Junior Daniela DiPisa ’27 is bringing her passion for engineering to second graders in the Lower School, hoping to inspire them to explore their own interests in STEM.

For DiPisa, the effort was more about recreating the opportunities that shaped her for the young learners of Bonaventura Hall.

“I wanted to create a program similar to those that helped me gain confidence in my Lower School years that introduced engineering in a fun and confidence-building way early on,” she said, adding she wanted the course to be a source of inspiration for the curious young students.

“I wanted students to see STEM as something fun and accessible before they begin deciding what they are or aren’t ‘good at,’” she said.

In preparation for the program’s debut this spring, DiPisa said she spent several weekends building projects and testing ideas for hands-on activities ranging from marshmallow catapults to pulley systems as she developed the four-week curriculum.

She said even as the program just concluded, she’s already seen the inspiration take hold, with students sharing projects they’ve continued working on at home.

“I hope they leave feeling confident, curious, and excited to try new things,” she added.

Upper School Mathematics Department Chair Rosalie Intartaglia said DiPisa came to her not just with an idea, but an entire “vision.”

“Daniela has a genuine interest in engineering,” Intartaglia said. “She was very clear about what she hoped to accomplish.

“What stands out most to me is her vision and perseverance,” she added. “Daniela saw a need, had a vision, the confidence to advocate for it, and kept us on track to reach out to the right people. What she did is extraordinary. The second graders are not only learning engineering concepts, but learning them from an older student they now know and admire.”

We are so proud of Daniela and this tremendous effort, which not only inspired younger students to explore STEM but also strengthened the meaningful connections shared across Oak Knoll’s Lower and Upper Schools.