What is Team STEAM?
The Issue
Team STEAM is a free introductory engineering program that enables children to hone and develop engineering skills while enhancing their passion for creative problem solving. In the span of two years, Team STEAM has impacted over 600
young engineers and onboarded 17 high school mentors. Throughout their journey, Team STEAM members have worked with children from 6 different states and have integrated programs with 7 surrounding community centers and libraries.
Today Team STEAM continues to expand, helping our teens start their own Team STEAM chapter within their own communities.
Team STEAM emerged as a result of the 2020 Covid pandemic when young children were deprived of their opportunities to grow as social learners. Many teachers and parents witnessed the major detriment remote learning had on their student’s emotional and social health. Team STEAM became a way for students to continue engaging themselves and conyiunue pursuing their interests beyond the classroom. Today Team STEAM works to combat the issue of educational inequality. STEAM is paving the way for the future and no child should have to sacrifice opportunities due to their socioeconomic status. Team STEAM is committed to providing free programs, “making steam possible for every student everywhere”!
Our Milestones
November 2020
Team STEAM’s first ever session was held online! 4 eager students were in attendance, and had a fantastic time building their very own Animal Enclosures!
Team STEAM had taught lessons to 100 students across 6 different states through virtual platforms.
December 2020
January 2021
Team STEAM was selected to present at its first ever conference, GIFT (Global Innovation Field Trip) a 48 hour live streaming event that celebrates inventors, entrepreneurs, and innovators from around the world. Here they discussed their program, how it started, and gained publicity.
Team STEAM partnered with a local school parent-teacher organizations, the Cider Mill and Miller Driscoll School PTAs, featuring segments in their newsletters. Through this process Team STEAM was able to get over 95 new online students, and establishing their presence within their local community.
December 2021
March 2022
Team STEAM launched their first in person session at the Wilton Library, as COVID cases were dwindling. The first session was full booked and had a full waitlist, it was an immediate success! With consistent enthusiasm from the students, staff and volunteers one session quickly turned over 16 independent sessions at the Wilton Library.
Team STEAM took their first efforts to fight for education equity by bringing free programs to inner city community centers. Team STEAM started regularly teaching at McGivney Community Center (Bridgeport, CT) and Triangle Community Center (Norwalk, CT). There they have impacted the lives of over 100 students to date! Additionally, Team STEAm has worked with a number of local organizations including the Girl Scouts, after school programs, and farmers markets where the Team STEAM mentors now run live in-person programming.
March 2022
April 2022
Team STEAM exploded, expanding in person sessions to Darien Library, Ridgefield Library, Norwalk Library, Westport Library, Westen Library, and New Cannan Library.
Team STEAM was featured in the local Fairfield County newspaper for providing “fun, free learning experiences.”
March 2023
May 2023
Team STEAM founders Riya Shah and Keerthi Vijay were awarded with the DR. ROBERT J. JACOBS MEMORIAL AWARD at their high school. In appreciation of students who “left their mark” for others to see.