East Brunswick Student Graduates From Governor’s STEM Scholars Program

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — A student from East Brunswick graduated from the Governor’s STEM Scholars program on Saturday.

The year-long program is part of the Research & Development Council of New Jersey.

Tanvi Walia, a junior at East Brunswick High School, was selected from among more than 1,000 applicants from across this state, officials said.

Walia founded HealthHope Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about diseases that disproportionately affect women. She serves as Head of Technology for her school’s Pre-Med Club and interns at NJ STEM Pathways Network, where she promotes STEM education across New Jersey.

Walia also volunteers at RWJ Children’s Specialized Hospital and with the Red Cross Blood/Biomed Committee, earning the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award for completing over 100 hours of service.

Walia was among 111 high school and college students from all 21 counties across the state who completed the immersive STEM experience.

“This year’s 111 Scholars represent the best of what New Jersey has to offer—and with this class, we’ve officially crossed the threshold of 1,000 alumni,” said Alise Roderer, Director of the Governor’s STEM Scholars. “From lab tours to research and policy briefings, these students are building lifelong connections to the state’s STEM economy and becoming New Jersey’s next generation of innovators.”

The Governor’s STEM Scholars program offers students a 360° view of New Jersey’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) economy through research, site visits, and conferences. This year’s Commencement, held at Kean University, marked a major milestone: the program now boasts more than 1,000 alumni.

A public-private partnership among the Research & Development Council of New Jersey, the Governor’s Office, the New Jersey Department of Education, the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, and public and private research universities, the Governor’s STEM Scholars program connects high-achieving students in 10th grade through Ph.D. programs with the state’s innovation ecosystem.

Throughout the year, Scholars attended four conferences focused on STEM in government, academia, and industry.

Events were held at Rutgers School of Engineering, Montclair State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Kean University. Scholars also participated in virtual sessions with STEM professionals from Kenvue and Stockton University, and visited industry partners including Bristol Myers Squibb.

Each Scholar participated in a community-based research project, led by a college-level team leader.
Applications for the 2025–2026 Governor’s STEM Scholars program are open through June 13, 2025.

To apply, visit www.govstemscholars.com/apply.