only

28%

of the STEM workforce is women.

20%

of the STEM workforce are Asian, Black, American Indian, and Alaskan Native combined.

15%

of the STEM workforce is hispanic.

Lets change the narrative of what a scientist looks like.

we are a community.

uBridge is on a mission to bridge the gender and diversity gaps in STEM through educational resources in technology, entrepreneurial thinking, and service. We seek to invoke real change through the encouragement of leadership and service in young underrepresented students in order to act upon the changes we want to see in STEM fields today.

we believe

We believe in creating active volunteering opportunities, leadership roles, free online workshops and seminars, free bilingual tutoring, and free virtual projects for our future innovators and scientists to feel empowered to pursue STEM. We believe that by creating bridges between disciplines, people, and communities, we can empower voices that deserve to be a part of the forces shaping our world. Sometimes, all it takes is one speaker, one class, one subject, one project, or one creation to realize a passion and open a world of opportunity.

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Our Partners & Supporters

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Our International Executive Leaders

Passion. Expertise. Community-builders.

Our uBridge executive leaders are committeed to making education in STEM more equitable to students no matter what background they are from. They work hard to spread uBridge's mission and expand the number of young innovators we can impact.

Founder

Vanesa Aguay

Reading, PA

I'm Vanesa and am 17 years old. I'm passionate about solving problems with the connection of science and other academic fields and I hope to inspire other young Latinos to pursue their dreams no matter how big.

Contact: vanesa@ubridges.org

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Manager of Design

Kristina Pytko

Belarus

As highly passionate about STEM person and founder of tutoring program in my hometown I'm eager to get involved in international organizations like uBridge. I believe that with uBridge I can contribute to the rise of the diversity in leadership positions.

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Project Management Team

Head of Resources

Kamilla Yusupova

Dashoguz, Turkmenistan

I'm Kamilla and am 16 years old. I'm a volunteer at American corner in my region. One word to describe me best is enthusiastic. I would love to take part and contribute to this initiative.

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Project Management Team

Head of Tutoring

Nicol Naranjo

Quito, Ecuador

My name is Nicol and I believe educational inclusion in boys and girls is necessary. Equitable and quality learning is guaranteed to develop the potential of these children, so they can face the challenges and competencies of a society.

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Project Management Team

Head of Events

Alejandra Fernandez

Maracaibo, Venezuela

Hello! My name is Alejandra Fernandez, and I am a student in 12th grade living in Malden, Massachusetts. I am very passionate about science and electrical engineering. As a member of uBridge, I would like to collaborate to increase diversity in STEM fields in order to bring different perspectives that collaborate to innovation and discovery.

Contact: alejandracfernandezb@gmail.com

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Project Management Team

Co-Head of Marketing

Todrick Capleton

Suffolk, Virginia,

I would like to support uBridge to expand my entrepreneurial and leadership skills, while also building upon my knowledge and going into STEM. I have a passion for leadership and service, and I value excellence in my work and generosity in my character.

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Outreach Team

Head of Writing

Jio Kim

Korea, Daegu

Hello, my name is Jio kim and I'm a freshman! I really love to read, write, and talk to different people! I want to support uBridge because it sounded like a great opportunity.

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Project Management Team

Head of Finance

Francisco Salazar

Dallas, Texas

Hi! I’m Francisco Salazar, and I would love to bring equity to underrepresented communities like mine.

Contact: francisco@ubridges.org

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Project Management Team

Head of uCoalition

Valeria Peña

Brownsville, Texas

Hi, I’m Valeria! I’m 17 years old, and I’m excited to help encourage STEM initiatives in underrepresented communities. I believe that uBridge will help children pursue their passion for STEM, and close the diversity gap in our STEM related fields.

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Education Team

Head of Events

Kristina Marquez Esparza

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Resources should be available to everyone. From water to language courses or a helping hand, it is my passion to be able to make a difference in people's lives through the accessibility of resources.

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Outreach Team

Head of Communications

Karla Aguay

Reading, PA

I am a rising 9th graders on a mission to make education more equitable for all.

Contact: karla@ubridges.org

Berks uBridge Leadership Team

The Berks uBridge chapter is committed towards the following focus areas:

*running clubs and workshops for local students in the Berks County region in PA

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Lianna Fletcher

Wyomissing JSHS

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Noemia Iordanescu

Governor Mifflin HS

about the founder

My name is Vanesa Aguay.

I started the idea of uBridge to get youth, especially Latinos, engaged in community building in the form of a soccer camp in early 2022. Soon after, I began to see how excited these young kids were when I began doing science experiments with them. Once I began some neurophysiology research at Carnegie Mellon, where I discovered my passion for biomedical engineering, I was able to connect that to my love for entrepreneurship and advocacy. As a Latina, I never saw anyone that looked like me in any articles, classes, or speaking events I went to. I could never have imagined myself becoming an engineer until I realized the empowerment that came from connecting with their communities. I was able to grow uBridge exponentially, taking what I have learned, through my global community from Yale YGS, my Latina empowerment from the Hispanic Scholarship Fund's YLI, and my newfound passion for STEM from the Governor's School. As a rising senior in PA, I hope to spread the world of opportunities that a STEM education can bring, applying it to every academic field they desire, and hoping to empower young underrepresented students within a global community to show them that they, too, can be the next innovators that can change our world no matter where they came from.

about vanesa