Kairi – 2025 Capital Region Rising Star
Her cradle-to-career journey
What was an important learning experience you had before you started school?
When I was little, my mom and I would often watch shows like The Magic School Bus. I had a tendency to ask why about everything, and shows like this showed me that I could find answers to why things are how they are.
Who is the teacher or mentor who sparked your interest in STEM?
My high school manufacturing teacher has really impacted my STEM journey. His class is where I got introduced to CAD programs and 3D modeling. It prompted me to start making more complex projects and look into careers surrounding CAD modeling.
What are you thinking about doing after high school?
I plan to go into mechanical or aerospace engineering after school. At the moment, I’m pursuing my school’s higher math and manufacturing courses. I’m also enrolling in Running Start to continue through math and hopefully shave some time off of college.
Pursuing a career in engineering
Kairi’s love of making things has shaped her plans for after high school.
Nominated for her creativity and commitment to her peers
“Kairi shows enthusiasm for learning and exploring STEM topics daily. One recent but not unique example is with her choice CAD project: taking it steps further and crafting a circuit board with 19 lights that lit the entire border of the sign she designed and manufactured—something she had to learn on her own to design and solder.
In addition, she serves as one of our Restorative Center Advocates, helping students resolve conflict and supporting students academically. She is a natural leader. It is as common to see Kairi lead community-building circles with our 9th graders as it is to see her help a student with manufacturing class projects.
She takes every opportunity to attend any STEM field trip possible, seeking job shadowships with our local businesses.
—Kairi’s principal
“Kairi is a sophomore, so she’s exposed to a lot of complicated tools and processes, but she has completed every project despite the steep learning curve and then seeks out extra work. It is common to see her seek out additional practice with a riveting tool. Recently, Kairi completed a project where she accurately modeled in CAD software the Krusty Krab restaurant, cut it on the laser, and assembled it. She then went beyond and added details using acrylic to add windows and recreating the scale furniture! It is a fantastic model project. She used her creativity, attention to detail, and a willingness to experiment with unfamiliar software and tools to produce an end product that she can be proud of.”
—Kairi’s manufacturing and technology teacher
The Washington STEM Rising Star Awards encourage young women and trans and nonbinary youth to embrace STEM learning in ways that will support their education, career, and community.
Meet all of the 2025 Washington STEM Rising Stars!