Meet Our Team

Mihika Prabhu

Mihika Prabhu is a dedicated junior at Evergreen Valley High School and founder of STEMConnect. Recognizing a gap in STEM outreach, she established this organization to connect educational providers with those seeking it. Beyond her work with STEMConnect, Mihika is deeply passionate about oncology biomedical research, having published her own papers in cancer biology. She also enjoys playing water polo, spending time with her dog, and fostering collaboration to turn innovative ideas into action.

Pavi Palaniappan

Pavi has been passionate about STEM for as long as she can remember. Growing up surrounded by technology, Pavi was constantly exploring and asking questions. Whether it was figuring out how things worked or simply being fascinated by the smallest tech details, STEM became more than just an interest. That early curiosity has only grown stronger over the years, evolving into a long-lasting love for science, technology, engineering, and math that continues to drive her passion for STEM. 

Aaroosh Sinha

Aaroosh is a junior at Evergreen Valley High School with a passion for math & physics. Outside of STEM topics, he enjoys music & sports. Aaroosh has 2+ years of experience teaching math and music to children. When he isn't working to ensure everyone has access to quality STEM education, he competes in Math Olympiad, Science Olympiad, and Academic Decathlon. Outside the classroom, Aaroosh enjoys playing piano, reading, and watching television.

Max Do

Hi! Max Do is a high school student who is deeply passionate about making STEM more accessible and exciting for everyone. As the financial coordinator for STEMConnect and the robotics team FTC18715, Max helps manage funding while also mentoring teams in local schools and around the world. He loves seeing students light up when they build their first robot or solve a tough challenge. Outside of robotics, he enjoys 3D printing, graphic design, and leading STEM workshops. Max is excited to help grow their impact and expand STEM opportunities to even more students.

Alex Dandoy

Alexandra Dandoy is a junior at Evergreen Valley High School. She is currently the Public Relations Officer for STEMConnect, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding STEM opportunities for youth. In this role, she uses onto her prior experience as PR to amplify the mission of the nonprofit by reaching and engaging audiences through social media. Outside of academics, Alexandra enjoys partaking in creative outlets that reflect her artistic spirit, including crocheting, playing the guitar, and singing. She finds joy in helping others and supporting those around her. Alexandra hopes to continue her service for her community to inspire change, especially through STEMConnect. 

Yajur Harsha

Yajur is the Secretary at STEMConnect, specializing in student-led STEM outreach and organizational communication. Driven by a passion for expanding access to STEM education, he has 2+ years of experience in leading student organizations and coordinating educational initiatives. As a dedicated communicator, he ensures smooth internal operations and helps maintain outreach efforts. Outside of STEMConnect, Yajur enjoys playing the piano, photography editing, and is interested in PC hardware and custom builds.

Yash Omprakash

Yash is a current sophomore at EVHS. In his free time he loves to code, play video games, write poetry, and annoy his little brother. Ever since he was young, he loved puzzles and developed a passion for coding and computers. He also currently serves as vice president of EVHS’s newspaper club where he helps students enhance their writing. He has won numerous awards for his writing including some national awards! He hopes to one day use the power of computers with language to make the world a better place.

Avaneesh Gorantla

Avaneesh is a high schooler (class of 2027) who is interested in life sciences. He has helped to organize and manage other organizations and enjoys volunteering. Avaneesh plans to go into the medical field. He enjoys playing the trumpet, watching movies, and hanging out with his friends. He values community, education, and taking the time to enjoy and try different things. Avaneesh loves to cook, go on bike rides, and visit national parks. He volunteers at senior care homes and at hospitals.

Mokshita Aravind

Mokshita Aravind is an aspiring high schooler who values both relaxation and hard work. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, as well as trying new cuisines. Some of her hobbies include baking, reading, and playing sports such as badminton and tennis. Mokshita is a well-rounded student with math and science as her strongest subjects, and loves to explore new things. Her humble and caring personality shines through all her passions. Working with neurodiverse kids and teaching them is one of her interests, as well as being a leader in many clubs centered on service and medicine.

Gautam Gokakonda

Gautam is a rising junior at EVHS and a curriculum director for biology. He likes to hoop, listen to music, and hang out with his friends. Gautam also likes to watch sports and is always down to play. He's hardworking and is great at working with other people. He's passionate about biology and he's really interested in the medical field. His favorite units in Biology include evolution and physiology. 

Manya Venkataramen

Manya is an outgoing and motivated student who enjoys taking on new challenges. She plays varsity and club volleyball and loves the teamwork and energy that come with it. She's involved in several leadership roles at school and is known for being reliable, creative, and a strong communicator. Manya is also exploring the world of STEM and is currently teaching herself coding languages through hands-on projects. Her self-driven approach helps her stay curious and always eager to learn. Whether it’s leading a team or building something new, Manya brings focus, enthusiasm, and a can-do attitude to everything she does.

Preetam Hegde

Preetam is a junior at Evergreen Valley highschooler. He has been a member for FRC team 2854 and FTC 18715 for 2 years now and plans on doing robotics his entire high school career. He really likes doing robotics and engineering and building new stuff, playing tennis, hanging out with his friends, and playing tabla and piano in his free time. 

Saina Singh

Saina is enthusiastic to serve as this year’s Curriculum Director for Computer Science. She has experience coding in multiple languages, including Python, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and especially loves web design and exploring the intersection of technology, art, and design. Outside of coding, Saina enjoys drawing, painting, video editing, and digital art, and brings this creativity into all her projects. She is also an active member of her school’s robotics outreach team, helping promote STEM in the community. Saina looks forward to inspiring others and making computer science both engaging and accessible for all.

Simran Kaur

Simran Kaur is excited to serve as  curriculam director and brings a wide range of experience to the role. She has led multiple fundraisers, serves as the AMSA treasurer, taught Punjabi to younger students, and has been actively involved in Girl Scouts for several years. Through these experiences, she has built strong leadership and organizational skills that she enjoys using to create meaningful and engaging programs. Outside of her work, she loves singing, plays two instruments, watching Netflix, and enjoys sketching and making art. She looks forward to creating inspiring and fun opportunities through STEMConnect.

Armaan Saini

Armaan is a dedicated student with a passion for chemistry and a clear goal of becoming a doctor in the future. Known for his ability to explain complex science topics, he often helps classmates better understand difficult material. His interest in chemistry goes beyond the classroom, as he enjoys exploring how it connects to the human body and medicine. With a helpful nature, and a deep motivation to care for others, Armaan is focused on building the knowledge and skills needed for a future career in healthcare.

Ashna Munavalli

Meet Ashna Munavalli, the Curriculum Director for Data Analytics, AI, and Machine Learning at STEMConnect. From a young age, Ashna was deeply fascinated by how STEM works and the powerful impact it can have on the world. Having participated in many STEM workshops as a child, she is passionate about creating that same inspiring environment for others who are eager to learn. Outside of her work, Ashna enjoys drawing and painting. She is excited for the opportunity to help make a lasting difference through STEMConnect.

Sudhir Venkatraman

Sudhir has hands-on experience teaching Math Olympiad practice problems to elementary students, fostering advanced problem-solving skills from an early age. Through patient guidance and clear explanations, he created a supportive learning environment that both challenged and motivated students. As a result, 30% of the students scored in the top 10% nationally—evidence of both effective teaching and measurable student growth. His passion for mathematics, and its role as a foundation for engineering and robotics, reflects his commitment to pursuing a future in the STEM field.

Sidd Srikanth

Sidd is a junior at Evergreen Valley High School. He loves mechanical engineering and serves as the mechanical lead on FRC 2854 and the captain of FTC Kronos. Sidd loves cars and F1 and enjoys playing video games and talking with his friends during his free time.

Jiya Sahlot

Jiya is a high school junior and loves engineering! Some clubs she's involved in are Robotics & SWEnext! She is so excited for this position because she love organizing STEM events, helping students, and creating inclusive spaces. In her free time she also enjoys dance, art and hanging out with her friends!!

Alma Yang

Alma is currently a junior attending Evergreen Valley High School. She found her interest and passion in Physics by enrolling and taking AP Physics classes at her high school as well as her experience with teaching elementary kids Physics concepts and its fundamentals. Alma understands that Physics concepts can be confusing and hard to grasp, but she is determined to find ways to help others learn and understand these concepts while also having fun with it. Outside of academics, Alma also really enjoys playing badminton, baking, and playing the piano.

Nitya K

Nitya is a high school junior with a strong passion for physics and making STEM more accessible to everyone. She serves as the President of her school’s Aerospace and Aviation Club and is actively involved in engineering-focused organizations like SWE++, where she has developed a love for problem-solving and teaching. As Physics Director, she is excited to create engaging lessons that simplify complex concepts and build students’ confidence. She is passionate about expanding opportunities and promoting equality in STEM so all students, regardless of background, feel supported and empowered to succeed. Outside of her work, she loves reading, hanging out with friends, and playing soccer.