STATE DIRECTORS AND INTERNATIONAL REPS
State Directors monitor the progress of their state's team. They plan out events and helping local managers plan out and execute ideas such as virtual events, courses and workshops. State Directors will update the executive team about current issues, ideas and plans for expanding STEM Garden’s platform in their state.
KHUSHI AFRE
State Director - Georgia
Khushi Afre is the state director from Georgia. She is a senior at a high school in metro-Atlanta. She’s wanted to study medicine her entire life and is very involved in extracurriculars centered around science. She interns at a local center for rare neurological diseases and is the president of her school’s National Science Honor Society. She also takes science tests competitively and enjoys learning about molecular biology. Aside from that, she plays the flute, debates on the speech and debate team, and tutors middle school students.
SHANNON AMOR
State Director - Florida
Shannon is the state director from Florida. She is currently a junior in high school. Shannon has always had a profound love for math and science. She is heavily involved in FAMAT, Mu Alpha Theta’s math competition, Student Council, and is a part of her school’s band as the section leader for snare drum players. She also has a passion for being involved in her community, as she volunteers at Cleveland Clinic and is currently an ambassador for NVEEE (National Voices for Equality Education and Enlightenment), an organization geared to prevent bullying and suicide among youth through direct service and mentoring. Shannon hopes to major in aerospace engineering in college. She is excited to be involved in The STEM Garden to instill passion for math and science in others!
TAMANINA ASHRAF
State Director - New York
Tamanina is a senior at Sachem High School North and is the state director for New York. She is an active member of her community both in and out of school. In school, she holds many positions in different clubs- founder of the Photography Club, co-founder of the Intercultural Club, president of the Mentors Club, social media manager for the Interact Club, and secretary for the STEM Club. Tamanina involved her in as many school events and even organized some events. Outside of school, she is involved at her local mosque. She also ran a lake cleanup, working with her mosque, Good Shepherd Church, and Keep Islip Clean. Tamanina also enjoys reading, writing, singing, and dancing, although her skills in the latter two are mediocre. In the future, she is hoping to pursue a career in prosthetics and orthotics, and is majoring in biomedical engineering.
CARLOS FURUKAWA
State Director - Hawaii
Carlos is a rising sophomore and a Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation Scholarship recipient studying at Pomona College. He is currently working towards a Biology major with a minor in Japanese and interested in all things science (especially, human physiology)! In 2018, he was engaged in Zika virus vaccine development at the University of Hawaii Medical School in association with the NIH. Outside of academics, he loves cooking, working out, and eating saimin on the beach in his hometown of Kailua, Hawaii. Post college, Carlos intends to work towards his Masters degree in Biology and become a professor, teaching and inspiring his students. He is excited and thankful to be a part of the STEM Garden team!
MANA IMANI
State Director- California
Mana is a current high school sophomore from California passionate about biology and computer science. At school, Mana is an active officer of her school's Key club, an international service program for high school students . Mana is also very involved in STEM by being the vice president of her school's Society of Women's engineering club or SWENext, actively promoting STEM careers to young women in her community and in the club Catalyst for Success (where she does science experiments with kids in elementary schools, "They're all so cute and ready to learn!", she says. Apart from STEM, Mana is also an executive officer for her school's CSF club (California Scholarship Federation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to recognize and encourage academic achievement and community service among middle and high school students in California) and hopes in the coming school year to open a CJSF club (California Junior Scholarship Federation) at her local middle school. In her free time, Mana loves to swim and play water polo with her school's team, read and code, and volunteer at different events in her community. She can't wait to contribute more to her community and help countless students through the STEM Garden.
JUSTIN LEE
State Director - New Jersey
Justin Lee is a high school sophomore studying Electrical Engineering from the Middlesex County Academy for STEM, in New Jersey. He is currently a part of his school's CJML Math League team, part of the TSA and FBLA student organizations, and an amateur software developer. Last year, Justin and his TSA team were able to place 6th place, nationals! In his free time, you can find him playing video games, reading, or catching up on sleep. He plays varsity soccer for his school and enjoys swimming during the summer. He has been teaching students for nearly two years, at his local library and online. Learning is always exciting, and he is looking forward to facilitating it through the Stem Garden!
BAO HAN NGO
State Director - Massachusetts
Bao Han is a current junior at the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science. She has been involved in tutoring and mentoring throughout highschool, working with kids as young as four years old to college students. Most days after school, Bao Han goes to her local biomechanics lab to expand her interest in sports medicine, where she has focused on topics ranging from running form to bone strengthening. Outside of her STEM pursuits, she is a school council representative and enjoys taking long runs outdoors. In college, Bao Han hopes to major in a field of science and go on to become a doctor. Until then, she is looking forward to spreading her love for STEM with other students as the Massachusetts state director for the STEM garden!
MARY PAPADOPOULOS
State Director - Connecticut
Mary Papadopoulos is the State Director for Connecticut and a current high school junior at The Hotchkiss School. She is involved with her school’s Medical Society, Humane Society, and Student Environmental Activists groups. As well as varsity volleyball, peer tutor and peer listener committees, and a tour guide. Outside of school, she is training to become an EMT! She is a passionate advocate for the environment, especially sharks. She spent last summer in Fiji hand-tagging bull sharks and conducting indicator species dives under marine biologists. In college, she plans on studying biochemistry. She is excited to join the STEM Garden to inspire other girls to pursue their interest in science!
SHIVANI RAMKUMAR
State Director- Texas
Shivani Ramkumar is currently a sophomore at Plano East Senior High School. She is the state director of Texas for STEM Garden and partakes in several organizations that relate to technology, science, math, leadership/entrepreneurship, and lastly, community service. One of Shivani’s significant roles in her community include, but is not limited to, her current position as Co-President/Founder of a club at her school which is a chapter of an organization that she is a part of, known as Changemakers for Children’s. Shivani works alongside her group mates to raise money for Children’s Health hospitals each year, to collect donations, and lastly to advocate on behalf of these hospitals. In terms of STEM, Shivani has competed in a few science fairs before, where she created products that are categorized as Robotics and Intelligent Machines. She has had a few years of experience in programming, and she applies these skills in app and product development. Shivani also takes interest in sports, and is a tennis player. In her free time, Shivani enjoys reading, writing, painting, talking to friends, and playing tennis. As for her future plans, Shivani is very passionate towards the STEM field, and hopes to pursue a career in Artificial Intelligence and Business. Shivani aspires to be a leader who will impact the lives of many, and is excited to be a part of the STEM Garden team!
BUKET VARILCI
International Representative - Turkey
Buket Varilci is a rising Senior in Izzet Baysal Anatolia High School. She is passionate about teaching Science and English. Her main purpose is to help people outside of the USA. She is an international representative also tutor from Turkey. She was an exchange student at South Pasadena High School (LA). In addition to being the president of the environmental club, she is also mentoring students who interested to join MUN next year. She loves to go to new countries and meet new cultures. Last year when she went to Los Angeles she found what want to do in her future; to be an astronaut. She is going to apply to universities in American Universities this year because there are no studies in the field of astrophysics in her country. She is currently working on creating a website related to astrophysics. She has been a captain in the school's varsity tennis team for 2 years and has also been playing the violin for 10 years. If she will get acceptance from American colleges suitable for her field, she is looking forward to helping people with STEM garden.
ELLE WARD
State Director - Nebraska
Elle is an upcoming senior at Millard North High School in Omaha, Nebraska. She’s an alumna of the 2020 Stanford Global China Scholars Program and also president of a TASSEL Chapter that helps to provide multilingual education in rural Cambodia. Her work with linguistics and education activism has led her to opportunities such as being a US Youth Ambassador to Argentina and Chile, a National Security Language Initiative for Youth Finalist, and recipient of the 2019 Rotary Youth Leadership Award.
