Growing Strong STEMs
Pine View High School students volunteer to help kids from 3rd to 8th grade develop a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. They believe that only together we can:
Build a world where all youth are safe, strong, and valued.
What We Do
We Challenge…
Students participate in hands-on learning activities that promote collaboration and critical thinking, problem-solving, and design skills.
We Teach…
At a vital developmental period of their life, children are taught the basics of STEM, inspiring future scientists, engineers, and leaders of tomorrow.
We Connect…
Our volunteers build strong relationships and cultivate trust with participating students that may be rare in other aspects of their lives.
How We Do It
Hands-on Experience
Getting hands-on with a variety of topics – from spaghetti architecture to cryptography – engages the students in the thought processes of professionals, promotes collaboration and critical thinking.
Special Guests
Guests such as the local robotics team of Sarasota, Jungle Robotics, demonstrate to the students how our weekly lessons can expand into something much greater. Seeing the larger, exciting version of their robots acts as a strong motivator for their learning.
LEGO Robotics
Students learn about basic sensors, actuators, and programming – consolidating all of their knowledge each semester into a robotics competition.
“Growing Strong STEMs has the potential to change the lives of young students. Here, they have a safe environment to gain the courage to fail and realize their creative potential. Nothing is more powerful than that.”
- Gatlen Culp, former Technology Coordinator
How It Started
Growing Strong STEMs was founded in 2016 when now MIT undergraduate, Jade Fischer, recognized the underrepresentation of low-income students in STEM fields nationwide, and developed a mentoring program and after-school workshop series to introduce students to STEM in a relatable and exciting way. The program has been led entirely high school students ever since.
Our Mighty STEM Team
Jennifer Sutcuoglu, Co-Director
Diana Rudel, Co-Director
Vir Patel, Tech Consultant, Web Master
Julian Chauhan, Curriculum, Lego Robotics
Victoria Kishoiyian, Curriculum, Biology Unit
Leila MacKenzie, Curriculum, Biology Unit
Emre Muessemeyer, Curriculum, Coding Unit
Sonica Prakash, Curriculum, AI Unit
Andrea Brokate Castillo
Greyden Witfield
Aeryn Wittaker
Alvaro Santoyo
Grady Harris
Harrison Chojnowski
Kenzie Tran
Ryan Macler
Simona Belilovskiy
William Le
Abigail Pereira
Chloe Niebuhr
Sofie Niebuhr
Are you a high school student who is passionate about STEM? Join our team.
Growing Strong STEMs Partners
Our friendly STEM volunteers and our resources such as physics and engineering equipment come from this nationally recognized, top-ranking school.
The county-wide robotics team, Jungle Robotics, has been an integral part of the GSS program since its founding. As one of our frequent special guests.
Our founding sponsor, Leaven helps extraordinary students from disadvantaged backgrounds access, navigate and succeed in top-tier U.S. colleges.
Donate to Growing Strong STEMS
“I give back to the LCA, the community who raised me, through GSS. Through building and programming their own robots and investigating scientific discoveries, we encourage low income students to pursue any career no matter how daunting. Encouraging others to pursue STEM gives me the courage to do the same.”
- Emily Hidalgo, former Co-Director