Our Story
In high school, Meriem participated in EQT’s ASPIRE program, where she was paired with a mentor and attended various college preparedness sessions. Through her involvement, she earned a scholarship and came to deeply appreciate the impact a supportive mentor can have during high school. At Pitt, she and Malak joined the PEER program, a mentorship initiative that supports undergraduate students from racially underrepresented backgrounds in STEM as they pursue research opportunities. The program helped them secure research positions, grow both professionally and personally, and receive meaningful mentorship. Recognizing how transformative these experiences were to their own academic journeys, they were inspired to create a similar program for high school students in the Pittsburgh area. Together, they assembled a board of like-minded individuals who shared their vision and values.
