Morris County student launches STEMpowering, expands access to early STEM education with free programs for K–8 students
ROCKAWAY, NJ (Morris County) – Tatva Kabat, a junior at The Academy for Math, Science, and Engineering in Rockaway, has launched STEMpowering, a nonprofit that offers free STEM education and resources to children across New Jersey.
A two-time NJAAPT Physics Olympics medalist, Kabat serves as Vice President of the Computer Science Club and President of the Physics Club at his school. He also conducts materials science research at NJIT and electrical engineering research at Fairleigh Dickinson University. With more than 100 hours of volunteer service through Pathways for Exceptional Children and recognition from the Montville Town Council, Kabat is deeply committed to education and community impact.
Last year, STEMpowering taught more than 50 students in grades K–8 from five states during a four-week virtual summer camp, introducing topics ranging from computer science to electrical engineering. They also raised over $1,000, including a grant from GoFundMe.org to distribute STEM kits to local nonprofit organizations and Boys & Girls Clubs.
Kabat was inspired to create STEMpowering after observing disparities in STEM preparation among students his age. “I go to a specialized high school for engineering, where out of 48 students, most come from just two or three towns in all of Morris County,” he explained. “When I looked closer, I saw that STEM curriculums differ significantly from school to school, and students don’t get equal opportunities to explore STEM before high school.”
Determined to level the playing field, Kabat assembled a team of like-minded peers—Sahaj Bhandari, Anirudh Venkatesan, Theron Wang, John Ferdinandi, and Rishi Puzhakkal—to develop curricula in CAD, electronics, and computer science. They promoted the summer program through local parent networks and social media, more than doubling their original registration goal.
At first, Kabat was skeptical about simplifying advanced electronics for young students. But during a virtual circuit demonstration, a student quickly diagnosed and corrected a mistake he made. “I knew we succeeded in our mission—not just teaching but empowering our students to think critically,” he said.
At the end of the summer, families shared positive feedback. “Our son learned a lot from these classes!” one parent said. Another added, “Thank you so much for these sessions. Looking forward to seeing what else STEMpowering has to offer.”
STEMpowering continues to grow, with a second camp planned for this summer. Kabat and the team also hope to expand their STEM kit initiative and launch a free STEM competition. To learn more or get involved, visit stempowering.org or follow @stempowering.us on Instagram.
