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!

STEM SURGE partnered with the Eastern Chinese American Community Society (ECACS) and the Chinese American Entrepreneur Society to co-host an exciting STEM fair filled with hands-on activities.

This successful community event earned STEM SURGE the Youth Innovation and Leadership Award, recognizing our team's commitment to accessible STEM education.

8/2/25: STEM SURGE x ECACS Youth Science Fair

8/10/25: STEM SURGE @IndiaFest

At IndiaFest, STEM SURGE brought hands-on science into the heart of cultural celebration, engaging students and families with interactive experiments like Squid Game Cookies, Salt Conductivity, and the always-exciting Elephant Toothpaste. Thanks to Rishi Shah's leadership with Annie Jiang, Nishka Bansal, and Andrew Zhou helping, the event was thoughtfully integrated into the festive atmosphere, helping ensure that STEM learning felt natural, fun, and accessible to all.

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 books do not surround him, 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.

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).

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.

Aidan Lee

Aidan Lee is a high-achieving student with a 4.5 core GPA and a PSAT score of 1490, showcasing both academic excellence and intellectual drive. Aidan has demonstrated a deep commitment to mathematics, having placed 2nd in the prestigious ECML competition in both 2024 and 2025 and first in 2023. He has also participated in MathCOUNTS, further strengthening his problem-solving and analytical skills.

Beyond academics, Aidan is a dedicated musician who has performed both solo and in ensemble at the renowned Carnegie Hall, reflecting a rare combination of technical precision, creativity, and stage presence.

Through his work with STEM SURGE, Aidan hopes to ignite curiosity and confidence in young learners by showing how STEM and the arts can come together to form a well-rounded and meaningful education.

OUR Managers

Nishka Bansal

Nishka is a sophomore at Livingston High School with a core GPA of 4.5. She has always been passionate about STEM, especially biology, which she currently tutors, and is exploring healthcare by shadowing a physical therapist. She has been a member of Science Olympiad since 7th grade and continues to compete. Nishka also enjoys math, and is a member of the National Math Honor Society and has earned awards for the CML and Computer Science CML. She participated in FLL Robotics, where her team competed in the International Western Edge competition and earned a runners up award. She now serves as a junior coach for another FLL team. Also dedicated to the arts, Nishka plays piano and combined her love for STEM and music by co-inventing PianoGenie, an AI and Python-based learning device for which she holds a patent. She enjoys dancing and drawing, and works as an assistant art teacher. Nishka also volunteers frequently at her local nursing home. She serves on the national advisory board for the National Charity League, and has held multiple other leadership roles within the organization.

Numerous studies have shown that students who have experienced the difficulties of a course are the best teachers. This is because they understand the struggles that other students may go through. We are well-equipped to guide students and help them succeed because we have gone through the rigors of the same challenges our students aspire to tackle. We would like to extend a helping hand to students and help them unlock their full potential.

OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER

OUR CORE VALUES

WE PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH

Integrity

We believe that scientific research and discovery should always be conducted with honesty, transparency, and ethical considerations. By instilling these values in our students, we hope to cultivate a community of responsible and trustworthy scientists who will make meaningful contributions to the field of biology.

Independence

By fostering independence, we encourage critical thinking, creativity, and self-motivation, which are essential skills for success in any field. Our goal is to empower our students to become independent learners who can take charge of their education and pursue their passions with confidence.

At the heart of our curriculum is the value of passion. We believe that by fostering a love for the subject, our students will be better equipped to learn and succeed. Join us on this exciting journey of discovery and exploration.

Passion

WHO WE ARE

STEM SURGE is a not for profit, student-led organization that believes in making STEM accessible for everyone.

We use education as our tool to achieve our goal of spreading STEM throughout our communities. Not only do all of our student instructors possess firsthand experience and knowledge on various courses, but each one also has a captivating passion for STEM that can inspire students to grow their love for science. We believe that the best way for students to learn is from their fellow peers at STEM SURGE, who are people who they can relate to and confide in.

Our impact extends beyond education as well. Outside of teaching, we also try to connect ourselves and our students with the rest of the STEM community. This is done through outreach events, volunteering, and fundraisers, which encompasses a major part of our mission. The money we earn goes only to maintaining and supporting the organization, and helping to uplift the STEM community, whether by charity or partnerships.

We are dedicated to spreading STEM and making STEM accessible, first by providing students with the best possible support to spark their STEM success, and second by pooling our efforts into uplifting the STEM community.

Retiree's/Former Board Members and Message

Wesley Yang - Board Member, Departed on August 26, 2025

We'd like to take a moment to recognize Wesley Yang's contribution to STEM SURGE over the year. By volunteering at the STEM Mentorship, tutoring kids, and helping with outreach, Wesley has been a huge help/

Thank you for all your hard work Wesley!

Kailin Kang - Board Member, Departed on August 20th, 2025

We'd like to take a moment to acknowledge Kailin Kang for her contributions to STEM SURGE over the year. Whether it was teaching at the STEM Mentorship, tutoring classes, or volunteering at events, Kailin has helped build our organization.

We appreciate your help and your participation in this exploration.

Benjamin Sun - Board Member, Departed on July 8th, 2025.

We’d like to take a moment to recognize Benjamin Sun for his steady and thoughtful contributions to STEM SURGE over the past year. Whether it was helping launch our website, stepping in to teach Intro to Competitive Math, or simply volunteering behind the scenes, Benjamin has been a consistent presence and a reliable team member.

Thank you, Benjamin, for being part of our journey and helping us grow STEM Surge one step at a time.

Ethan Chan - Board Member, Departed on April 30th, 2025

We’d like to thank Ethan Chan for his behind-the-scenes contributions to STEM Surge. From volunteering at events to helping with secretarial work and organizational tasks, Ethan’s support has helped keep things running smoothly.

Though much of his work happened in the background, it made a real difference, whether it was keeping track of meetings, helping organize documents, or just being someone we could count on when things got busy.

We appreciate your time, attention to detail, and willingness to help out wherever needed. Thanks, Ethan!