Ahmya Rivera

Ahmya Rivera’s journey from her small rural town of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, to becoming a prominent advocate for STEAM education is deeply rooted in her personal experiences and challenges. Growing up in a lower-income area with an underfunded school, Ahmya witnessed firsthand the stark disparities not only in educational opportunities but also in the lack of empowerment. This early exposure to the limitations imposed by a lack of resources ignited her passion for creating equitable opportunities for students in similar situations, even in an environment that didn’t encourage or assist her in pursuing such ambitions.

When Ahmya transitioned from an underfunded public school to a charter school, she experienced the profound impact that diverse, accessible, and specialized educational opportunities can have. In her former school, extracurricular options were minimal, while her new school offered a range of activities, from chess club to biotech and computer science. This shift in her environment underscored the importance of providing students with the chance to explore STEAM interests and discover their passions. In this new setting, Ahmya was able to learn more foundational information about her STEAM interests, even though the schools were still in a rural area. Despite this, she was eager to explore these disciplines at a more advanced level so she could share this knowledge with others.

Ahmya’s dedication to this cause is reflected in her achievements and initiatives. In her book, *STEAM Quest: Story-based Activity Book*, Ahmya combines her love for STEAM with her desire to make education accessible and engaging. The book follows a young mechanic and her robot friend on a global adventure with diverse characters, introducing elementary-aged learners to STEAM concepts through interactive activities. The book’s goal is to inspire students and provide them with a clear path to explore their interests and future careers. Even as a teen, she led several state-wide initiatives, such as North Carolina's first Computer Science summit, which brought together schools and educators from all eight counties. Coupled with other initiatives she spearheaded, Ahmya has overseen more than 100 groups of students in her lifetime, allowing her to embrace and learn from diverse student perspectives.

Ahmya's commitment to making STEAM education equitable and accessible, even with limited resources, has earned her numerous prestigious awards. She was named a Lancôme Write Her Future Scholar, joining a select group of 40 women recognized for their contributions to educational equity. Her recognition as a Coca-Cola Scholar, chosen from over 91,000 nominees with a selection rate of just 0.16%, underscores her exceptional achievements. Additionally, she received the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing, being one of only 40 students selected from 3,300 nominees, celebrating her leadership in computing.

Her innovative spirit also shone through as a National Semi-finalist in the 2023 Taco Bell Ambition Accelerator, where her app received praise from Taco Bell’s CEO. The NC Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service further honored her as one of 100 volunteers chosen from a pool of 100,000, recognizing her significant contributions to her community. These accolades, along with many other national and state-wide honors, highlight her impact, ambition, and dedication.

Ahmya’s story is a powerful example of how overcoming adversity can lead to transformative impact. Her journey from a challenging educational background to making a national difference in STEAM education illustrates her commitment to creating opportunities for all students. Through her initiatives and awards, Ahmya continues to inspire others and pave the way for future generations.

During high school, Ahmya earned multiple full-ride scholarships from colleges, amassing over $350,000 in awards, all without the help of a college prep tutor. She also graduated with an Associate's Degree as a first-generation student, earning more than 10 honors. Now, as a Leadership Scholar at the University of Southern California's Iovine and Young Academy, where only 50 students were admitted globally in her selection year, she is pursuing an interdisciplinary major that combines design, computer science, and business.

In her free time, Ahmya speaks to global classrooms and boards, writes for leadership columns, researches STEAM problem areas that statistically prove the impact of STEAM for underserved communities, and builds her marketing studio while working on a product and tech start-up. She also enjoys hitting the gym and baking. Ahmya embodies the journey from humble beginnings to remarkable success—and her ascent has only just begun.