At Payton Stemgineering, we believe innovation starts with curiosity, and we help students turn that curiosity into action. Founded in 2023 by Leo Larvick (Payton Class of ’26) and Holden Jaehn (Payton Class of ’26), we are a student-led organization at Walter Payton College Prep dedicated to exploring STEM through hands-on learning, collaborative projects, and creative problem-solving. Our nonprofit creates a space where students of all backgrounds and experience levels can come together to learn, build, and imagine a better future through STEM.
Our goal is to make STEM feel approachable, exciting, and open to everyone—no matter their background or experience level. We want students to feel like they belong in science, technology, engineering, and math, and to see that these fields are full of creativity, collaboration, and real-world opportunities. Through hands-on events, fun workshops, engineering challenges, guest speakers, and outreach programs, we give students the chance to explore what excites them, try new things, and connect what they’re learning in the classroom to real problems and possibilities in the world around them. Whether someone’s just starting to get curious about STEM or already passionate about it, we’re here to support their journey and help them see what’s possible!
We’re a student-run nonprofit led by a team of passionate students who bring STEM to life through hands-on learning and creativity. Our goal is to make STEM accessible and engaging for everyone, and we’re always finding new ways to share that excitement with our community!
Alex Ford
Co-President, Favorite STEM Field: Aerospace
alexcford09@gmail.com
Jack Merovitz
Co-President, Favorite STEM Field: Physics
jackmerovitz@icloud.com
Founded and based at Walter Payton College Prep, our club brings together over 60 members who meet regularly to explore STEM through creative, hands-on projects. From building challenges and chemistry experiments to seasonal workshops and design days, our meetings give members a chance to experiment, learn new skills, and collaborate with friends in a relaxed, engaging environment. Each meeting is a chance to try new things, learn alongside friends, and explore how creativity and problem-solving fit into STEM!
We’re excited to highlight Shuhan Zhao, the creative mind behind the Payton Stemgineering logo! As one of our dedicated members, Shuhan brought his creativity and eye for design to craft a logo that reflects our club’s spirit of curiosity and collaboration. We’re really grateful for all the thought and effort he put into bringing our vision to life!