Every year, several talented BEAM high school students receive a Summer STEM Stipend sponsored by BEAM’s corporate partners Jane Street and Hudson River Trading. This stipend is dedicated to covering the costs associated with attending a top-tier summer STEM program. This year, we are thrilled to recognize ten lucky recipients of this award!
BEAM is committed to supporting each of our students to and through college with personalized guidance and resources. One essential part of that support is helping students access rigorous, enriching STEM experiences outside of school. These programs provide students with the incredible opportunity to immerse themselves in STEM topics while building career skills, community, and college readiness.
Jane Street and Hudson River Trading’s invaluable partnership makes it possible for our students to attend these exciting STEM-focused programs. The stipends ensure that students can attend these transformative programs without financial burden, allowing them to fully focus on their passions, rather than on summer jobs or financial stress.
Keep reading to learn more about our Summer STEM Scholars and what they shared in their own words in advance of the summer!
Los Angeles
Angel T.
Miguel Contreras Academic Leadership Community, 11th Grade
Attended MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering and Science (MITES)
To me, all of STEM — but mainly math — has always been exciting to learn. I love how math’s many rules don't contradict and can always be applied the same way. Every answer can be proven, and math can only be right or wrong – there is no in between. Math either makes sense or it doesn't.
BEAM has been instrumental in growing my interest in math and STEM. BEAM introduced me to probability, weirdly fascinating math problems, and unique logic puzzles. I have also been inspired by my AP Physics teacher, who helped me develop my interest in science and taught me advanced mathematics.
This summer, I am so excited to attend MITES at MIT. Out of all the programs I applied to, MITES was the one I most wanted to experience. I applied to MITES because I wanted to take Calculus, Physics and other STEM courses.
I’m also looking forward to MITES feeling less like a “camp” – I wanted a program that would really challenge me and be rigorous. At school, I often don’t feel challenged by STEM courses, and it’s a goal of mine to continue to be challenged in the STEM field. I know that I will learn a lot from this program and that the program will teach me many things about STEM and beyond.
Diana o.
Miguel Contreras Academic Leadership Community, 11th Grade
Attended MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering and Science (MITES)
STEM, especially math, excites me because I love the feeling of overcoming difficult problems and knowing I can solve them. That feeling motivates me to keep learning and pushing myself.
BEAM has helped me love math even more by teaching me new, challenging math in a fun and supportive way. They create a safe space where making mistakes is okay and is a part of the learning process, which has made me more confident, especially when working on topics I’m not familiar with. Tackling challenging problems has made me even more certain that I want to follow a path in STEM.
This summer, I’m attending the MITES Summer program because it will allow me to experience what it’s like to be an engineer, and help me learn how to face the challenges that come with it. Without MITES, I wouldn’t have access to this kind of experience due to social barriers and limited resources at my school. I’m excited to learn from mentors and collaborate with others who share my passion for math as I work toward a career in aerospace engineering.
Jacqueline o.
Rise Kohyang High School, 12th Grade
Attended Jane Street Academy of Math and Programming (AMP)
My name is Jacqueline, and I will be studying Applied Mathematics at Yale in the fall. I'm a first-generation student and I come from a low-income family where I’m the middle child and only daughter.
In the almost 6 years that I've been involved in BEAM, I've learned so much from the Saturday classes, college field trips, and the many conversations with mentors. Without the support I received from BEAM, I don't think I would have been able to accomplish all that I have.
What excites me about math is the collaboration. I love discussions that introduce different perspectives. STEM not only gives me a new outlook to solve problems – it has also given me a chance to change my life for the better. Outside of BEAM, I've participated in research with a professor from Pomona and even presented my research at a conference at Pepperdine University.
This summer, I will be attending Jane Street AMP in New York City. I hope to learn what professions I might explore in the future by pursuing math, and how I can improve my approach to problems I'm not familiar with.
New York
caren f.
Bronx High School of Science, 11th Grade
Attended Explore Engineering Innovation at Johns Hopkins University
I think what excites me about STEM is all the different solutions or ideas that can stem from just one issue (pun intended). When you think about a problem from a mathematical perspective, there are so many potential ways to reach the same answer. The person next to you might approach the problem in a completely different way and still get the same answer.
Something that helped my interest in STEM grow significantly was my recent research at Weill Cornell on PET Scan imagery recovery. Doing this research allowed me to combine my interests in medical engineering with the knowledge I had gained through my school classes in electrical engineering. I’ve also expanded my interest in STEM through BEAM Saturday classes, such as Number Theory.
This summer, I am attending the JHU Explore Engineering Innovation program. I know that I am very interested in engineering, but I don't exactly know what kind of engineering I want to pursue in college, so I think that this program will help me discover what kind of engineering I’m interested in pursuing further.
edison l.
East Side Community High School, 11th Grade
Attended NYU Arise (Applied Research in Science and Engineering)
Hello! My name is Edison, and I go to East Side Community High School.
My favorite thing about STEM is how it is constantly improving and changing every day. When STEM professionals find a solution, they don't move on and start a new project. They find other ways to make their solution more efficient and up-to-date, and continue to revise and improve it.
The program I will be attending this summer is called NYU ARISE. I chose this program because I saw that it was an opportunity to work with people already in the industry and that you didn’t have to have any background knowledge in scientific research.
I will be working in a lab focused on machine learning, which I want to learn more about. Working in a machine learning lab this summer will help me decide whether I would like to pursue mechanical engineering or electrical engineering further.
Megan p.
Bronx High School of Science, 11th Grade
Attended Entrepreneurship Lab at Bronx Science, the STEM Institute at the City College of New York
Hi! My name is Megan, and I’m a junior at Bronx High School of Science in New York City. I’m a first-generation Thai American student and an older sister, which has shaped my passion for learning and exploring different paths in STEM.
I first became interested in math when I was younger – I was drawn to the logic and problem-solving behind it. As I grew older, it was small moments of learning that inspired me to learn about the different branches of math and science.
BEAM has been a huge part of my STEM journey. BEAM opened my eyes to the wide range of possibilities in STEM, from engineering and computer science to data analysis and beyond. This summer, I’ll be participating in the Entrepreneurship Lab at Bronx High School of Science and in the CCNY STEM Institute summer program. I’m excited to utilize the skills I gain this summer to connect entrepreneurship and STEM, and I hope to use what I learn to make a positive impact in my community.
Oumou B.
University Heights High School, 11th Grade
Attended Summer Discovery at Georgetown University, Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program
What excites me most about math and STEM is how they help make sense of the world. I love how one concept can connect to so many others and how there's always more to discover. Math pushes me to think critically and creatively at the same time.
My experience at BEAM really deepened my interest in math. It was the first time I got to explore math beyond the classroom in a way that was fun, challenging, and collaborative. I remember struggling through a tough problem at BEAM Discovery with my peers and teaching assistant, and the moment we figured it out felt so rewarding. That kind of hands-on, problem-solving environment made me realize how much I enjoy diving into difficult concepts and learning through trial and error.
This summer, I will be attending Georgetown University, taking medical-related courses to prepare me for my future. Alongside that, I will be participating in the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program to learn more about coding and technology, considering how prevalent it is in today's world. I hope to take the skills that I learn through both of these programs and apply them to my everyday life.
Samuel p.
Brooklyn Technical High School, 11th Grade
Attended Urban Arts Game Academy Summer Program
The thing that excites me about STEM is the fact that you can use your creativity to create what you want.
BEAM has shown me several different fields of STEM that I find really fascinating, which was a key reason I became interested in STEM.
I chose to attend the Urban Arts Game Academy Summer Program this summer because the idea of becoming a Game Developer seems like a great way to use my creativity and knowledge of coding. I am looking forward to learning more about game development.
sylvan c.
High School of American Studies, 12th Grade
Attended Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSiM)
I have been interested in math since 2017, when I saw algebra for the first time and struggled to understand it. I was excited by each step of a problem: first, the beginning, when I saw something new and wasn’t sure how to solve it. That part was exciting because it was a challenge where I’d have to think in ways I never had before. Then, I was excited and challenged by the middle bits, those “Aha!” moments where new insights made me feel like I’d accomplished something. And then, the end – while math doesn’t ever truly end, each problem has a moment where the hard work put in and the new approaches discovered culminate in something satisfying.
This summer, I will be doing math for 8 hours a day at HCSSiM. The reason I want to do this is because of those beginnings, middles, and ends. It’s the process and what it gives you. In high school, math is almost linear, but in the programs I’ve done outside of school, each new problem has given me tools to explore a new path.
A couple of years ago, I joined the BEAM math research group. The math I did was unlike anything I’d done before, and it helped shape how I approach problems now. For example, when I was applying to HCSSiM, one of the problems stood out to me because I knew I could use the intuitions developed from working in the research group to solve it. I’m sure most people who applied didn’t approach that problem the same way I did, and that’s what makes it so valuable to participate in things that challenge you. Being in an environment where you can share ideas with other people and learn from their ideas is so valuable. I am excited to experience that at HCSSiM this summer – there is so much I can't wait to learn from other people, and also some stuff that I can show them.
tess a.
Millennium Brooklyn High School, 10th Grade
Attended Columbia SHAPE (Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers)
What originally sparked my love for math and STEM was my eagerness to know and understand clear answers. When it comes to classes with writing, the endless void of unclear structures frightens me. Not knowing how to start, what to write about, or if I’m correct, and the overall feeling of having no boundaries pushed me away from ELA and towards math, a subject with structure, concrete answers, and clear rights and wrongs. My passion for math and STEM comes from the satisfaction of receiving a definitive answer – no beating around the bush, no ounce of uncertainty – just me, the problem at hand, and my mind.
A major aspect of math that BEAM has helped me with is collaborative work. In middle school, taking class online during COVID set my social skills back by a lot. I had trouble making friends, asking for help, and speaking up. BEAM has taught me, through summer programs and Saturday classes, not just about math and STEM, but about confronting difficult problems and not being afraid to ask for help. Gaining confidence, being able to make friends, and having the ability to solve math and STEM problems collaboratively increased my love and interest for those subjects.
This summer, I am attending Columbia SHAPE. I first heard about SHAPE through a BEAM coordinator, who thought this program would be a good fit for me because of what I’m interested in. When I looked further into the program, the idea of pursuing a career in STEM, especially engineering, really piqued my interest. Although I haven’t had much experience with engineering specifically, I do have a lot of experience in sustainability. As a strong believer in a cleaner society, I believe furthering my studies in sustainable engineering will help me gain a wider perspective on how to help our environment. I hope to learn about ways we can reduce climate change in its entirety through innovations and technology.