Monmouth County Teens Bring Hands-On STEM Programming To Local Students

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — A pair of local high school students is giving back to their community by bringing free, hands-on STEM programming to middle and high school students throughout the area.

Based in Monmouth County, the 4-H Monmouth SET Club is a free, student-led organization that offers workshops to local students (grades 6-12) covering robotics, coding, electronics and more.

Led entirely by high school student officers, Angela Xu, the vice president and co-founder of the club, said their mission is rooted in empowering young people and giving back to the community.

“Everything we offer is completely free, because we believe every student deserves access to quality STEM education regardless of their background,” Xu told Patch.

Currently a student at High Technology High School in the Lincroft section of Middletown, Xu gained her own experience with STEM programming through a class she took her sophomore year of high school called “Principles of Engineering.”

Throughout the course, Xu learned the basics of mechanical programming, such as VEX and Arduino, that helped her discover her own love of tech and robotics.

From there, Xu and Maya Baireddy, a fellow High Tech student and president of their club, went on to found the 4-H Monmouth SET Club with a goal to bring free STEM programming to kids throughout the area.

“I think it’s [robotics] such an important thing to introduce,” Xu said. “Especially since many schools focus on more mainstream careers and don’t always get into that.”

Through the 4-H Monmouth SET Club, Xu and Baireddy offer free, one-and-a-half-hour courses to interested students on different STEM topics, such as the basics of Arduino programming.

Recently, the pair hosted a Basics of Robotics Workshop at the Holmdel Library in Bell Works, where students built and programmed their own electronic projects with lights, sensors and motors – no prior experience necessary.

According to Xu, what sets their club apart from other places that may offer STEM programming to kids is that their club focuses on the joy of learning, rather than on how quickly students can learn.

“Maya and I are both so extremely passionate about programs like Arduino and teaching these kids,” Xu said. “We really want to push the idea that any kid can learn robotics…it’s really encouraging to see these kids develop a passion for something they want to do.”

Though Xu and Baireddy are both High Tech students, the 4-H Monmouth SET Club isn’t limited to just those who attend their school.

According to Xu, anyone willing to help can join the club, and since their courses are free, volunteer hours will be given as well.

To learn more about the 4-H Monmouth SET Club, you can visit their Instagram page. Club registration can be done here.