Gear Forward

• Events/Community Outreaches

Goals

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We aim to bring STEM opportunities to underrepresented communities and empower young children with a vision for their future in science, technology, engineering, and math.

• Our Goals

Chapters

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Our organization has grown to include several chapters at high schools and other locations across Oregon, allowing us to reach and inspire more students statewide.

• View Chapters

Donate to us

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As a nonprofit organization, we rely on donations to support our mission. Your contributions go directly toward advancing STEM education in underrepresented communities. Every dollar you donate will be used 100% to support our cause.Our finances are 100% transparent, meaning that you can check what your money is being used for.

• Donate
• Finances

Meet the board

ryan lee

Co-Founder
I'm a current junior at Westview High School with a strong passion for both robotics and dentistry. As a co-founder, I help lead event planning and communications for our organization. Outside of school, I’m a third-degree black belt and an active member of my FTC robotics team, where I focus on building and managing hardware systems.

Dhruv Singh

Co-Founder
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Winston zhang

VP of Technology and Marketing
Hi, my name is Winston and I’m a rising junior at Westview High School. My typical hobbies are playing tennis and basketball and I enjoy watching the hottest series on Netflix (Especially Kdrama). During college, I plan to study Mechanical Engineering while minoring in computer science.

Ellen Wang

VP of Communications and Sponsorships
Hi I’m Ellen and I’m a junior at Westview High School. My fascination lies in biomedical engineering and how these innovations can be leveraged to help those in need. Outside of academics, you can find me out exploring new cafes or staying active through soccer.

Yicheng Wang

Treasurer
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Jayden Mei

Coordinator
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At the core of our organization lies a mission to ensure that STEM education is accessible, inclusive, and empowering for all individuals; particularly those who have historically been marginalized or overlooked in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.Our main objective is to engage students and communities that have had minimal to no exposure to STEM. Whether this is due to financial constraints or insufficient access to STEM education, we strive to aid those in these situations by developing programs and environments where every student feels welcomed, motivated, and capable of achieving success in STEM.We are actively pursuing the expansion of our reach by establishing new chapters throughout Oregon and beyond. By creating a network of student-led teams grounded in local communities, we can gain a better understanding of the specific needs of each area and customize our initiatives to maximize our impact.In addition to our outreach and educational efforts, we are dedicated to offering free resources, such as STEM kits, mentorship, and interactive workshops, to students and schools that require assistance. We firmly believe that financial constraints should never hinder the learning process. This is why we provide all our programs and materials at no cost to participants, made possible through the generosity of donors, volunteers, and partners who align with our vision.Ultimately, our aim extends beyond merely teaching; we seek to unlock opportunities. We aspire to help young individuals by connecting them with opportunities and equipping them with the tools and education necessary to pursue their aspirations. By investing in underserved communities today, we hope to inspire the diverse leaders, thinkers, and innovators of the future.

Since our founding, we’ve expanded our reach by founding multiple chapters across high schools and other locations throughout Oregon. Each chapter is led by a team of student leaders who share our mission: to empower the next generation of innovators through hands-on learning and mentorship. If you want to be a part of our mission, don't hesitate to reach out via e-mail at [email protected] to inquire about creating your own chapter or helping us in our mission to educate the next generation.

Ongoing/Past Chapters
Want to get your kid involved in one of our chapters? Check out our events page to sign up for chapters your child might be interested in.

In Progress/Upcoming Chapters

Gear Up FTC Team Recruitment

Are you a motivated student with a passion for robotics, engineering, or coding? Join FTC Team Gear Up and take part in an exciting, hands-on experience where you'll collaborate, innovate, and compete at a high level.
Deadline: 8/1/25

• Link

Westview STEM Robotics Club

Are you a student at Westview High School? All students planning to attend Westview in the 2025-26 school year are invited to join our STEM Robotics Club held bi-weekly after school.
More information will be provided during Club Rush at the beginning of the next school year.

Kids Robotics Summer Camp

Want to learn how robots are built and programmed? Join the FREE 4-session summer camp for ages 10–15 where you'll dive into coding, CAD, and fun hands-on STEM projects.The camp sign-up deadline has passed.

GearStreams online podcast

Listeners from around the world can tune in to our podcast featuring STEM leaders and students online.

• GearStreams Page

Previous Events

Eid al-Adha Celebration with THPRD (06/15/25)

We volunteered at the Eid al-Adha celebration with THPRD, where thousands of people came to celebrate and check out the vendors.

Portland Holi Festival (03/29/25)

We hosted an informational booth at the Portland Holi Festival of Lights, where festival-goers could interact with and operate a real FIRST Tech Challenge competition robot.

Bethany Bake Sale (01/04/25)

We hosted a bake sale at Bethany Village in partner with Piccolo Mondo Toys to raise funds for our Westview Mission, Westview STEM Robotics Club.

Intel States Volunteering (12/07/24)

We volunteered at the FTC State Championship hosted by Intel, providing event support and assisting in various roles such as pit running and judging.

Sponsorships
We offer a range of sponsorship options, giving you meaningful benefits and weekly updates on how your support is helping us move forward. Email us at [email protected] for inquiries.

Current Sponsors:
Thank you. Your support helps us create STEM opportunities for youth locally and statewide.