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High School Senior Donates Hundreds of Calculators
Cervantes Pagan, a senior at The Bronx High School of Science, coordinated a fundraiser to gift calculators to public school students.
Bronx High School of Science senior Cervantes Pagan donated over 100 calculators to the public schools in Queens, New York, among others.
Cervantes, recently accepted via Early Action to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), wanted to support students with easy access to free calculators during the pandemic.
In collaboration with Shaunik Tandon, his best friend, and Kweller Prep, his longtime tutoring center, Cervantes founded a nonprofit organization called Calculators Solve Problems, Inc., with a mission "to put a calculator in the hand of every student who needs one."
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Cervantes and Shaunik intend to continue their work through college and plan to expand their mission to support students nationwide.
"Calculators Solve Problems is a nonprofit that supports underfunded classrooms and students who cannot afford an expensive personal calculator," remarked Cervantes.
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The cost of calculators, especially graphing ones, exceeds $100. The steep price prevents many students from owning a personal calculator. Without one for homework and preparing for exams, students are disadvantaged in many classes that require them, such as Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, and Physics, and from optimizing scores on exams including APs, the PSAT, SAT, and ACT."
In deciding which high schools to donate to, Cervantes reached out to Frances Kweller, the director of Kweller Prep, to identify schools to support. I'm honored to play a role in such a large and selfless donation to students in need."
Scientific and graphing calculators are commonly required in high schools. But these popular TI-83, 84, and 89 s, are often abandoned in drawers or old backpacks in many households upon college. The virtually indestructible design, functionality, and timeless technology of calculators make them ideal for donation for the next generation of high school students. student who needs one."
Calculators Solve Problems receives working calculators by mail from households coast-to-coast, then "upcycles" them by sanitizing and delivering calculator "drops" to local high schools or in y with other nonprofits that support teens who are unhoused or from low-income households.
Visit Calculators Solve Problems for a printable mailing label for where to send your good condition calculator for donation, or donate funds to Calculators Solve Problems here.
