Founded by Jehan Idsassi in 2021, STEM Up began as a simple high-school passion project. The idea behind

Stem Up came from a simple observation: girls are still underrepresented across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and that gap often starts early, well before college, when there are too few visible role models and too few accessible entry points into these fields. STEM Up exists to change that from the ground up, by meeting girls where they are and giving them the resources, mentorship, and confidence to see themselves in STEM. 

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STEM Up has reached new heights as it is officially listed as a non-profit in the state of Maryland and  has been featured in the April 2024 Issue of the Platform Magazine as well as the March 2024 and August 2025 DigitalDoGood Webinar. We have also been nominated and received numerous awards as listed below: 

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• 2023 Buford Harvest Award (Spring 2023)

• U21 RISE International Competition Finalists (Summer 2026)

• 2023 Vital Voices Grassroot Fellows (Fall 2023)

• Elks National Foundation Cornerstone Grant Recipient (Winter 2026)

• Hershey's Heartwarming Grant Recipient (Summer 2023)

• GripTape Learning Challenge Recipient (Summer 2023)

• 2026 2xDo Good Institute Fellow (for both the Spring and Summer 2026 fellowships)

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STEM Up aims to continuously create a measurable impact for underserved communities, from local initiatives to a growing global reach. 

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