Our Mission – Committed to Excellence
Our mission is to create an environment where students can express their leadership and bring the best out of themselves and their juniors.
Highly accomplished students teach and share their experience with the elementary and middle schoolers and provide them with skills necessary to succeed in future endeavors (Math, Science, Technology advance knowledge, social and emotional skills)
Our Journey
The Urbana STEMM (USTEMM) program was originally established by Dr. Amit Kumar and a couple of volunteer parents as a basement tutoring session in 2014. Over time, it evolved, starting with a small group of children receiving advanced math and science instruction from Dr. Kumar. Gradually, it expanded into the Urbana Math Club holding classes in a public place in 2016 and catering to the Frederick community. Later, Urbana STEMM was incorporated as an entity in Maryland and is recognized as a 501(C)(3) organization in 2022 and aims to engage more students.
Urbana STEMM incorporates a unique teaching approach that transcends grade-level work done in school. It enables students to excel academically and gives them the ability to tackle advanced-level problems. Consequently, many students have been acknowledged and awarded for their academic achievements. Some have earned Presidential awards, and others have been decorated with medals for their outstanding performance in Mathcount and Science Olympiad competitions at the regional/State level.
One noteworthy feature of the Urbana STEMM program is the opportunity it offers to middle and high school students to serve as volunteer teachers. Under the guidance and support from Brad Young, then Frederick County Board of Education President, USTEMM was able to recruit student volunteers from Urbana High School. Numerous students have dedicated their time to this program to assist their community and provide valuable service, enhancing the VOU area. Through their accumulation of SSL (Student Service Learning) hours, Urbana STEMM student volunteers have gained recognition and awards for their efforts such as the Volunteer Presidential Service Award from Americorp, Point of Light honor roll, and ELKS Award.
Urbana STEMM founders and coordinators believe in community services and engage USTEMM students in many activities ranging from technology to environment to social services. Students held robotics workshops, plantation and maintenance of community garden, community cleaning, and food and goods drive in partnership with several other local, national, and international organizations. Furthermore, students from the USTEMM program joined and supported the program of other non-profit organizations, such as Ekal Foundation of USA, Recycle My Battery (RMB), YMCA, and Green Team, showcasing their commitment to creating a better society.
All in all, the Urbana STEMM program, founded by Dr. Amit Kumar, has played a pivotal role in providing educational opportunities, fostering community support, and promoting volunteerism among students in the Frederick community. The STEMM program aims to extend learning opportunities to underserved or underprivileged migrants in Frederick County in the future.
Core Team Members
Amit Kumar
Dr. Amit Kumar is a Program Director in the Nutrition Science Research Group (NSRG) of Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP) at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Amit kumar was born in Allahanad, Utter Pradesh. He has done all his education at Allahabad, including bachelor and masters from University of Allahabad.
Currently, he lives in Frederick, Maryland and has a wife and 2 kids age 16 and 10. He enjoys teaching Math and Science to many kids in the area and volunteers his time for community organization. He is also Leader or UrbanaMathClub, Coordinator of Adventure in Science Program and North South Foundation. He has organized many community activities for last 20 years including EKAL annual fundraising, Holi and Diwali at the local level.
Carmen Vega
I am a rising senior at Urbana High School, Frederick, MD. Throughout middle school I was an active member of MathCounts. As a high school student, I am a member of the National Math Honor Society and tutor high school students. I also am a private tutor for college level statistics. The College Board recognized me for the National Hispanic Recognition Program as well as the National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program for 2021-2022. Additionally, I am selected to intern at USAMRIID to conduct a research project throughout the summer and school year.
Dhruv Girish
I am a rising Junior at Urbana High School, with extensive experience with coaching/mentoring students for competitions helping students to place 1st in the nation. I also founded a not-for profit organization called The Scholarly Program where high school students advocate for STEAM equity within their community. I have been recognized for my work within the community and the extensive research completed being recognized as 1 of the 15 honorees considered “Most powerful and influential youth in the East Coast” as featured on ABC7 News. Recently, I received the Presidential volunteer service award and Point of Light award for my community services.
Anushka Tyagi
I am a rising sophomore at Urbana High School, who is deeply passionate about community service. I have been working with U STEMM for almost three years now, and look forward to working with them more. I am additionally involved with various other local committees and groups, such as Recycle My Battery and The Scholarly Program, in which I am the Director of Education. I enjoy tutoring and working with younger children, and was the mentor for the FLL team Techy Titans, who’s innovation project was ranked in the top three in the state of Maryland for the Cargo Connect Challenge.
Praneel Pandit
I am a rising 9th grader, currently in 8th grade in Urbana Middle School. I am a STEM enthusiast and passionate about Math and all aspects of Science and Engineering. I adore learning about the environment and nature. I won 2nd place in all county Regionals MathCounts and qualified for STATES for MathCounts, FLL Robotics and Science Olympiad. I also received honorary mention for AMC 8. For the last few years, I have been an active mentor for Math and Robotics for kids in the U STEMM program. I also volunteer as a mentor for underprivileged kids in the Avanee Program.
Mihir Kumar
I am a 7th grader at Urbana Middle School, Frederick, MD. I have experience with Mathcount, AMC, northsouth and ekal bee and robotics competitions including FLL and FTC. I like teaching Math and robotics and volunteering for U STEMM, North South Foundation and Ekal Abhiyaan. I regularly participate in many community services in the local area (including community cleaning, food drive, book drive etc). I am also vice president of the recycle my battery organization that is helping to protect the environment. In 2021, I was awarded the presidential volunteer service award for my service to the community.
Manas Sharma
I am a rising senior at Urbana High School, Frederick, MD. I have competed in various kinds of math competitions throughout middle school, such as the Math olympiad, AMC8, and Math Kangaroo. I have also competed in high school math competitions as well (AMC 10 and AMC 12). I am a member of the National Math Honor Society and a volunteer-serving tutor of high school students. I have also tutored middle school students in mathematics and physics in summer to U STEMM/EKAL students. I have also run a school supply drive supported by EKAL/U STEMM in which I campaigned and gathered school supplies for Frederick County School students in need. In addition to these various activities, I have also played competitive baseball and helped coach in providing training to younger players in my best possible capacity.
Amaar Trisal
I am a rising senior at Urbana High School and I have been actively involved with competition math, placing as high as 3rd in the chapter competitions for the MathCounts program. I also have experience with AMC competitions, participating in multiple of the exams and taking courses at the AoPS Academy Campus in Gaithersburg, Maryland. I currently tutor both competitive and pre-algebra math skills. In addition to competitive math, I was actively involved in the Wharton Global High School Investment Competition and have experience with youth recreational sports programs, both volunteering to coach and working part-time with the i9 Sports Frederick division.
Nainitha Chalamalasetty
I am a rising 9th grader at Urbana High School, Frederick, MD. I’m interested in different aspects of STEM, and love learning new things! I participated in math counts from 6th through 8th grade. I won 7th in invitationals, 4th in regionals and qualified for the state competition. I also participated in Science Olympiad throughout middle school and won many awards. I participate and volunteer in community events such as community cleaning and taking summer math classes for elementary and middle schoolers. I am also an active member of a non-profit organization called Recycle My Battery. In 7th and 8th grade, I won first place in the chemistry and physics categories for the Frederick County Science Fair. I got nominated to participate in the Broadcom Masters competition 2 times in a row. In addition to this, I was a part of an FLL team for 3 years. We won first place for robot design and qualified for the state competition. I’m looking forward to sharing my experience and finding opportunities to further my growth.