Summit Research Scholars Experience
Summit Research Scholars is an incredible opportunity to gain a solid foundation in STEM research. This program isn't like your typical lecture-heavy course; it manages to balance rigorous learning and workload with an amazing support system and community. During the program, I felt very connected with my peers and mentors. Each evening, there was a live discussion session as well as office hours, and they were incredibly helpful since any lingering questions I had from the day's lessons were answered there. I was able to meet so many new friends in office hours, and learn from the firsthand research experiences of the amazing mentors. After completing the program, I feel so much more confident in my ability to pursue research, especially since I came out of it with an in-depth outline and plan for the future. I'm so grateful to all of the mentors, staff, and fellow students for this incredible experience and for fostering such a supportive, long-lasting community!
Emily C
Great program for high schoolers who love STEM
For high school students interested in a career in STEM, understanding how to conduct research is important. I just completed an amazing opportunity through Summit STEM Fellowship called Summit Research Scholars (SRS). It's a great experience for anyone hoping to pursue research in high school and beyond. I entered this program knowing I wanted to conduct research within astrobiology but unsure of the specifics. I left the program with a completed research capstone, helpful Python skills, an understanding of research methodologies, and a stronger ability to interpret research papers. Thank you to SRS for giving me the knowledge to further my passion in STEM!
Cozy R
Summit STEM, a fellowship I couldn't thank enough
Before Summit STEM, I felt like I was piecing things together on my own. I would spend hours searching online for advice, but the answers were always vague and never showed me what to actually do next. Joining the fellowship felt completely different. From the first week, I was surrounded by mentors who not only shared real step-by-step guidance but also gave me resources I could never have found on my own. What surprised me most was how supportive the program was. I have never seen another space so dedicated to high schoolers starting their own projects. Even with more than 400 students in the program, the peer ambassadors still made time to check in on me, answer my questions, and make sure I felt supported every step of the way. It never felt like I was just one of many, it felt like people genuinely cared. I will never forget a session on cold emailing. It sounded simple, but it shifted everything for me. I realized I did not need to wait for opportunities, I could reach out and create them. There were so many lessons like that, lessons I never knew I needed but that ended up changing the way I thought about myself and what I could achieve. As a high schooler from New York City, I was used to hearing my ideas were too much. Summit STEM was the first program where the response was always, go for it, we will help you get there. That encouragement gave me the courage to actually start something of my own and the confidence to believe my ideas were worth pursuing. Looking back, Summit STEM did not just give me resources, it gave me a community that believed in me before I fully believed in myself
Clara Senada
I honestly had some of the best weeks…
I honestly had some of the best weeks of my life. Although it was rigorous, the amount of new material I learned and the skills I gained have broadened my research capabilities far more than I ever could have imagined. The mentors were all kind and hardworking, giving us daily lectures that were so well put together and genuinely interesting. The overall community at SRS was beyond amazing and has inspired me to go even deeper into my research interests. I left feeling more motivated and genuinely excited to keep pushing myself in this field.
Ava Lerman
Testimonial
The fellowship was such an incredible experience! It provided me with so much knowledge, insight, and advice for the future. I’ve always had big ideas, but I’ve never known how to go about pursuing them, until the Fellowship! All of the amazing mentors through this program helped inspire me so much, that I even started my own nonprofit. I recommend the Fellowship to any students out there who are ambitious and love anything STEM related!
Lani Ching
Incredible Community & Opportunities
Before I began the program, I only really knew that I wanted a "career in STEM, related to outer space". Now, while I still may not know exactly what I'm going for, the fellowship helped me expand my horizons. All the mentors we heard from were incredibly inspirational, and whilst generally everyone's career path was related to STEM, it was especially inspiring to see the varying paths that each and every one of them had. It made me realize that I can apply things like my love of biology and teaching and combine them into something such as a nonprofit, or even a business. Overall, the program was really beneficial, and gave me lots of perspective. However, my favorite part was the fact that all the mentors were very open and ready for questions at any time. All of them really do care about helping the youth in the program, and that is not always true in online programs like these. I left the program feeling more confident in myself, my abilities, my interests; and also with the knowledge that I now had a new community of reliable peers and mentors that truly did care about my success.
inaaya
Summit STEM Fellowship as a place of growth
Despite the fellowship ending months ago, the advice and mentoring I received have stuck with me ever since. I was definitely very shy and intimidated at first, but everyone was so welcoming and friendly that it wasn’t hard for me to warm up to this very new experience. I especially appreciated the personal feedback they gave for the weekly deliverables–I found them super helpful and it gave me that final push out of my comfort zone!! Beyond that, you get to talk to other fellows and mentors, and it’s a great way to seek specific advice and make friends <3 As someone who was really burnt out from the end of the school year, the fellowship gave way for me to recover and gradually reignite my fire. In short, the fellowship embodies guidance, empowerment, and care 💜
satya venice
Insightful program allowing for personal growth
I really enjoyed being a peer ambassador since it allowed for me to meet new people will completely different perspectives and that changed my outlook on several things. I remember talking to a couple of fellows and learning more about their culture and honestly just becoming more literate on global events and traditions. Through this program, I've also made a lot of friends that I still keep in touch with today! Together, we've explored cooking, taught each other how to play different games, and even learned more about different STEM fields. This was a wonderful program and I am so grateful to have contributed to it.
Sree Paladugu
Summit STEM Fellowship Alumni Testimonial
The Summit STEM Fellowship was one of the most formative experiences of my high school career. I was initially drawn to the extremely reputable figures in the scientific world, and was hoping to extract valuable lessons and guidance from such successful mentorship. In addition to the valuable lessons I learned about potential STEM fields for my further education and the logistical challenges of long-term projects through first-hand and second-hand experience, my most cherished experience was being a part of the Fellowship community. I came to love the Fellowship community and it taught me how to navigate new peer environments with people from extremely differing backgrounds, while also offering a healthy and safe space for personal growth. Thanks to my time in the Fellowship, I received priceless guidance on project management and goal-setting, unparalleled to any other programs I have been a part of. No others come close to the profound transformative impact that the program has had on my high school experience, and the ripples that will continue to echo throughout my further education and professional career. I would strongly recommend the Summit STEM Fellowship for any ambitious, young people who are passionate about STEM and eager to take their early steps into the STEM world!
Alex Schoppe
Enlightening, enjoyable experience
Being in SSF was absolutely fantastic, and I wish I had participated earlier in my high school career. The lessons provided were so enlightening to how students can make real impact, as well as so many ways that these inspiring mentors had gone about achieving greatness. It was honestly the most empowered I've felt in all of high school, and I'm so happy to have taken part in the program. It also opened my eyes to so many fields of STEM that I had never considered before, and gave me loads of insight about high school, university, and beyond. I couldn't recommend the Fellowship enough, and hope that every aspiring leader in STEM gets a chance to take part in it.
Mateus Rocco
The Summit STEM Fellowship prepares future changemakers
The Summit STEM Fellowship was more than just a program—it was a community that inspired me to think deeply about the role of science in creating social impact. I remember listening to mentors share how their journeys in STEM intertwined with real-world challenges, and it pushed me to see my own interests in medicine and health equity in a new light. The discussions, mentorship, and support from peers made me feel part of something larger—a generation of students using STEM to make a difference. Summit STEM helped me grow not only as a student but as a future changemaker.
Rana Amira Abdou
More Than Just STEM
Going into the program, I just expected it to be about STEM and the stereotypical topics that come with that---physics, bio, math, etc. However, what I got out of it was so much more than that; I learned so many new study techniques and other tips for skills I'll need later in life. I found passions and interests I was never even aware of previously, as well as having so many amazing people to reach out to at any time with any questions or ideas I had. They offer so many opportunities and mentors, teaching more than I originally expected. I learned about cold emailing and starting initiatives, all with the advice of people I could relate to---people more around my age instead of teachers or older people. I was encouraged in many different ways and have grown through this three-week-long program, often looking back at how to implement everything I've learned into my life to make me a better person.
Liv McGee
My experience at Summit STEM
I’m Ifechukwu Olivia Onubogu from Gonzaga Jesuit College Okija in Nigeria. The 2025Summit STEM Fellows Program was an amazing experience that expanded my knowledgeand taught me new skills. The workshops were fun and eye-opening, and it was exciting toconnect with inspiring peers from all over the world and build lasting networks. I’m trulygrateful to the Summit STEM team for the opportunity to be part of such a memorable and wonderful experience
Ifechukwu Onubogu
Inspires Students
The Summit STEM Fellowship was an eye-opening experience that shaped how I view high school and how I approach opportunities. Through the workshops, projects, and conversations with both staff and peers, I discovered new academic interests and built confidence in pursuing them. The program not only exposed me to a wide range of STEM pathways but also showed me how to take initiative.I highly recommend this program to anyone considering applying, especially younger students. The earlier you join, the more time you’ll have to explore different opportunities in high school and truly benefit from the guidance and inspiration the Summit STEM Fellowship provides.
Brie Eisenberg
I attended the Summer SUMMIT STEM Fellowship 2025
I attended the Summer SUMMIT STEM Fellowship in July 2025. It was an amazing experience and provided me so much information about a range of STEM fields delivered by professionals. The mentors were engaging and kept me motivated throughout the whole program. Every session was so engaging and I felt so supported that I changed study habits and enjoyed the early morning and late nights This program created an amazing community I felt supported by and I am still in touch with them through the alumni community. Overall, it was a great experience I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to pursue a career in STEM.
Lilian Pointing
I couldn't have imagined a better way…
I couldn't have imagined a better way to spend my summer 2025 than with the Summit STEM Fellowship! The fellowship gave me an amazing opportunity to meet other students around my age who share my interests and passion for STEM. On top of that, I got to hear from a multitude of professionals in the STEM field, offering me valuable insight into many fields that I could be interested in. I was able to hear from many panels of professionals who walked me through a day in their lives, which was really interesting to see. Additionally, with the Coffee Chats set up by the fellowship, I was able to talk 1 on 1 with another student about our interests and get to know each other. I thought it was really cool how the fellowship takes your interests and pairs you up with someone with similar interests. Overall, the fellowship was one of the highlights of my summer, and I truly believe that this experience will stick with me forever!
Kayla Xu
SSF - an opportunity to show you how to achieve your dreams!
What made Summit Stem Fellowship stand out is the fact that it is not simply a course, but a true fellowship — one that combined academic growth, personal development, and community in a way that I had never experienced before (Even being part of +10 others' immersive programs). The program challenged me, inspired me, and opened my eyes to new possibilities for my future!Through the fellowship, I gained knowledge in programming and research, also discovering about routine of engineers and researchers which strengthened my decision to pursue Computer Science as my major. The skill-building sessions, templates, and checklists provided during the program gave me practical tools that I use daily. In fact, because of the research training I received, I was able to start my own research on how artificial intelligence can be used to improve the education system in Brazil's public schools — something I would not have imagined possible before this fellowship.The program pushed me to grow not just academically, but personally, helping me improve how I run my initiatives - SOEL, Inova. edu. It taught me not just skills but also future path, and advices of activities to do! Also gave me the confidence to take meaningful action.The mentors were extraordinary — always supportive, and inspiring role models (A lot of them study or studied in top School). The fellowship community is motivational, diverse, collaborative, and with people who want to impact the world.It’s amazing to be part of that community.The Summit Stem Fellowship showed me that with the right skills and support, it’s possible to make a real impact. It was an experience that everyone needs to do.I am a lot grateful to be one of 2025 fellow.I hope to see you as one of the next fellows also enjoying this experience. And, of course, I hope to literally talk with you in the next cohort!
Fausto estudos
Truly an eye-opening experience!
This program was truly a transformative experience for me, inspiring me to startmy own initiatives while also highlighting careers I wasn’t familiar with. Eachsession was informative and enlightening, while also understandable andengaging. I would always look forward to each event, fueled by my own curiosity,while leaving wanting more. It was an eye-opening experience for me, and mylife trajectory was altered heavily. Before Summit Stem, I would have neverwanted to start a nonprofit, but during the program, I grew to learn and loveexploring not just careers but issues found in our world today. Now, I run achapter of a nonprofit myself, aided by other alumni. Both the skills I gained andthe connections I made are things I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Rubaina Reza
Summit STEM Fellowship Testimonial
The Summit STEM Fellowship was a truly life-changing experience. Through learning from experts and receiving guidance from mentors, I gained valuable insight into various STEM fields and career paths. This experience not only expanded my knowledge but also inspired and prepared me to confidently pursue my academic and career goals. The support and community I found through the fellowship motivated me to set higher goals for myself and showed me what is possible. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, as it has significantly influenced and impacted my future.
Taylor Stocker
Tiffany’s SSF Testimonial
Participating in the Summit STEM Fellowship was one of the best things I did this summer, literally!The Fellowship was such a transformative experience for me. What I appreciated the most were the actionable deliverables and weekly reflections, which pushed me to not only learn but also apply what I was learning in real time. They helped me manage my time better and stay consistent, which has spilled over into other areas of my life.The sessions were eye-opening, especially hearing directly from mentors who generously shared their journeys and practical advice, and the extremely supportive community made the entire journey even more enjoyable. Knowing that I wasn’t going through it alone, but alongside other motivated students, really encouraged me to push myself further.Looking back, I can confidently say that the fellowship gave me clarity, discipline, focus, and a stronger sense of purpose in STEM. I came out of the program more confident in myself and more determined to pursue my goals with intentionality.— Tiffany Mbagwu, Nigeria
Tiffany Mbagwu
