Our Mission

Scientific Minds of America (SMOA) works to reduce socioeconomic inequity through youth-run sessions for children of all ages, across the world. SMOA's design process starts with understanding the challenges and barriers faced by the underserved youth and then assembling educational channels to eliminate these difficulties. SMOA members serve to break socio-economic walls and transform youth into advanced thinkers and creators.
Started in 2015 by co-founders Arjun Kanjarpane and Lasya Tallapragada, SMOA had its first 1-week session in science and robotics at Lockerman Bundy Elementary School in 2016. Lasya stepped down in 2018, and SMOA has grown to over a dozen members and over 50 volunteers. 

Quote From Our CEO

Community-wide changes starts with listening and empathy. After finding areas of improvement, SMOA works with adult leaders to develop individualized plans to deliver service and change to youth. SMOA teaches the art of thinking and uses different subjects as a channel to introduce various crucial skills, needed for personal and academic advancement. As youth, we are the next generation of America's industries, and as members of SMOA we are working hard to insure each and every child has the ability to succeed to the greatest extent.​

- Arjun Kanjarpane

Core Values

• Respect others, show moral integrity and exert kindness. 
• Strive to achieve excellence and work together in thoughtful, and peaceful environments. 
• Embrace our diversity, and celebrate our differences. Educational inequality is faced by children from all genders, gender preferences, ages, races, or abilities. SMOA does not discriminate in any regard based on these factors, and will never do so.
• Show courage and determination in the face of adversities. "You're only a kid"-doesn't fly. As high schoolers, we face a larger problem than education inequality- reliability. SMOA builds student leaders because we understand that no matter how old we are, we can make a positive change. 
• Explore the unknown, commit to learning, and gain a deeper understanding. SMOA works to induce community change, a drastic shift in how people think. Donating to a food drive, doesn't induce long-term change. Building students with strong moral ethics along with leadership, business, fiscal skills requires an analysis of how SMOA programs are influencing the population. For more on this subject, visit our research page. 

What We Believe

1. It is our classmates whom each one of us serves. 
2. Our goal is nothing less than to awaken the same sense of self-awareness, intellectual energy, capacity and dynamic thinking in each of our students and SMATONS
3. Our respect for ourselves, the supportive adults in our lives, the communities we live in from home, village, school - extends to the students we serve, their responsible adults, schools, communities. 
4. No wall cannot be overcome.
5. Indomitable & adamantine will as evidenced by intense listening, characterized by spherical (3-dimensional) analysis and challenge solving.
6. Absolute blindness to any external defining characteristic, be it race, gender, socio-economic strata, religion, sexual preference or societal bias.
7. Self-awareness to the degree that the notion that, "I am only a kid," is rejected. That which thinks, is not age-delimited.
8. Courage: to overcome adversities that many feel are permanent and immutable. 
9. Determination: the power of networking, the power that stems from knowing that something ought to be done, the power to know in your heart that this something that has to be done, was waiting for you to do it. In this time, in this place, with these sisters and brothers. And that success is the fact and realization that you...were afforded the chance to do this outstanding service. 
10. The manifestation of each of the above values, in each SMOA member, is the fissionable matter that SMOA brings to each and every encounter. It is less about what we do, and more about what is awakened in each student, responsible adult, community. That electrifying ignition is the goal, because each served youth is a SMOA member waiting to be awakened. 

Academic Exploration

​Underserved populations frequently face situations where resources may not allow for the best exploration or learning experience in a particular subject. 

Through intuitive measures, SMOA teaches students in all major subject areas to inform, educate and develop a strong educational base. In addition, SMOA offers youth-run tutoring programs for all students and other supplemental education. 

Non-Academic Exploration

Like all people, students need relief from the stressors of everyday life. New hobbies and interests can be explored through SMOA's extracurricular programs. These programs allow for students to utilize various resources which may not be normally available, to explore their hobbies. These sessions help students develop organizational and collaborative skills while blending fun and excitement.  ​

Professional Development

From how to write business emails, to networking, making smart investments, and even creating their own companies, SMOA allows students to achieve their business-related dreams in a safe, non-ruthless setting. Unlocking the next big idea or fulfilling a business dream may only take a team of driven individuals who can arm students with the tools for success. ​