2026/2027 Academic Year Internship

Nishna Uppugandla is a senior at Forsyth Central High School with a strong interest in Industrial Engineering and software development. She serves as Co-President of her school’s Technology Student Association (TSA) and has placed in the top 10 at Georgia TSA State Leadership Conference competitions four times. Nishna enjoys exploring her creativity through engineering projects and software development, including EcoScan, an AI-powered recycling website, and Dermaticia SkinScan, an AI-powered skin analysis website. Through her work with Bridges-Strong, she hopes to continue developing her engineering skills and contribute to making STEM education more accessible.

Summer 2026 Internship

Mercedes Alvarez is a rising junior at Johns Hopkins University studying Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Management. She is passionate about engineering that serves people, strengthens communities, and makes learning more accessible. Her background includes competitive robotics throughout high school, research on microcontroller-enabled gait analysis, and the creation of open-source case studies for engineering education in ethics and professionalism. Through these experiences, Mercedes has developed a deep appreciation for both technical problem-solving and the power of education to expand opportunity. In her free time, Mercedes loves crocheting and going on nature walks. She is drawn to Bridges-Strong’s belief that anyone, regardless of their background, is capable of engineering and looks forward to working with the Program Development team for Summer 2026!

Summer 2026 Internship

A rising senior at Walt Whitman High School with a strong interest in engineering. At school, Lila serves as a Junior Class Officer and is an active member of the Student Climate Action Council and the Environment and Sustainability Task Force. Lila hopes to pursue a degree in mechanical or architectural engineering, combining technical design with sustainability. She is particularly interested in how engineering can improve resource management, expand access to education, and address challenges facing communities around the world.

Summer 2026 Internship

An undergraduate student at Johns Hopkins University studying Electrical and Computer Engineering with a planned Masters in Robotics. Eric always had a passion for not just engineering but also teaching and exploring engineering education from the perspective of an engineer. In the past he has been an instructor, tutor, and teaching assistant for STEM classes and also conducted research on soft robotics and its uses in cheap educational robotics/engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.  

Summer 2026 Internship

A student at Grafton High School and the Governor's School for Science and Technology is taking a gap year to study abroad in Taiwan through the NSLI-Y program. She is passionate about using her STEM knowledge and skills to teach others who don't have the same opportunities she had. She's the co-captain of her school's VEX robotics team and has served her community greatly. She is named a 2x Virginia State Science Fair Finalist, with her most recent research project on the generational willingness to pay for sustainable clothing.

She is also a debater and the co-lead of Dear Asian Youth @ York County, where she emphasizes the importance of policy and advocacy. She hopes to bring these experiences, skills, and knowledge to support Bridges-Strong's mission. 

Summer 2026 Internship

A rising senior at Grafton High School, William is passionate about machine learning and data science. From a military family background, William has been involved in code, STEM, and music activities inside and outside schools all over the world. He was a state finalist in the Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair for his research in applied mathematics. He was  selected for the 2026 Virginia All-State Band and serves as principal percussionist for the Peninsula Youth Orchestra, captain of the Grafton High School Band’s Drumline, and member of a touring ensemble wit top musicians in the Hampton Roads area.He is also an accomplished classical pianist participating in international competitions.

William tutors middle and high school students in both math and percussion for a non-profit after school program for underserved youth. His goal is to create encouraging environments where every student can discover passion and reach a flow state in learning.

Summer 2026 Internship

A rising sophomore at Johns Hopkins University studying Mechanical Engineering. She is interested in the fields of biomechanics, robotics, and human spaceflight, and is passionate about making STEM more accessible through outreach and community engagement. At Johns Hopkins, Elise is involved in several research projects spanning locomotion and biomechanics. Outside of academics, she enjoys art, rock climbing, and reading.

Winter 2025 Internship

Currently in her final year of high school in Bethesda, Maryland, Angela is excited to join the Bridges-Strong team this winter! Passionate about science and research, she plans to major in neuroscience or biology and hopes to pursue a future in neurology. Angela looks forward to applying her interests in science to help design thoughtful educational programs for underserved students. She also aims to strengthen her engineering foundation through creative and collaborative problem-solving.

Through her weekly volunteering and shadowing work at Sibley Memorial. Hospital, Angela has experience working with diverse populations and helping community members in need. These roles have also helped her build important communication skills and enabled her to work with individuals from many backgrounds.

In her free time, Angela enjoys reading, baking, and playing the flute, especially for performances at Sibley Hospital. She also currently works part-time at a bubble tea shop.

Winter 2025 Internship

Is a senior at Tabb High School interested in pursuing a career in mechanical engineering. From a young age Jose has always been fascinated by mechanics. In school, Jose builds his foundation necessary to master mechanics by taking rigorous courses in mathematics and physics. Jose is passionate about designing efficient solutions, especially in sustainable technology and engineering innovation.

Outside of school, Jose serves as the Senior Patrol Leader at Troop 54 in Boy Scouts. Through the BSA program, Jose has learned valuable leadership skills and has had the opportunity to work with people from diverse backgrounds. He is currently working toward earning the rank of Eagle Scout.

On weekends Jose can be found volunteering at his church, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, contributing to both the service ministry and youth program.