BEAM is proud to announce the 2026 class of scholarship recipients through our College Scholars program!
These scholarships are made possible thanks to the incredible generosity of our corporate partners, Hudson River Trading and Jane Street. These scholarships enable BEAM students to focus fully on pursuing their dream STEM education and career, even when financial barriers might otherwise stand in the way.
We are also thrilled to share two College Scholars who have been awarded scholarships sponsored by BEAM. These talented BEAM students have gone above and beyond in our math-focused programs, and we are honored to continue to support them as they move on to the next stage in their academic journey.
We’re so proud of these amazing students and all they’ve accomplished. Keep reading to learn more about our new College Scholars!
Anna L.
Anna’s scholarship is sponsored by Jane Street. She is attending Carnegie Mellon University where she is majoring in Chemical Engineering.
When I first joined BEAM in the summer of sixth grade, all I knew was that I liked math and that I was attending a math summer program. No big deal. What I didn’t know was that I would explore a world of math beyond computing equations. I had never taken a course on trying to measure infinity in school, or explored visual puzzles as an introduction to graph theory. Through BEAM, I explored the problem-solving processes essential to people working in STEM fields, employing strategic math thinking to, as BEAM staff put it, “work smarter, not harder.”
The program also introduced me to other people my age with a love for STEM. I still remember a challenge that was introduced to the cohort: Use the numbers corresponding to “BEAM” (2, 5, 1, 13) to form all integers up to 100. After using up the four basic operations, we collectively realized that we needed something greater. Through teamwork, unique thinking, and dedication, we found new operations to use, such as double factorials, modulo, and floor functions.
BEAM continued to support my interests after the first two summer programs, as I branched out of math into other STEM fields. They hosted field trips to institutions such as Jane Street and the Federal Reserve, where I could see firsthand the multitude of careers that were possible. However, I knew my interests lay in chemistry and engineering, as I joined my school robotics team and took my first chemistry class in my sophomore year. Through BEAM, I found a program, ARISE, where I conducted research in an electrochemical engineering lab that summer. I found that the same problem-solving and synergistic skills I developed in BEAM were highly relevant in chemical engineering. Working with others to discover something new was a thrill—one that I intend to continue pursuing in college.
I am immensely grateful to BEAM for sparking my passion for STEM and now, providing me with a scholarship that will allow me to further those passions. I plan to attend Carnegie Mellon University as a Chemical Engineering major this coming Fall 2026, where I hope to light up my future path through people, challenging courses, research opportunities, internships, and more.
Ayaan Z.
Ayaan’s scholarship is sponsored by BEAM. He is attending Harvard University where he is studying History and Science as a pre-med student.
I discovered BEAM in sixth grade through a friend, and excited by the prospect of spending most of my summers away from home, I applied, interviewed, and enrolled for the summer ahead. However, now contextualizing my BEAM Discovery experience in the circumstances of the 2020 pandemic, I realize I had a very atypical experience of what a traditional BEAM summer looked like. While I still took on the 100 Problem Challenge and the relay races, I completed them on a computer all while seeing my counselors’ and peers’ faces via Zoom. Still, I found the experience so enriching and motivating that I applied for the BEAM Pathway program the next summer, and spent the next summer doing many similar activities from the comfort of my home. Again, I felt myself in a fast paced environment relative to my middle school math class, feeling both confident and inspired by my progress over just two summers.
As I applied to high school, BEAM provided me adequate and thorough preparatory materials for the Specialized High School Admissions Test: I was soon accepted to Stuyvesant High School, and enrolled in what would soon become home to many of my most rigorous classes. My high school courses challenged me similarly to those which I found at BEAM; I was revisiting similar material in Euclidean Geometry and Algebra 2, and then applying myself further in AP Precalculus. In my senior year, I completed AP Calculus BC, the equivalent of Calculus I and II in a college setting, and have genuinely enjoyed the fast paced, collaborative, and arduous nature of the course.
As I graduated high school, I realized BEAM instilled both the confidence and academic passion in me to take such rigorous mathematics courses. Through Saturday classes, college tours, bonding events, and general office hours with the team, I was supported by BEAM to make the most of my present academic experiences and to dream broadly of my future ones too. Outside of school, I have also explored professional extracurriculars in STEM, including summer research programs last year with the International Young Researchers Conference and Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Supported by the BEAM Summer Stipend, I enrolled myself in both the scientific application of medicine and the logical process of academic research, coming away from the experience with a sustained interest in the healthcare field.
This fall, I will be taking my academic, professional, and creative interests to Harvard University, where I plan to concentrate in neuroscience. I intend to explore another concentration in the humanities, while also exploring the politics and policy of healthcare further through secondary programs, extracurricular opportunities, and professional endeavors. The BEAM College Scholarship will sustain my interests by providing me with the financial means to apply myself fully, in the interdisciplinary and diverse ways I have thus far, to the full academic experiences at Harvard.
BEAM has always been a reminder in my academic career of how valuable a thriving, structured support system is for young people like myself who navigate various underrepresented identities in academia; it is also why I was all the more thrilled to join the BEAM Discovery team in downtown New York City this summer as a Junior Counselor, perhaps to experience my first BEAM summer in-person, but all the more to give back to the vital community that BEAM provides for the city’s youth.
Caren F.
Caren’s scholarship is sponsored by Jane Street. She is attending Cornell University and majoring in Civil Engineering.
I think what excites me about STEM is all the different solutions or ideas that can come from one issue. When you think about a problem from a mathematical perspective, there are many ways to reach the same answer. The person next to you might approach it completely differently and still arrive at the same result. That diversity of thought motivates me because it makes problem-solving collaborative and creative rather than rigid.
Something that helped my interest in STEM grow significantly was my research at Weill Cornell on PET scan imagery recovery with neural networks. This allowed me to combine my interest in medical engineering with knowledge from my classes in electrical and experimental engineering. It showed me how abstract concepts like machine learning can have meaningful applications in improving medical technology and patient outcomes. I’ve also expanded my interest in math through BEAM’s Saturday classes, where I explored math in a deeper, more proof-based way than I typically would in school.
BEAM has been a meaningful part of my journey. I still remember my first summer in Discovery and how different it felt from my previous experiences with math. Instead of focusing on memorization, we were encouraged to think deeply and explore multiple approaches. This helped me become more comfortable with uncertainty and more confident tackling challenging problems. Staying involved through Saturday classes and field trips has allowed me to keep building these skills and remain part of a community that values curiosity and the learning process.
As I prepare to graduate high school and enter college, I plan to continue pursuing STEM, likely civil engineering or a related field. I’m interested in research that combines machine learning with physical applications. I’m curious how these methods could be used to analyze structural data or improve the design and maintenance of infrastructure. While my path may evolve, I’m excited to take advanced courses and explore different areas within STEM.
This scholarship will support my plans by easing some of the financial pressure of college, allowing me to focus more on academics, finding research opportunities, and extracurricular involvement rather than finding work-study. It gives me the flexibility to pursue internships or unpaid research positions that align with my interests. It also serves as encouragement of the community supporting me to push myself academically and to make the most of the opportunities ahead.
Cristina J.
Cristina’s scholarship is sponsored by Hudson River Trading. She is attending California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo where she is studying Computer Engineering.
My math and STEM journey really started to change once I joined BEAM. I remember joining Zoom during the first summer and not knowing what to expect, but it became one of the most impactful academic experiences for me. Instead of memorizing equations and racing to get the right answer, as we often did in school, BEAM taught us to slow down and think outside the box. It was hard at first because I was used to treating math like a subject where you just find the right answer and move on. But after a while, I began to enjoy that struggle. It felt like I was being challenged in a way that respected my thinking, and for the first time, math was exciting rather than a repetitive game.
BEAM completely changed how I see math and helped me realize that it is more than just numbers; it is creativity, logic, and patterns that explain how the world works. I used to be the typical "Math > English" student, but I didn't really have a deeper reason for liking math. Now, I do. I became even more interested in this after learning calculus in high school. As a student, I'm already interested in how math relates to ideas such as transformations, motion, and change. Through BEAM, I also learned to think of STEM as building and creating things to solve problems, rather than simply solving problems. The staff at BEAM also played a major role in my pursuit of STEM, whether through support during SAT Bootcamp or through Yesenia, who helped me with my college application process. I never felt afraid to ask questions; BEAM created an open space where curiosity was encouraged.
At Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, I plan to major in Computer Engineering and actively challenge myself both academically and socially. I will meet students from different backgrounds, share my experiences and goals, and learn from theirs. My lifelong goal is to build a successful career as a Power Electronics Engineer, where I can help improve the efficiency of energy systems. With this scholarship, I can begin my studies in computer engineering and take full advantage of the opportunities given, ultimately turning my experiences into long-term contributions in STEM. This goal isn’t impossible, and I’ll keep going to build a better future for my family, my future kids, and myself. I feel nothing but pride and gratitude for being a part of BEAM, and I will never regret joining. This program has challenged me, supported me, and helped shape both my academic interests and my confidence as a student. The experiences and relationships I gained through BEAM will stay with me long after the program itself.
Diana O.
Diana’s scholarship is sponsored by Jane Street. She is attending California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo where she is majoring in Aerospace Engineering.
From a young age, I have always been fascinated by mathematics, but I had never explored it in such depth until BEAM. BEAM was introduced to me during middle school, and at the time I did not even know what I was trying out for. That acceptance letter I received in the car with my dad on our way to pick up my mom from work was the start of an incredible experience and a gateway to the many opportunities that would come my way.
Even through a screen, I was able to connect with people and create friendships with individuals whom I still spend time with today. BEAM truly is a program that guides students on a pathway toward their goals.The mathematics I learned and explored during BEAM was different from anything I had experienced before. It got me genuinely excited to solve difficult problems. The feeling of overcoming a challenging problem is unmatched, and it reminds me why I enjoy mathematics so much.
Thanks to BEAM, I was able to access opportunities that I never would have imagined. One of those opportunities was MITES Summer, a program that holds a special place in my heart. Through MITES, I challenged myself academically, explored STEM in greater depth, and connected with students from across the country who shared similar interests. The experiences and lessons I gained through MITES strengthened my confidence and expanded my vision for what was possible in my future, and I have BEAM to thank for making that opportunity possible.
Looking ahead, I am excited to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as an Aerospace Engineering major. There, I hope to continue developing my skills in mathematics and engineering through hands-on learning opportunities while exploring new areas within aerospace. My goal is to build on the foundation that BEAM helped create and pursue a career where I can contribute to innovative advancements in aerospace technology.
I want to thank all of the staff and leadership at BEAM who made this program possible. As a first-generation student, I do not believe I would have been as successful without this pathway program. I especially want to thank my mentors and staff members who made a lasting impact on my life, Yesenia Luis and Josephine Ochoa. They both went out of their way to help me whenever I needed support, and for that I am incredibly grateful. Without their guidance and encouragement, I would not have been able to accomplish my goals. This scholarship will help me and my family tremendously. It will ease the financial burden that higher education can place on families and allow me to pursue my education without the constant worry of affordability.
Thank you, BEAM family.
Jordi Z.
Jordi’s scholarship is sponsored by BEAM. He is attending Pitzer College where he is studying Human Biology or Neuroscience as a pre-med student.
Ever since I was little, I have been interested in science, but that interest became a passion after my grandmother passed away from a stroke and did not have adequate access to healthcare. Her experience inspired me to pursue opportunities that would allow me to better understand medicine and make a difference in the lives of others. This passion eventually led me to conduct cancer immunotherapy research at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center through the STAR & EHA Biotechnology Program, study abroad at Oxford University, and volunteer in multiple hospital departments, where most of my time was spent at the Emergency Department. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to STEM and have led me to pursue Human Biology/Neuroscience at Pitzer College on the pre-med track. As I prepare to graduate and begin college, I am excited to continue exploring the connections between scientific discovery, research, and patient care.
BEAM has been an important part of my STEM journey. During the BEAM Discovery Program, teachers like Sarah Yosef fostered my curiosity and encouraged me to view learning as something exciting rather than something limited to the classroom. The following summer, BEAM Summer Away Online further strengthened both my passion for STEM and my connection to the BEAM community. Beyond academics, BEAM continued to support me throughout high school through opportunities such as the Boston-East Coast college trip, where I was able to visit universities and learn more about my future educational goals. The mentorship, encouragement, and community that BEAM provided played a significant role in my growth as a student and helped prepare me for success in college and beyond.
What continues to excite me about STEM is the endless opportunity for growth and discovery. In mathematics, I enjoy the challenge of tackling difficult concepts, from proofs to advanced calculus, and developing new ways of thinking about problems. In science, I am fascinated by the complexity of the natural world and the potential for breakthroughs that can improve human health and society. At Pitzer College, I hope to earn a degree in Human Biology or Neuroscience before attending medical school, ideally at USC or UCLA, while also pursuing a dual MPH or PhD program. Ultimately, I hope to become a physician who not only practices medicine but also contributes to research that advances healthcare. This scholarship will help make those goals possible by easing the financial burden on my low-income family, allowing me to focus fully on my education and future career in STEM.
