SATURDAY MAY 16, 2026 8:00AM-2:00PM
ENGAGING & INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF STEM LEADERS
PLANNING COMMITTEE
SondraRivers-Kobler
ButhaninahAlRaife,Ph.D.
BelindaHarris Event Facilitators Co-lead Heart of America
KimlaLee
Prof.NanJokerst,Ph.D.
DavondaBoone
TseggaMedhin
ShuDonBrown,Ph.D
SandhyaRao
DeannaLudwick
AmyStefanowicz
MeganHill,Ph.D.
MeganLott,Ph.D.
SabrinaNetters
KhelseyLemon
DanReed
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
STUDENTS
PARENTS FORUM
SessionI: Empowering Families to Master Financial Wellness
Session II: College Readines Panel
Tsegga Medhin Founder
The Pearl Leadership Institute
Claire Benton Supplemental Instruction Coordinator NC Central University
Cassidy Mills Asst Director, Admissions Duke University
Mattie Gaddy-Parks Director of Admissions NC School of Science & Mathematics
Session III: “Cyber-Smart” Parenting & Digital Safety in the Age of AI
TarkishaPoole Community Engagement Manager Coastal Credit Union
Jennings-Alexander, Ph.D. Strategy Director Complete College America
Joey Webb Founder & Executive Director Carolina Collegiate HS
DianeRodgers Director of Cybersecurity Practice and Director of NC-PaCE NC State University
FINAL SESSION: WORKSHOP SHOWCASE
Students representing each STEM workshop will showcase their project.
Janelle
Moderator
STEM WORKSHOPS
Clean Energy (Wind )
Lead: Kimla Lee & Khelsey Lemon
Students will explore clean energy by building a mini-windmill that generates electricity and powers a smart home! They will measure the electricity using a voltage sensor and connect a Wi-Fi module (ESP8266) to make the windmill "smart". This project introduces students to clean energy, basic electronics, and IoT (Internet of Things) concepts .
Entrepreneur AI Explorers
Leads: Sabrina Netters (IBM) & Jailah Lytch (S.O.S UNC CH)
Students will embark on an imaginative journey as Generative AI Engineers exploring topics like AI bias & ethics, fueling creativity as they work on project deliverables, not just as learners but active creators shaping the future of AI!
Fun-damentals of Biotechnology
Leads: Buthainah Al Fifaie, Ph.D. & Shalom Chansarira
Students will learn about the exciting field of Biotech through hands-on activities. They will perform a scientific procedure utilizing M&Ms and food dye. Students will learn about food dye, molecule sizes, and how scientists use tools and techniques to observe and manipulate DNA and proteins.
Microbiomes & DNA Discovery
Leads: Amy Stefanowicz, Megan Lott, Megan Hill
Students will learn how to sample and grow microbes. They will learn about DNA, the blueprint of life, and will discover how we use DNA sequencing to learn the identities of the microbes that live in our houses and in ourselves. Some of those microbes are helpful, some of them not so much. They will use DNA sequences to understand how human microbiomes can change with disease and antibiotic use.
Music Technology
Leads: Phil King & Dan Reed
Students will learn the significant role technology plays in creating recorded music. They will learn the basic physics of music (how sound is produced and travels) and how to make & shape electronic sounds using virtual synthesizers, and with Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and software.
Robotics
Leads: Davonda Boone & Sandhya Rao
Students will build robots and program them to carry out actions and bring them to life. They will use their smartphones as remote controls to steer and challenge their peers in fun robotic games. Students also have the opportunity to control large, competitionlevel robots and interact with local Robotic team members and coaches.
Science of Cosmetics
Leads: Liz Adams & Jennifer Crosier
In this workshop, students will learn what chemical engineering is and what a chemical engineer does through the lens of cosmetics. Students will learn how chemicals mix and form new useful products that can be used as cosmetics and self-care products. In addtion, they explore branding and marketing strategies and its importance in the success of a product.
MANY THANKS TO OUR INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS!
Elizabeth Adams, Atemis Factor
Chelsea Adams, Gadget Girls-FIRST #4817
ButhaniahAl Rifaie, Fujifilms Biotech
Andrea Andersen, Liquidia Corporation
Charles Anyikam, Liquidia Corporation
Kathryn Arias, SpringWorks Therapeutics
LaQuantaye Ashiadey, HaGavi
Rithvija Avvari, Biogen
Nina Balawejder, S.O.S UNC CH
Arun Balram, Cut the Red Wire-FTC #6978
Ayana Barnes, ExtraHop
Chelsea Barnes, UNC Chapel Hill
DeepaliBelle, Fujifilm Biotechnologies
Claire Benton, NC Central University
Janelle Berry, Matterhackers
Reema Bhattacharya, UNC Health
Neelu Bijukchhe, AT&T
MarkBlair, Durham Photography Club
DavondaBoone, Fidelity Investments
Julianne Bove, ISPE-CaSA
ShuDon Brown, Ph.D., IBM
Caroline Butler, UNC Chapel Hill
Randi Carter, Biogen
Caroline Cashwell, Triangle Women in STEM
Aparna Chatterjee, Fidelity Investments
Ashley Coleman, Dke Energy
James Coppock, Infinia ML
Jennifer Crosier, Mangan Biopharm
Jessi Susan Cruger, Duke University
Mamatha Devarapalli, Fujifilm Biotech
Beverly Dudley, Arcadia.io
Taylor Emerson, Coastal Credit Union
Evie Felten, Gadget Girls - FIRST #4818
BontuFitta, Duke University
Katie Friday, Industrial Automated Systems
Demi Fuller, BCBC
Mattie Gaddy , NCSSM
Charles Gledhill, Durham Photography Club
Gabriela Goldner, Siemens
Marco Gonzalez, NC State University
Marisa Gremigni, Keystone Biotech Consulting
Vedanth Gundurapu, Cut the Red Wire-FTC #6978
BelindaHarris, Heart of America
Ellie Harrison, Gadget Girls-FIRST #4816
Alexa Henriques, Duke University Hospital
Alexandra Henriques, Eaton
Promise Henry, Howard University
Megan Hill. Ph.D., Duke University
Brooke Hommas, Liquidia Corporation
Francine Jackson, EquipNet, Inc.
Julia Jackson, Girl Scouts NC Coastal Pines
Sarah Jacobs, CAMS
Chaitanya Jampala, Cut the Red Wire-FTC #6978
Janelle Jennings-Alexander, Ph.D.,
Complete College America
Alkka Johnson, GXP Engaged Group
Nan Jokerst, Ph.D., Duke University
Diana Kelly, Girl Scouts NC Coastal Pines
Phil King, UBS
Meagan Konst, Cisco
Veena Lakshminarasimha, Fidelity Investments
KimlaLee, Red Hat
Khelsey Lemon, Timmons Group
Miriam Levy, OptumRx
Skyler Long, Coastal Credit Union
Steve Long, Durham Photography Club
Megan Lott, Ph.D. , UNC Chapel Hill
Cyra Lowery, NC AISES Professional Chapter
Deanna Ludwick , Girl Scouts NC Coastal Pines
JailahLytch, S.O.S (UNC CH)
JamieManess, The Medical Affairs Co.
Chasity Martin, Brooksource
AmandaMarvelle, Callahan Marvelle Consulting
Renata Mattos, IBM
Carola Maturana, BioAgilytix
Josephine McConnaughy, GadgetGirls-FIRST#4816
Wendy McCoy, Coastal Credit Union
Casey McKimpson, Girl Scouts NC Coastal Pines
TseggaMedhin, The Pearl Leadership Institute
CassidyMills, Duke University
Michelle Monegro, Healthfirst
Ishanth Movva, Cut the Red Wire-FTC #6978
Juanisdeli Munoz, Robinson Family Dentistry
Ana Muresan, USPTO
Leila Nawaz, Nasuni
Joan Nelson, IBM( retired)
SabrinaNetters, IBM
Christina Nguyen, Fujifilm Biotech
Em Nortmann, UNC Chapel Hill
Kaia Patel, Fujifilm Biotech
Jessica Patrice, Tamko
Erica Peng, Duke University
Tarkisha Poole, Coastal Credit Union
Zach Purser , Gadget Girls-FIRST #4816
Sandhya Rao, Fidelity Investments
DanReed, Red Hat
SondraRivers-Kobler, Credit Suisse (retired)
Laura Rodgers, NC State University
Chad Rychlewski, Accenture
Alyssa Santos, Fidelity Investments
Michell Sarver, Amgen
Amber Sawyer, Automated Engineering Services
Mustafa Shauket, Corning Incorporated
Shayesteh Sims, MetLife (retired)
Emily Snell, Duke University
Shannon Speer, Waters
AmyStefanowicz, Fujifilm Biotech
Sarah Straud, Shaw University
Isabel Strohkendl, Life Edit
Sunita Subedi, Durham Tech
Aynsley Szczesniak, S.O.S (UNC CH)
Denise Thomas, AstraZeneca
Ellie Vali, Liquidia Corporation
Sarah Van Dierdonck, Ph.D.
Nikki Votaw, Isolere Bio
Hang Vu, Biogen
Tinisia Watkins, Fidelity Investments
JoeyWebb, Carolina Collegiate High School
Hanna Woldemariam, Maraki Skin
Alvina Yeung, Fidelity Investments
Delshad Zaker, BB&E
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS & PARTNERS
