Keystone STEM Alliance Celebrates One Year of Growing Student Impact

One year in, and the momentum is real.

Keystone STEM Alliance marked its first anniversary this September at our Berwyn workshop, bringing together students, mentors, parents, and community supporters to reflect on what we built and set our sights on what comes next.

By the Numbers

In our first year, we engaged more than 100 students directly and reached more than 1,200 through STEM outreach. An additional 500 young people were introduced to STEM activities through youth conferences and community events. More than 40 volunteers contributed upward of 2,500 hours, and more than 14 sponsors and partners made it all possible.

BLAST Robotics Earns Three Awards

Our FRC Team 10989, BLAST Robotics, had a strong inaugural season. The team earned the Gardener Award at RampRiot in 2025, the Rookie All Star Award at FMA Central in 2026, and the Rising Stars Award at FMA Philadelphia in 2026. These recognitions reflect the hard work of our student builders, programmers, and leaders every step of the way.

STEM2Ignite Grows Outreach

Through our STEM2Ignite program, we continued expanding our reach into underserved communities, connecting young people with hands-on STEM experiences beyond the robotics floor.

Our Workshop Home

Eadeh Enterprises provided our workshop space in Berwyn throughout the year, giving students a consistent place to meet, build, and learn together. As Director and Lead Coach Murahari Ponugoti shared, that consistent physical space was especially important in year one.

Student Voice

At the anniversary celebration, student leaders Virat Ponugoti, Vivaan Krishna Ponugoti, Mayon Saha, and Priyanka Paxula presented first-year results and shared goals for technical growth, leadership development, and expanded outreach in the year ahead.

“We want to continue growing the team, develop more student leaders at every level and build on what we accomplished during our first season,” said student captain Vivaan Krishna Ponugoti.

Looking Ahead

We are now preparing for the FIRST Robotics Competition season beginning in January 2027. Immediate priorities include offseason training, leadership development, community outreach, and expansion of STEM2Ignite. As we enter year two, we remain committed to building pathways in technical training, leadership, and career preparation for every student who walks through our doors.

Thank you to every student, volunteer, mentor, sponsor, and community partner who made year one possible. The best is still ahead.