Second WISE Thank You Gala: A Night With Our Stars

The Be W.I.S.E Initiative recently hosted its second WISE Thank You Gala: A Night With Our Stars, a bi-annual celebration dedicated to honoring the collaborative spirit and shared accomplishments of our community partners, sponsors, volunteers, and students. The evening served as both a moment of reflection on our achievements and a platform to share the exciting trajectory of our newest endeavors.

As we marked the fifth anniversary of The Be W.I.S.E Initiative, we were joined by an inspiring group of supporters representing institutions such as the YMCA, Dublin City Schools, Olentangy City Schools, The Ohio State University, and many others. Their presence highlighted the broad and diverse coalition that continues to drive our mission forward.

Since its inception, The Be W.I.S.E Initiative has grown substantially. Today, three flagship programs are actively operating across 30 schools in Central Ohio. This expansion has enabled us to reinvest over $116,000 back into the community and directly impact the educational journeys of more than 5,000 students.

Throughout the evening, attendees heard firsthand from students and volunteers who have experienced the transformative power of WISE programs.

“I am so honored to play a role through WISE in providing enriching experiences and building a love for science at all ages,” said Preethi Mereddi, a senior at Dublin Jerome High School and a dedicated four-year WISE volunteer.

Abby Birr and Grace Xu share the success of the My WISE Kid program in the 2024-2025 school year.

This year, the My WISE Kid program reached an all-time high, engaging 856 students with the support of a passionate team of 375 high school volunteers. Their commitment did not go unnoticed.

“The volunteers really care. You have a very special team here,” shared a YMCA site director in attendance, emphasizing the depth of engagement and enthusiasm shown by WISE participants.

The FemSTEM Mentorship Program also achieved remarkable success, supporting over 50 young women in pursuing their interests in science, technology, engineering, and math. The gala featured presentations from program alumni Alexa (Azzy) Xiang and Meghana Madiraju, who returned to share the outcomes of their capstone projects.

Azzy's project—a website to inspire the young scientists through ornithology—has grown into a fully functioning nonprofit organization with over 40 volunteers in just one academic semester. Meghana, working closely with her mentor, successfully designed and 3D printed a Formula-1 race car prototype.

“FemSTEM has transformed my interest into a real nonprofit and led to connection and growth that has caused a paradigm shift in community impact,” Azzy shared.

Meghana Madiraju, 16, presenting her custom designed Formula 1 race car.

This year also marked the launch of our newest initiative: WISE Kits. Designed to bring science learning directly into students’ homes, this program empowers families to engage with scientific inquiry together. During the gala, guests were introduced to the vision behind WISE Kits and given a preview of how this initiative plans to integrate parents more deeply into their children’s educational experience.

WISE’s first three at-home, family-targeted science experiments.

Overall, the WISE Thank You Gala: A Night With Our Stars was a testament to the power of community, innovation, and education. As we look to the future, we are inspired by the momentum built through these past five years and excited to continue cultivating curiosity, leadership, and opportunity for the next generation of scientists and change makers.

Here's one more thank you from the WISE team, to all of those who have supported us over the last 5 years!