LINK (Learning, Innovation, Networking & Knowledge)

Community Need: STEM access and representation

Target Audience and Location: High school students in the New Caney ISD District, particularly Porter High School students in Porter, TX.

Vision: A community where every youth sees themselves within the field of STEM because opportunity should belong to everyone.

Mission: To create inclusive STEM learning opportunities for high school students through mentoring and activities that encourage them to explore new ideas, build confidence, and gain authentic recognition for their work.

Project Description: Scholar Euphoria White and her educator, Autumn Dowdy, co-founded LINK, a school and community-based initiative that connects students with mentors, hands-on STEM experiences, and professional networks. The project brings together a student leadership team, educators, and partners such as the University of Houston, University of Texas PALs programs, GripTape, and Engineering Tomorrow to coordinate mentorship, workshops, guest speaker sessions, and experiential learning opportunities. Through structured mentor–mentee engagement, collaborative STEM activities, and ongoing reflection, LINK focuses on building skills, confidence, and sustained connections that support students’ continued exploration of STEM pathways.

As a student leader, Euphoria is most proud that “she was able to connect with a previous Scholar from her area for collaboration and advice and that her team established a partnership that provided them with over 450 STEM activity kits for students!”