Volunteer of the Month Awards

Volunteer name: Alaviyah Rajani

Contribution: Community STEM Outreach Program

We asked Alaviyah what inspires her to do science outreach. Here is what she said:

"I like the idea of meeting new people who share the same interests as me. Being a volunteer at the Let’s Talk Science Outreach program has allowed me to interact, learn and teach people something that I believe makes science so interesting. The idea and process of making learning a fun experience is what keeps me motivated to volunteer in the science outreach program."

Volunteer name: Ayman Mohammad

Contribution: Computer Literacy Program

We asked Ayman what inspires him to do science outreach. He said:

"Knowing that I can make a difference and a positive impact overall on a lot of people is something that genuinely inspires me a lot. I'm always grateful for the opportunity I have to share my own knowledge and help others learn or even develop new skills that may benefit them in the future. Volunteering also allows me to provide an avenue for those interested in STEM to explore and show them what can be done with technology."

Volunteer name: Ivana Miovcic

Contribution: Computer Literacy Program

We asked Ivana what she wants youth and the general public to take away from her science outreach. Here is what she said:

"What inspires me to volunteer with science outreach is the passion I have for sharing my knowledge with others. I love meeting students from different grades and backgrounds. I enjoy helping them learn about concepts in computer science. Seeing the students bring their projects to life at the end of each session is incredibly rewarding."

Volunteer name: Jateya Grbic

Contribution: Elementary Program

We asked Jateya where her joy in science lies. She said:

"I believe the source of joy in science lies in the fact that science is such a diverse study, There are so many areas in science that are distinctly unique from each other, which allows for a wide range of people with different ideas and interests to be able to explore what science has to offer. Another joy in science lies in the fact that science is an ever growing field - it does not stay static and there's always more to discover!"

Volunteer name: Latisha Grbic

Contribution: Elementary Program

We asked Latisha what inspires her to do science outreach. Here is what she said:

"I am inspired to volunteer in scientific outreach out of my love for science and the hope I have for others to also see the value in scientific discovery. The world of science is so vast and is in a state of constant advancement! I believe the scientific outreach I contribute to provides a greater access for students to gain a deeper understanding of the world around them, and further increases their abilities in scientific literacy - and the idea that this all contributes to actively forming the next generation of scientists is also incredibly inspiring."

Volunteer name: Lynn John-Koshy

Contribution: Computer Literacy Program

We asked Lynn what she wants youth and the general public to take away from her science outreach. Here is what she said:

"What I want youth and the general public to take away from my outreach is that like Hannah Montana always says, you can get the best of both worlds. Coming into the sciences, I thought I would lose touch with my passion for the arts, but it’s the complete opposite! Creativity is needed when designing programs. In computer science, there are so many paths to take that involve being creative. For instance, you can go into graphics and virtual reality, all the way to teaching and presenting. Deciding what to do can be difficult, but it's all about trying new things and outreach programs like this can help individuals get a taste of what they are interested in. I once heard a saying, “If you’re always in your comfort zone, you are never growing”. Therefore never be afraid of trying new things, because you never know where it can take you!"

Volunteer name: Ariana Behroozi-Esfahani

Contribution: Elementary Program

We asked Ariana where she thinks the joy in science lies. Here is what she said:

"I think the joy in science lies in the fact that we are ever learning. Even now, three years into my Biomedical Sciences degree, I am constantly learning new things! There is always room for growth, and I think that’s the true beauty of it. We are still discovering so much about ourselves and the world we live in as we speak! It’s a joy to have a hand in extending that knowledge and allowing that growth in the next generation via our volunteering!"