achievements demonstrate her intellectual prowess and dedication to learning.

She hopes to inspire a passion for STEM in others and expand involvement in STEM, especially in underprivileged areas. But when she's not doing STEM, you'll probably find her fencing!

Claire Cheng, Vice President

Claire Cheng is a 10th grader at Livingston High School in Livingston, New Jersey, and has been engrossed in STEM ever since she was young. As a member of STEM Surge, she aims to inspire others and spread interest in STEM through outreach and education.

In addition, Claire is a chess lover and currently is in varsity chess at LHS and is the vice president of the LHS Chess Club. Claire has qualified for the World Cadet, World Youth, and the Ruth Haring National Tournament of Girls. Moreover, Claire participated in numerous chess team competitions and their team received many awards such as the 2022 K-8 National MS Championship 2nd Place, 2024 K-12 National HS Championship 2nd Place, Top Middle School in the 2022 US Amateur East Team Championships, 2024 HS NJ State Champions, and 2024 K-12 Grades National Chess Championship 5th Place. Ultimately, her chess experiences imparted valuable lessons that contributed to her learning in STEM.

Aside from STEM & chess, she enjoys composing & making music, playing the clarinet, and volunteering at the pet shelter. She participated in North Jersey School's Music Association's region Wind Ensemble (2025) and Symphonic Band (2024), NJMEA All-State Symphonic Band (2025), the New Jersey Youth Symphony's Youth Orchestra (2023-4) and Youth Symphony (2024-5).

Wesley Yang

Wesley Yang is an exceptional student with a remarkable 4.5 core GPA. He has achieved numerous accolades, including qualifying for VRC States in 2023, winning the VRC Monroe Township High School Tournament, being ranked the #1 VAIRC team in the state, and earning 1st place in the Euclidean CML competition in both 2022 and 2023. In addition to this, Wesley has a strong passion for music and has been accepted into high seats in the New Jersey Area Wind Ensemble, New Jersey School Music Association’s region Symphonic Band, and New Jersey Association for Jazz Education’s senior Jazz Band. Wesley's impressive accomplishments in academics, robotics, mathematics, and music showcase his well-rounded talents, dedication to excellence, and passion for STEM and music fields.

Wesley teaches school-curriculum geometry, but also contact him for any 1-on-1 robotics help.

Annie Jiang, Vice President

Annie Jiang is an extraordinary young achiever with a current Core GPA of 4.5. Her impressive accomplishments include: 2nd Place Connect Award and 2nd Place Inspire Award in FTC Robotics competitions (2024); 1st Place Connect Award in FTC Robotics Leagues (2024); Silver Medal in Science Olympiad States Fast Facts (2023) and Bronze Medal in Science Olympiad Regionals Meteorology (2023); 1st Place awards in Euclidean CML and Computer Science CML (2022); 1st Place in Academically Speaking Essex County (2023); and 2nd Place in Challenge 24 Essex County (2023). Annie is also in the New Jersey Symphony's Youth Orchestra and has been accepted into the NJMEA All-State Orchestra (2024). Annie's exceptional academic and extracurricular achievements demonstrate her dedication, intellect, and passion for learning, making her a truly outstanding instructor for rising freshmen.

Annie teaches school-curriculum algebra, but also tutors for school-curriculum math in general.

Rewa Jain

Rewa Jain is an exceptional young scientist who has demonstrated remarkable enthusiasm and dedication to her scientific pursuits. She is an International Climate Olympiad semifinalist and a three-time returning member of the prestigious Science Olympiad, showcasing her deep understanding and passion for environmental science, sustainability, and a wide range of scientific disciplines. Rewa's enthusiasm extends beyond her academic achievements, as she is actively involved in various scientific outreach and research initiatives, inspiring others to explore the wonders of the natural world. Her impressive accomplishments and unwavering commitment to scientific exploration make Rewa Jain a true role model for aspiring young scientists.

Staff Spotlight

Here is what the staff have been up to the past few weeks!

4/27/25: STEM SURGE & Hitaji Stem Seminar: Introduction to Chemistry and Chemical Reactions

Staff member Rishi Shah pioneered the first STEM SURGE and Hitaji Seminar with the help of Claire Cheng, Wesley Yang, and Kailin Kang. The STEM SURGE events committee created the material to present, and Kailin presented it to the girls. The first seminar was a massive success and is available on YouTube!