Ivy-League Acceptance

Ashton Orion Rischer joined the 2019-20 batch of DiscoverSTEM's Innovation Program. He attends school Greenhill School in Addison, TX. Along with his team, he innovated an Artificial Intelligence-based Image Processing system to prevent vehicle accidents at intersections. This innovation is patented under the South African Patents Act.

Ashton has participated in the Robotics and Arts Club. As he plans to study engineering in college, he also enjoys playing soccer, video games, drawing, and volleyball. Ashton feels that DiscoverSTEM has helped him become "more of a critical thinker."

Carcyn Coleman joined 2019-20 batch of DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program. She goes to Greenhill School in Dallas, Texas. Carcyn and her parents say DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program has helped her get into prestigious summer programs at Brown University and John Hopkins University, in which she extended many fellowships based on her hard work and effort.

She says this program has helped her learn the extent of her leadership abilities while also allowing her to learn how to think more logically and analytically.

Madhalasa Iyer is an award-winning writer, environmentalist, and researcher recognized by national organizations like the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, Discovery Education, Anthony Quinn Foundation, Century Foundation, and New York Life Foundation.
br> As a published author of a national award-winning children's book, she believes in the language of compassion. Madhalasa is passionate about writing. Her literary work has been published in Best Teen Writing 2021, The Weight Journal and 19 other publications.

She has received the International Youth Eco-Hero Award, the Presidential Environmental Youth Award from EPA, and the National John Muir Conservation Award, for her passion for environmental justice and sustainability research.

Madhalasa's scientific work has been presented at the International Conference of Yeast Biology and Harvard Club and selected for the AAAS Conference. Her research has been published in the Journal of Student Research, Mentoring in Medicine, and Curieux Academic Journal.

Tarik's interest in coding also stemmed from video games like Minecraft. He always wondered how these games were displayed when there were just many tiny dots of red, green, and blue light. So, he researched not only to find out how it worked but also how to develop it.

He started coding games on Scratch, JavaScript, Unity, and C#. Tarik says learning Innovation and technology led him to realize what he wanted to do when he grows up - 'become an entrepreneur.' He says, "I can form a company and innovate! I would want to become an innovative entrepreneur because it combines the things I love to do!"

Azal Amer from Greenhill School, Addison, Texas, joined the 2018-19 batch of DiscoverSTEM's Innovation Program when he was in 8th grade. Along with his team, he innovated an Artificial Intelligence-based Image Processing system to prevent vehicle accidents at intersections. This innovation is patented under the South African Patents Act.

He is a member of the Space Club and Junior Academy. He also participates in Quizbowl and robotics. Once graduated from high school, Azal plans to study Theoretical Physics. He enjoys reading about science, running, swimming, tinkering, and 3-D Design. Azal feels that DiscoverSTEM has given him a "space to structure my ideas and develop them into something more substantial… while also teaching how to go about the real-life implementation of ideas."

Ridah is an aspiring surgeon, serial innovator, global healthcare specialist, poet, researcher, and photographer.

She has research experience in cardiology, social science, pharmacology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, public health, and drug development. Ridah's work has also been published in several reputed journals. She has given presentations at the 4th World Heart Summit (2021), the 36th European Cardiology Congress (2021), and the 21st Sigma Xi Student Research Conference (2021). Ridah has clinical shadowing experience in leading hospitals in India and the USA.

When it comes to Entrepreneurship, Ridah has been a part of the TiE Global Entrepreneurship Program (2018-19), THL Swiss Education Group (2020), and Sannam S4 SDG Conclave (2021). Ridah has always been at the forefront when it comes to leadership.

She is a prolific innovator as well as a competent, committed, collaborative, and compassionate leader in the making.

Her compassion & motivation seeing her music teacher fight against Parkinson's disease led to an innovative solution for Parkinson FOG solution (using AI/ML), which won the first prize at Advanced Healthcare Innovation Summit (AHIS) in 2023. She innovated an Affordable EEG Controlled Wheelchair Attachment for Fully Immobilized Individuals, which won the 2nd prize at AHIS 2022, with a $10k award. Her Mind Controlled Wheelchair paper is being published in the prestigious 'Innovations in Digital Health, Diagnostics, and Biomarkers' journal.

Isha has been a student of DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program student since Middle School (2018). She has received 2 patents so far and has 3 patents pending. Isha has won congressional app challenge in 2020 and participated in various top level tech innovation Hackathons.

Isha attends Plano West Senior High School. She loves music and has been a member of Wind Ensemble Band, playing flute since the 6th grade. She has been a color guard captain. She has performed at various stages, including All Regions.

She loves interacting & caring about other kids and has been involved in Mental health support program for teen talk and mentoring other international kids at DiscoverSTEM and as part of NHS.

‘Idea Box' Shreeya joined the 2018-19 batch of DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program. She and her team innovated an Artificial Intelligence-based Image Processing system to prevent vehicle accidents at intersections. Previously, Shreeya went to Greenhill School in Addison, Texas, and likes Science, Math, and English.

She feels the world is going to be more challenging in the coming days, and she plans to keep inventing to solve problems like poverty, corruption, climate change, and animal extinction. In the past, she attempted to innovate ‘Spork' (spoon & fork in one), a 3D printer (when she was only 3!), and many other gadgets. She is also interested in learning about genetics, the human body, and space.

Aarish is currently a senior at Carroll Senior High School and will be attending the University of Southern California in the fall where he will be studying Business Administration at the Marshall School of Business (ranked number two by Niche).

Aarish is a focused leader in the community looking to make a positive impact through innovation, technology, and policymaking. After achieving the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout, he was the first in his Boy Scout troop to get the designation of the Bronze Eagle Palm, which less than 1% of all Boy Scouts earn. Alongside taking a rigorous course load in high school, he has one patent pending at the USPTO in the field of healthcare innovation and one patent granted under the South African Patents Act in the field of police safety.

Through a multitude of political campaign experiences, Aarish has found interest in policy, and one day, he would like to be a member of Congress, giving a voice to the voiceless.

Bilal's innovation Relay Launch System won the 1st prize at NASA Ames Space Settlement Challenge 2018 among 10,000 participants from 30 countries. He is also Texas Merit winner of American's Top Young Scientist 2018. His team also won the 2nd prize for his innovation ‘Micro Turbine Bricks' at Future City Competition 2019 and Special Award at Future City Competition 2020.?
Bilal joined the 2017-18 batch of DiscoverSTEM's Innovation Program when he was just nine and repeated in 2018-19. He attends Murphy Middle School in Texas. His first innovation was a system called the ‘Relay Launch System' (RLS) to launch satellites using relay launch and catch platforms. Once he mastered the complex thinking process of innovation, he went on an innovation spree. As of today, Bilal has seven patents pending to his name. During his free time, Bilal enjoys sports and reading popular science.
Bilal was Nominated for TIME Magazine Kid of the Year 2021?.

Kayla J. Goodrich joined the 2019-20 batch DiscoverSTEM's Innovation Program. She attends DeWitt Perry Middle School in Carrollton. She and her team innovated a system to disinfect groceries at the store register. This innovation is currently under patent process with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Kayla dreams of working as an inventor and business owner once she finishes high school. She has participated in biathlon and spends her free time practicing Karate and orchestra. Her hobbies include Robotics, Computer Programming, Playing Viola, Crocheting, and creating video games. Kayla feels that DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program improved her "creativity" and "group work."

15-year-old Benjamin Robert Stafford joined the 2019-20 batch DiscoverSTEM's Innovation Program. He attends Shelton School in Dallas, Tx. He and his team innovated a system to disinfect groceries at a store register. This innovation is currently under patent process with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In his free time, he loves to play the piano and engage in coding and robotics.

Ben also participates in the drumline at his high school. Ben plans to study computer science in college as he enjoys computers, electronics, and arcades. He is known to be a very patient person, and he also loves to help people, especially elders, when they face difficulty with technology.

Marium joined the 2015-16 batch of DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program, the first batch and first-team ever mentored by DiscoverSTEM. Along with her team, she innovated an Artificial Intelligence-based system to manage stress that they took to Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge, an international student innovation competition held at NASA Kennedy Space Center. There, they beat participants from 50 countries to win 1st prize for their innovation.

Marium says the DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program played a central role in her academic success. She received a full-ride scholarship worth over $300,000 to study biology at Duke University. She further says, "I was able to develop and strengthen various aspects of my personality. I learned what it was like to be an innovator, researcher, entrepreneur, and public speaker. The invaluable skills I gained have tremendously aided my college career as I continue to explore the realms of biological research and innovation further at one of the world's best academic institutions."

Maya Kusumakar joined the 2019-20 batch of DiscoverSTEM's Innovation Program. She attends Carroll High School in Southlake, Tx. Along with her team, she innovated a system to prevent the spread of contagious diseases in the public transport system. This innovation is currently under patent process with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

For the summer of 2020, she was accepted into MIT's Beaver Works Summer Institute for high school and college students interested in computer science. Maya wants to pursue a computer science major for her college education. Maya's hobbies include playing soccer, running track, hanging out with friends, and playing video games.

Maya is currently operating her own tutoring business, where she teaches computer programming concepts to elementary and middle school students. Maya's career ambition is to be an innovator & entrepreneur and solve complex humankind's complex problems.

‘Math wizard' Rishab joined the 2018-19 batch of DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program. He goes to St. Marks School of Texas and loves Basketball, Math Competitions, Chess, Solving Rubik's Cube, and Playing Flute. Along with his team, he innovated an Artificial Intelligence-based Image Processing system to prevent vehicle accidents at intersections. This innovation is patented under the South African Patents Act.

Rishab says he is ‘'fascinated with DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program because it does not follow a repetitive unchangeable process. DiscoverSTEM opens doors I thought weren't possible. Eventually, I can implement something helpful with the lessons I receive here". When he grows up, he wants to be an entrepreneur. He wants to build irrigation systems in Africa to bring jobs to the jobless and open doors for the underprivileged.

Nikita joined the 2018-19 batch of DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program. Previously, she went to Greenhill School in Addison, Texas. She and her team innovated an Artificial Intelligence-based Image Processing system to prevent vehicle accidents at intersections. Nikita is a natural problem-solver and has a myriad of practical, efficient, and effective ideas to improve the world. One exciting idea she has is to invent a pre-emptive vaccine for cancer by utilizing the ‘zombie' elephant gene LIF6 and finding a way to integrate it into human DNA.

Nikita does a wide variety of extracurriculars, from Lego to programming Arduino to Robotics and Math. She does competitive math and made the AMC 8 achievement roll in 2017 and then the honor roll in 2018, which is among the top 5% worldwide.

Ameer Syedibrahim joined the 2016-17 batch of DiscoverSTEM's Innovation Program along with his twin brother Amjad. He, with his team, innovated a smart shower system to prevent water wastage, which can save 250 billion gallons of water every year in the USA. Ameer and his brother Amjad graduated in 2018 and were accepted to study Computer Science at The Duke University on a full ride.

He enjoys playing basketball, reading, and tutoring others. Ameer says, "DiscoverSTEM has helped me "tremendously in the ways I think about approaching problems and devising solutions. I've been consistently challenged in the program to think outside the box and innovate clever solutions to some of the world's most pressing problems."

Inaya Sheikh joined the 2018-19 batch of DiscoverSTEM's Innovation Program. She has spent two years at DiscoverSTEM, where she has filed patents for multiple innovations, the most acclaimed being a self-disinfecting door handle. She attends Liberty High School in Frisco, Texas. Inaya is the co-founder of non-profit organizations ALIA- Apex Language Institute of America and Lift Her Voice Foundation, where they provide a platform for women whose issues go unnoticed.

Her compassion and community service interests led her to join as a youth board member of The Institute of Medieval & Post Medieval Studies, a Regional Representative for BluePrint Smiles, and a volunteer for Treasured Vessels Foundation. Inaya is an advocate for social justice. She is extremely passionate about supporting human trafficking victims and improving the condition of foster kids in America.

Inaya has served as a Girl Scout for six years and received her Blue Belt in Taekwondo. During her free time, Inaya practices the sport of fencing and plans to obtain her pilot's license in the near future. After learning the nitty-gritty of innovation, Inaya now works as an Assistant Innovation Facilitator at DiscoverSTEM, mentoring our next young innovators.

He has secured funding from the venture capitalist firm Kubera Ventures. As the CEO of UVSET-SAFETouch, Manish Rangan has increased his startup valuation from $50k to $400k, secured LOI from Real Estate Firm worth $750k, delivered 10+ startup pitches in competitions & VCs, and ran successful Kickstarter crowdfunding.

Manish Rangan is a ‘Top 18 Under 18 Indian American Student'. He was awarded by US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi at the Global Eye Magazine's event in 2022. He is also a TEDx Speaker and delivered a speech at Youth@TAMS.

A young innovator and CEO, Manish is already making taking big strides forward in the world of innovation and entrepreneurship. He, along with his team has created UVSET-SAFETouch, a multi-patent pending, UV-C-based door handle sanitizer during the COVID-19 pandemic. UVSET SafeTouch was shortlisted among the Top 80 Startups Globally supporting United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals at Oslo Innovation Week in 2022. UVSET won the Chairman's Prize and a grant of $10,000 at Advancing Healthcare Innovation Summit – 2022.

At DiscoverSTEM, Manish Rangan is serving as a mentor as well as a student ambassador. He is mentoring young kids on the subject of innovation. Manish has demonstrated his leadership skills by serving in top positions at Reedy Entrepreneurship Club and Reedy DECA. As a volunteer, Manish has served American Red Cross, Tamil Nadu Foundation, Sankara Eye Foundation, Brain Bubble, NHS, and other community service projects. Manish is an avid chess player and has also coached several kids.

Wafiqah Zubair is a freshman at Harvard University concentrating in Biomedical Engineering. She is passionate about the intersection between computer science, engineering, and medicine. She graduated high school from Harmony Science Academy-Euless, where she conducted research with a mentor to create a model to rank viruses based on their probability to cause the next pandemic.

She is a National Merit Scholar, NASA Texas Aerospace Scholar, and Girls Who Code alumna. During her time at DiscoverSTEM, she and her team innovated a system that could launch a satellite at 1/10th of the cost with a system named Deep-Sea Pressure-Based Projectile Launching System. She took this innovation to an international innovation competition conducted by NASA Ames Research Center, competed against 6700 participants from 21 countries, and won 2nd prize worldwide.

Kenny DeCay joined the 2019-20 batch of DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program. He is a student at the June Shelton School in Dallas, Texas. He and his team innovated a system to disinfect groceries at the store register. This innovation is currently under patent process with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Being a very kind person, Kenny has volunteered with organizations like Kappa Alpha Psi Guide Right Program, Mission Arlington, Souper Bowl of Caring, and Meals on Wheels, and has been a member of The Arlington chapter of Jack and Jill America. However, some of his most enjoyable volunteerism was playing the piano at a senior citizen center/home, and working at a food bank and an urban farm.?

Kenny DeCay is a 4.0 student and a member of the National Honor Society. Despite his learning difference, Kenny has made the Honor Roll every semester he has attended the June Shelton School. He won the 2018 "Charger Award" and most recently, Kenny was awarded the 2019-2020 "Most Outstanding Sophomore" award at the June Shelton School. He is an accomplished piano player and participated in several athletic programs in and out of school, such as track & field events, swim team, and fencing team.?