Our Story
About Avanza STEM
Avanza STEM is a youth-led volunteer program bringing free hands-on STEM workshops and beginner-friendly projects to students, with a special focus on Hispanic and underrepresented communities.
Why We Started
Avanza STEM began near the end of my sophomore year as an idea for an Eagle Scout project. At first, the goal was simple: run a few free, hands-on STEM workshops for kids at local libraries. But as I started planning the first sessions and reaching out to communities, I realized the need was bigger than one simple project. The need would still be there after my project was over.
Many kids are naturally curious about how things work, but they don't always have easy access to STEM programs that are free, beginner-friendly, or welcoming to families from different backgrounds. I noticed this especially for kids from Hispanic families like mine, which stuck with me especially. For some students, science and engineering can feel distant or intimidating, especially when programs are expensive, hard to find, or not offered in a way that feels connected to their community.
So we started small, with a few folding tables, popsicle sticks, glue, and a group of kids building bridges for the first time. By the end of the workshop, they had not only built structures strong enough to hold textbooks. They had also started to see themselves as builders, problem-solvers, and future engineers.
Avanza STEM is not just a one-time project. It became a way to bring regularly accessible STEM opportunities to more students and more communities.
— Liam Salcedo
Creator of Avanza STEM
Who We Are
A small, passionate team committed to making STEM education a reality for every student.
Liam Salcedo
Founder & Lead Educator
Liam started Avanza STEM from an Eagle Scout service project idea at the end of his sophomore year and grew it into a student-led STEM initiative focused on making hands-on learning more accessible. He designs the curriculum, leads workshops, builds library partnerships, and creates resources that help students explore engineering, coding, and AI through creative projects.
Enqi "Tommy" Qi
Workshop Support & Media Volunteer
Enqi "Tommy" Qi supports Avanza STEM by helping guide students through hands-on workshop activities, documenting events through photos, and pitching in wherever extra help is needed. His steady support helps each session feel organized, welcoming, and ready for kids to learn.
Contributors & Volunteers
Alejandro Villafana
Workshop Contributor
Alejandro helped support some of Avanza STEM's earliest hands-on workshops by assisting with activities and helping students during sessions.
Logan Smith
Website Contributor
Logan helped with the technical side of the Avanza STEM website, including coding support, debugging, and improving the development workflow. Taught Liam how to use Next.js and Tailwind CSS and Codex to speed up the coding process.
Thomas Flick
Workshop Contributor
Thomas helped support early Avanza STEM workshops by assisting with activities and helping students during sessions.
Want to help? We're always looking for volunteers and partners. liam@avanzastem.org
Get Involved
We're always looking for passionate people to help us expand STEM access in our community.
Volunteers help with:
- Tutoring and mentoring students
- Running and supporting workshops
- Reviewing and developing curriculum
- Event setup and materials prep
- Community outreach and translation
Commitment is flexible. We work around your schedule.
Email liam@avanzastem.org to get involvedSupport Avanza STEM
Interested in supporting materials or future workshops? Contact us so we can coordinate what is actually needed.
Reach out before sending funds or materials.
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Ready to get involved?
Attend a workshop, share our resources, or reach out to bring Avanza STEM to your school or library.