Meet the team!
SBSA is run by a group of dedicated student volunteers committed to spreading STEM education
Co-Founder and President
Kyra Tang
Hi! My name is Kyra Tang and I am a sophomore at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. I founded South Bay STEM so I could share these amazing STEM opportunities and contests that you can’t find in a normal school setting. I think the best part of STEM is the capacity for turning inventions into reality.
Co-Founder and Vice President
Charles Lu
Hello! I am Charles Lu and I am a sophomore in Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. We founded South Bay STEM Association because I have participated in Zero Robotics for two years and we want to help middle schoolers to enjoy this summer competition. I think the best part of STEM is that you can use your creativity and different strengths to complete a challenge. No one is good at everything, but using everyone’s strength, it is rewarding to finish a challenge.
Co-Founder and Vice President
Ariel Chen
Hi, I’m Ariel. I am a sophomore attending Palos Verdes High School and am one of the founders of South Bay STEM. One of the main reasons for creating this organization is to introduce middle-schoolers to a variety of STEM resources that allow them to explore their interests/passions, as well as the multitude of fields present in science. One of the best parts of STEM is the problem solving aspect, as STEM contains a diversity of unique solutions and ideas invoked from creativity and curiosity.
Secretary
Owen Yeh
My name is Owen Yeh and I am a sophomore at Palos Verdes Peninsula High. I joined South Bay STEM as I have always been interested in building and engineering ever since I was young. I think the best part of stem is the sense of glory and accomplishment you feel when you solve a problem and finish a build.
Treasurer
Allen Xie
I’m Allen Xie, a sophomore at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. I joined South Bay STEM association because I wanted to be involved in mentoring and helping other people with the same interests as me. I hope that not only will I help others improve their skills, but also sharpen my own skills as well. My favorite part of STEM is engineering. I love going through the unique process of brainstorming, designing, creating, and testing to produce a working product.
Lead Web Developer
Camron Farjami
I love STEM because it serves as the backbone of innovation and progress in our society. Every advancement we’ve made stems from the continuous expansion of scientific and technological knowledge. I joined the South Bay STEM Association to deepen my understanding, collaborate with likeminded individuals, and contribute to the community by applying STEM principles to real-world challenges.
Director of Curriculum
Nathan Soeng
Hi, my name is Nathan Soeng. I am a current junior at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, and the Director of Curriculum at SBSA. I love STEM as it combines many different types of topics and combines them to create something or solve a problem.
Volunteer
Sarah Varghese
Hello! My name is Sarah Varghese, and I am an incoming sophomore at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. I will be volunteering with the South Bay STEM Association, and I am excited to work with all of you this year! When you combine science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, you can create something that is truly life-changing. STEM is extremely prevalent in our day and age, and the South Bay STEM Association has so much to offer. I hope to see you at a workshop or program soon!
Director of Curriculum
Matin Gheysar
Hi! I’m Matin, a junior at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School and the Director of Curriculum for South Bay STEM. I’m passionate about making STEM education exciting and accessible, and I love designing lessons that help students dive into new ideas. I especially enjoy biology and have participated in the Regeneron Science Fair, where I explored scientific research in depth and applied STEM to real-world questions. I believe STEM is all about thinking creatively and critically to solve meaningful problems.
Treasurer
Adrian Vilica
I’m Adrian and I’m the Director of Volunteering! I joined South Bay STEM Association to participate in enhancing STEM activities for students in elementary and middle school. I have also been an avid birder for five years!