Alumni Feature - Sanja Kirova

In 2019, Sanja Kirova was named our organization’s Youth of the Year and went on to win Indiana State Youth of the Year. Growing up in the Portage Boys & Girls Club, she attributes much of her success to her time there.

“I would definitely attribute the Club to all of my successes now! It was a great place to grow up, learn essential skills, develop a resilient character, and be in a place where I felt I belonged. When I first joined the Club as a 3rd grader, I couldn’t speak English. Through tutors and homework problems, I began to excel academically. Not only was the Club foundationally important to me as a kid, but even during high school, the Club helped me practice public speaking and interviewing (or even shaking hands), learn how to manage my own finances, and understand how college works and why it’s beneficial.”

After high school, Sanja continues to have success at Columbia University where she is studying mechanical engineering. She has joined many extra curricular clubs like Robotics and Formula SAE while continuing work with nonprofit organizations, She Can Tech and STEMchats.

In 2020, She Can Tech was a T-Mobile Changemakers Challenge winner through BGCA. Through this, she was able to travel to a conference in Seattle, Washington and host workshops locally throughout the year. Sanja has had several internships and work experiences in the science fields.

“During the summer after my freshman year, I interned at Seafair, a startup from Columbia that works to make hiring within the maritime industry fair. My sophomore year was virtual, but I took leadership positions in the clubs I was a part of and I led the Robotics team that won a $25k award as runner-ups in the NASA Break the Ice Lunar Challenge. During the summer after my sophomore year, I worked in the Creative Machines Lab on campus as a Research Assistant and was an iD Tech virtual computer science instructor. This past summer, I was a Summer Research Program Intern at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, so I worked in Boston and got to apply all that I have been learning.”

Sanja is currently the Vice President of Technical Operations of Columbia’s Formula SAE Club and is working with the team on building their first electric vehicle!

“Thanks to programs like Torch Club and Keystone at the Boys & Girls Club, I felt competent and confident enough to run for leadership positions throughout my time at Columbia, and I knew what it took to be a good leader and team player too. The STEM and Digital Arts programs at the Club were also what inspired me to pursue mechanical engineering, and for that I am grateful because I have found a field I am very passionate about.”