Meet Our Young Inventors

The Spotlight

At DiscoverSTEM, we have this strong legacy of transforming dozens of children every year into serial innovators, who have the ability, skillset, and, more importantly, an entrepreneurial & exploratory mindset to solve the most pressing problems facing humanity today. We are proud that most of our students have gone on to develop unique patentable innovations, many of which are already registered in the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), while some of them have won prestigious innovation competitions at a global level.

Rishab Siddamshetty

Ashton Rischer

Azal Amer

Ben Stafford

Bilal Ali Shah

Carcyn Coleman

Inaya

Kayla Goodrich

Kenny DeCay

Marium Khan

Maya Kusumakar

Nikitha Thoduguli

Ameer Syedibrahim

Rafael Zapiain

Shreeya Madhavanur

Tarik Syed

Rishab
DIP 2018-19 batch
St. Marks School of Texas, Dallas-TX
Innovated: An AI based Image Processing system to prevent vehicle accidents at intersections (Patent Pending)

‘Math wizard’ Rishab joined the 2018-19 batch of DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program. He goes to St. Marks School of Texas and loves Basketball, Math Competitions, Chess, Solving Rubric Cube, and Playing Flute. Along with his team, he innovated an Artificial Intelligence-based Image Processing system to prevent vehicle accidents at intersections. This innovation is currently patent pending with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Rishab says he is ‘’fascinated with DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program because it does not follow a repetitive unchangeable process. DiscoverSTEM opens doors I thought weren’t possible. Eventually, I can implement something helpful with the lessons I receive here”. When he grows up, he wants to be an entrepreneur. He wants to build irrigation systems in Africa to bring jobs to the jobless and open doors for the underprivileged.

Ashton
DIP 2018-19 batch
Greenhill School, Addison-TX
Innovated: Artificial Intelligence based Image Processing system to prevent vehicle accidents at intersections (Patent Pending)

Ashton Orion Rischer joined the 2019-20 batch of DiscoverSTEM’s Innovation Program. He attends school Greenhill School in Addison, TX. Along with his team, he innovated an Artificial Intelligence-based Image Processing system to prevent vehicle accidents at intersections. This innovation is currently patent pending with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Ashton has participated in the Robotics and Arts Club. As he plans to study engineering in college, he also enjoys playing soccer, video games, drawing, and volleyball. Ashton feels that DiscoverSTEM has helped him become “more of a critical thinker.”

Azal
DIP 2018-19 batch
Greenhill School, Addison-TX
Innovated: An AI based Image Processing system to prevent vehicle accidents at intersections (Patent Pending)

Azal Amer from Greenhill School, Addison, Texas, joined the 2018-19 batch of DiscoverSTEM’s Innovation Program when he was in 8th grade. Along with his team, he innovated an Artificial Intelligence-based Image Processing system to prevent vehicle accidents at intersections. This innovation is currently patent pending with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

He is a member of the Space Club and Junior Academy. He also participates in Quizbowl and robotics. Once graduated from high school, Azal plans to study Theoretical Physics. He enjoys reading about science, running, swimming, tinkering, and 3-D Design. Azal feels that DiscoverSTEM has given him a “space to structure my ideas and develop them into something more substantial… while also teaching how to go about the real-life implementation of ideas.”

Ben
DIP 2019-20 batch
Shelton School, Dallas-TX
Innovated: System to disinfect groceries at store register (Patent in Process)

15-year-old Benjamin Robert Stafford joined the 2019-20 batch DiscoverSTEM’s Innovation Program. He attends Shelton School in Dallas, Tx. He and his team innovated a system to disinfect groceries at a store register. This innovation is currently under patent process with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In his free time, he loves to play the piano and engage in coding and robotics.

Ben also participates in the drumline at his high school. Ben plans to study computer science in college as he enjoys computers, electronics, and arcades. He is known to be a very patient person, and he also loves to help people, especially elders, when they face difficulty with technology.

Bilal
DIP 2017-18 and DIP 2018-19 batch
Murphy Middle School, Murphy-TX

Innovated:

Relay Launch System (Patent Pending)
Lead Detection System (Patent Pending)
Staiver - the stair-fall saver (Patent Pending)
YuVi - Aircraft tray table cleaner (Patent Pending)
Micro-Turbine brick (Patent Pending)
Geothermal Desalination System (Patent Pending)
Rotary Waterlift System (Patent Pending)

Bilal
DIP 2017-18 and DIP 2018-19 batch
Murphy Middle School, Murphy-TX

Innovated:

Relay Launch System (Patent Pending)
Lead Detection System (Patent Pending)
Staiver - the stair-fall saver (Patent Pending)
YuVi - Aircraft tray table cleaner (Patent Pending)
Micro-Turbine brick (Patent Pending)
Geothermal Desalination System (Patent Pending)
Rotary Waterlift System (Patent Pending)

Bilal joined the 2017-18 batch of DiscoverSTEM’s Innovation Program when he was just nine and repeated again in 2018-19. He attends Murphy Middle School in Texas. His first innovation was a system called the ‘Relay Launch System’ (RLS) to launch satellites using relay launch and catch platforms. Once he mastered the complex thinking process of innovation, he went on an innovation spree. As of today, Bilal has seven patents pending to his name. During his free time, Bilal enjoys sports and reading popular science.

Bilal’s innovation Relay Launch System won the 1st prize at NASA Ames Space Settlement Challenge 2018 among 10,000 participants from 30 countries. He is also Texas Merit winner of American’s Top Young Scientist 2018. His team also won the 2nd prize for his innovation ‘Micro Turbine Bricks’ at Future City Competition 2019 and Special Award at Future City Competition 2020.

Bilal was Nominated for TIME Magazine Kid of the Year 2021

Carcyn
DIP 2019-20 batch
Greenhill School, Addison-TX
Innovated: A system to prevent package theft and disinfect packages (Patent in process)

Carcyn Coleman joined 2019-20 batch of DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program. She goes to Greenhill School in Dallas, Texas. Carcyn and her parents say DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program has helped her get into prestigious summer programs at Brown University and John Hopkins University, in which she extended many fellowships based on her hard work and effort.

She says this program has helped her learn the extent of her leadership abilities while also allowing her to learn how to think more logically and analytically.

Inaya
DIP 2018-19 Batch
Liberty High School, Frisco-TX
Innovated: Self Disinfecting Door Handle (Patent Pending)

Inaya Sheikh joined the 2018-19 batch of DiscoverSTEM's Innovation Program. She has spent two years at DiscoverSTEM, where she has filed patents for multiple innovations, the most acclaimed being a self-disinfecting door handle. She attends Liberty High School in Frisco, Texas. Inaya is the co-founder of non-profit organizations ALIA- Apex Language Institute of America and Lift Her Voice Foundation, where they provide a platform for women whose issues go unnoticed.

Her compassion and community service interests led her to join as a youth board member to The Institute of Medieval & Post Medieval Studies, a Regional Representative for BluePrint Smiles, and a volunteer for Treasured Vessels Foundation. Inaya is an advocate for social justice. She is extremely passionate about supporting human trafficking victims and improving the condition of foster kids in America.

Inaya has served as a Girl Scout for six years and received her Blue Belt in Taekwondo. During her free time, Inaya practices the sport of fencing and plans to obtain her pilot's license in the near future. After learning the nitty-gritties of innovation, Inaya now works as an Assistant Innovation Facilitator at DiscoverSTEM, mentoring our next young innovators.

Kayla
DIP 2019-20 batch
DeWitt Perry Middle School, Carrollton -TX
Innovated: System to disinfect groceries at store register (Patent in Process)

Kayla J. Goodrich joined the 2019-20 batch DiscoverSTEM’s Innovation Program. She attends DeWitt Perry Middle School in Carrollton. She and her team innovated a system to disinfect groceries at the store register. This innovation is currently under patent process with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Kayla dreams of working as an inventor and business owner once she finishes high school. She has participated in biathlon and spends her free time practicing Karate and orchestra. Her hobbies include Robotics, Computer Programming, Playing Viola, Crocheting, and creating video games. Kayla feels that DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program improved her “creativity” and “group work.”

Kenny
DIP 2019-20 batch
June Shelton School, Dallas-TX
Innovated: System to disinfect groceries at store register (Patent in Process)

Kenny DeCay joined the 2019-20 batch of DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program. He is a student at the June Shelton School in Dallas, Texas. He and his team innovated a system to disinfect groceries at the store register. This innovation is currently under patent process with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Being a very kind person, Kenny has volunteered with organizations like Kappa Alpha Psi Guide Right Program, Mission Arlington, Souper Bowl of caring, Meals on Wheels, and has been a member of The Arlington chapter of Jack and Jill America. However, some of his most enjoyable volunteerism was playing the piano at a senior citizen center/home, working at a food bank and an urban farm.

Kenny DeCay is a 4.0 student and a member of the National Honor Society. Despite his learning difference, Kenny has made the Honor Roll every semester he has attended the June Shelton School. He won the 2018 “Charger Award” and most recently, Kenny was awarded the 2019-2020 “Most Outstanding Sophomore” award at the June Shelton School. He is an accomplished piano player and participated in several athletic programs in and out of school, such as track & field events, swim team, and fencing team.

Marium
DIP 2015-16 batch
Duke University, Durham-NC / Radiant STEM Academy, Irving-TX
Innovated: An Artificial Intelligence based system to manage stress

Marium joined the 2015-16 batch of DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program, the first batch and first-team ever mentored by DiscoverSTEM. Along with her team, she innovated an Artificial Intelligence-based system to manage stress that they took to Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge, an international student innovation competition held at NASA Kennedy Space Center. There, they beat participants from 50 countries to win 1st prize for their innovation.

Marium says the DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program played a central role in her academic success. She received a full-ride scholarship worth over $300,000 to study biology at Duke University. She further says, “I was able to develop and strengthen various aspects of my personality. I learned what it was like to be an innovator, researcher, entrepreneur, and public speaker. The invaluable skills I gained have tremendously aided my college career as I continue to explore the realms of biological research and innovation further at one of the world’s best academic institutions.”

Maya
DIP 2019-20 batch
Carroll High School, Southlake-TX
Innovated: A system to prevent the spread of contagious diseases in public transport system (Patent in process)

Maya Kusumakar joined the 2019-20 batch of DiscoverSTEM's Innovation Program. She attends Carroll High School in Southlake, Tx. Along with her team, she innovated a system to prevent the spread of contagious diseases in the public transport system. This innovation is currently under patent process with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

For the summer of 2020, she was accepted into MIT's Beaver Works Summer Institute for high school and college students interested in computer science. Maya wants to pursue a computer science major for her college education. Maya's hobbies include playing soccer, running track, hanging out with friends, and playing video games.

Maya is currently operating her own tutoring business, where she teaches computer programming concepts to elementary and middle school students. Maya's career ambition is to be an innovator & entrepreneur and solve complex humankind's complex problems.

Nikitha
DIP 2018-19 batch
Greenhill School, Addison-TX
Innovated: An AI-based Image Processing system to prevent vehicle accidents at intersections (Patent Pending)

Nikita joined the 2018-19 batch of DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program. She goes to Greenhill School in Addison, Texas. She and her team innovated an Artificial Intelligence-based Image Processing system to prevent vehicle accidents at intersections. Nikita is a natural problem-solver and has a myriad of practical, efficient, and effective ideas to improve the world. One exciting idea she has is to invent a pre-emptive vaccine for cancer by utilizing the ‘zombie’ elephant gene LIF6 and finding a way to integrate it into human DNA.

Nikita does a wide variety of extracurriculars, from Lego to programming Arduino to Robotics and Math. She does competitive math and has made the AMC 8 achievement roll in 2017 and then the honor roll in 2018, which is among the top 5% worldwide.

Ameer
DIP 2016-17 batch
Duke University, Durham-NC / Science & Engineering Magnet School, Dallas-TX
Innovated: A smart shower system to prevent water wastage

Ameer Syedibrahim joined the 2016-17 batch of DiscoverSTEM's Innovation Program along with his twin brother Amjad. He, with his team, innovated a smart shower system to prevent water wastage, which can save 250 billion gallons of water every year in the USA. Ameer and his brother Amjad graduated in 2018 and were accepted to study Computer Science at The Duke University on a full ride.

He enjoys playing basketball, reading, and tutoring others. Ameer says, "DiscoverSTEM has helped me "tremendously in the ways I think about approaching problems and devising solutions. I've been consistently challenged in the program to think outside the box and innovate clever solutions to some of the world's most pressing problems."

Rafael
DIP 2018-19 batch
Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Science and Engineering Magnet School, Dallas-TX
Innovated: A touchless system to control elevators (Patent Pending)

17-year-old Rafael Zapiain grew up in Monterrey, Mexico, and joined the 2018-19 batch of DiscoverSTEM's Innovation Program. He attends Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Science and Engineering Magnet School. He, along with his team, innovated a touchless system to control elevators. This innovation is currently patent pending with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Rafael participates in his school's robotics team. He is also a member of a boy scouts troop. Once he graduates from high school, Rafael intends to study chemical engineering. Rafael loves to read books, and in his free time, he works on writing his own book.

Shreeya
DIP 2018-19 batch
Greenhill School, Addison-TX
Innovated: An AI-based Image Processing system to prevent vehicle accidents at intersections (Patent Pending)

‘Idea Box’ Shreeya joined the 2018-19 batch of DiscoverSTEM Innovation Program. She and her team innovated an Artificial Intelligence-based Image Processing system to prevent vehicle accidents at intersections. Shreeya goes to Greenhill School in Addison, Texas, and likes science, math, and English.

She feels the world is going to be more challenging in the coming days, and she plans to keep inventing to solve problems like poverty, corruption, climate change, and animal extinction. In the past, she attempted to innovate ‘Spork’ (spoon & fork in one), a 3D printer (when she was only 3!), and many other gadgets. She is also interested in learning about genetics, the human body, and space.

Tarik
DIP 2019-20 batch
Greenhill School, Addison-TX
Innovated: A system to predict and prevent violence caused by alcoholism (Patent in process)

Tarik's interest in coding also stemmed from video games like Minecraft. He always wondered how these games were displayed when there were just many tiny dots of red, green, and blue light. So, he researched not only to find out how it worked but also how to develop it.

He started coding games on Scratch, JavaScript, Unity, and C#. Tarik says learning Innovation and technology led him to realize what he wanted to do when he grows up - 'become an entrepreneur.' He says, "I can form a company and innovate! I would want to become an innovative entrepreneur because it combines the things I love to do!"

Hisham Ahmad - CMO

I am a 14-year-old freshman attending Brighter Horizons Academy in Garland, Texas. I have extensive experience with marketing, as I have been a part of various companies and mentorships. I graduated from the DiscoverStem program, allowing new doors to open up for me, and change the way I see things. The DiscoverStem program has also given me more experience with concepts such as patents, invention, and innovation, as well as inspiration to use these skills to help the world around us.

DiscoverSTEM founders Mirza Rizwan and Mirza Faizan have made history by becoming the first Indian to win the coveted George Washington Honor Medal from the Freedoms Foundation – USA.

Started in 1949 by former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Freedoms Foundation honors exceptional contributions of Americans towards communities in the USA. Generally reserved for the US citizens, the awarding organization made an exception to recognize the stellar research work and its impact of India’s Mr. Rizwan in designing and implementing a unique STEM & Innovation program for American children, thereby revolutionizing the education system in the USA.

Few of the other notable non-US citizens who have received George Washington Honor Medal include Ms. Margaret Thatcher (Former Prime Minister of United Kingdom), Lech Walesa (Former President of Poland and Noble Prize winner) and world-renowned Russian writer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. As the latest recipients of this prestigious honor, Mirza brothers join historically acclaimed group of citizens whose work and dedication advance the American ideals, the award letter says.

Some of the distinguished US citizens who have received this award for their stellar contributions in their field are Walt Disney, Astronauts Sally Ride and John Glenn, Capt. Sully Sullenberger, Athletes like Arthur Ashe, George Foreman and Tiger Woods and famous US educator Jaime Escalante.

The Spotlight

The Spotlight

Rishab Siddamshetty

Ashton Rischer

Azal Amer

Ben Stafford

Bilal Ali Shah

Carcyn Coleman

Inaya

Kayla Goodrich

Kenny DeCay

Marium Khan

Maya Kusumakar

Nikitha Thoduguli

Ameer Syedibrahim

Rafael Zapiain

Shreeya Madhavanur

Tarik Syed

DiscoverSTEM FOUNDATION

DiscoverSTEM Foundation

© 2022 DiscoverSTEM | All Right Reserved

Ashton has participated in the Robotics and Arts Club. As he plans to study engineering in college, he also enjoys playing soccer, video games, drawing, and volleyball. Ashton feels that DiscoverSTEM has helped him become “more of a critical thinker.”

Ben also participates in the drumline at his high school. Ben plans to study computer science in college as he enjoys computers, electronics, and arcades. He is known to be a very patient person, and he also loves to help people, especially elders, when they face difficulty with technology.

Bilal was Nominated for TIME Magazine Kid of the Year 2021

She says this program has helped her learn the extent of her leadership abilities while also allowing her to learn how to think more logically and analytically.

Maya is currently operating her own tutoring business, where she teaches computer programming concepts to elementary and middle school students. Maya's career ambition is to be an innovator & entrepreneur and solve complex humankind's complex problems.

Nikita does a wide variety of extracurriculars, from Lego to programming Arduino to Robotics and Math. She does competitive math and has made the AMC 8 achievement roll in 2017 and then the honor roll in 2018, which is among the top 5% worldwide.

Rafael participates in his school's robotics team. He is also a member of a boy scouts troop. Once he graduates from high school, Rafael intends to study chemical engineering. Rafael loves to read books, and in his free time, he works on writing his own book.

Tarik's interest in coding also stemmed from video games like Minecraft. He always wondered how these games were displayed when there were just many tiny dots of red, green, and blue light. So, he researched not only to find out how it worked but also how to develop it.

Hisham Ahmad - CMO

DiscoverSTEM founders Mirza Rizwan and Mirza Faizan have made history by becoming the first Indian to win the coveted George Washington Honor Medal from the Freedoms Foundation – USA.

Some of the distinguished US citizens who have received this award for their stellar contributions in their field are Walt Disney, Astronauts Sally Ride and John Glenn, Capt. Sully Sullenberger, Athletes like Arthur Ashe, George Foreman and Tiger Woods and famous US educator Jaime Escalante.