COEUR d’ALENE — For Lake City High School student Polina Epshtein, serving as a Growing the STEM student board member this past year has taught her she is capable of great things. Initially, Epshtein doubted the difference she could make for younger students.

“I’m only in high school, what can I really do?” Epshtein said.

But that didn't stop her.

Epshtein, 18, worked with Growing the STEM co-founder Adeline Smith and Borah Elementary technology teacher Shari Jackson piloting a new STEAM Club, which incorporates art elements into the teaching of science, technology, engineering and math. The new program was also extended to students at Skyway and Fernan elementary schools in Coeur d’Alene.

“It’s really cool to develop something that has a little bit of me in it,” Epshtein said. “It will continue to serve kids in the future.”

Epshtein will be the salutatorian for Lake City High School’s June 11 graduation. She'll be heading to Duke University on a full scholarship to study civil engineering in the fall.

Growing the STEM is a nonprofit founded in 2017, by sisters, Lilian and Adeline Smith. They wanted to share their love of science, technology, engineering and math and help other students in their community find success in STEM fields.

The Smiths' mother Rebecca Gershenson Smith said that one special thing about Growing the STEM is the nonprofit's involvement of students as board members, mentors and team coaches.

“We really value students' voices,” Smith said Wednesday. “We take student ideas really seriously.”

Growing the STEM serves hundreds of local school children in their pursuit of science, technology, engineering and math skills. With several programs like the Mathletes, STEM Club, Math is Cool, Engineering Club and others, the organization continues to expand, Smith said.

This past year has been one of “ramping up,” in recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, when programs were limited to only online activity, Smith said.

“We’ve seen a lot of expansion,” Smith said. “We had more student mentors this past year, than we’ve ever had.”

Now back to meeting in person, the club is anxious to recruit new members for the next school year, Smith said.

All Growing the STEM clubs and meetings are held on school grounds, directly after school. Most student volunteers focus on one program and serve for about an hour a week.

Students currently in eighth through 11th grade are sought. Smith said she's seeking recruits who are reliable, excited about the subject they want to work in, be it chess, art, math or something else, and who are interested in developing leadership skills.

With clubs meeting on various days and at different locations, it is usually possible to accommodate most student volunteers' schedules and obligations to sports and extracurricular activities.

Growing the STEM also seeks to hire a part-time program coordinator and will soon post the information on their website.

Visit growingthestem.org to apply to be a student mentor, or learn more about available programs.