School: Troy High School
Why she is a Whiz Kid: Created nonprofit organization GEARup4Youth as a way of closing the gender gap between underserved girls and technology.
As an elementary student, Megan Loh begged her parents to allow her to attend a technology camp.
She got her wish, and as she looked around the room, Loh realized she was one of only two girls in her camp class. The experience not only spurred her love for technology, but also sparked her interest in the technology gender gap she witnessed.
“I wanted to do anything I could to help make a change,” Loh said.
After learning that women hold about 15 percent of jobs in tech-related fields, Loh used her Girl Scouts Silver Award project to launch GEARup4Youth (gearup4youth.org) in 2015.
With the mission of “gearing up girls with the technology of tomorrow,” GEARup4Youth aims to bridge the gender gap through technology-based programs, all designed by Loh. The nonprofit has mobilized 150 volunteers from 25 schools to bring activities such as LEGO robot building and computer programming to underserved girls in classes at local libraries and Boys and Girls Clubs.
GEARup4Youth has also partnered with 200 public and private organizations to engage girls and their families through presentations, expos and other technology-related events.
To date, GEARup4Youth has reached more than 6,500 girls locally and in Malaysia, where Loh recently traveled. She has plans to continue to expand the organization’s reach, both nationally and globally, inspiring the next generation of girls through technology.
“I realized that I can do this,” Loh said. “I can make a change in this world by spreading my love for technology.”