Club PET Projects

PET projects, projects that are inspired by personal interests, are driven by the passions of many West Ranch students. Class of 2022 seniors Charlotte Kim, Shazaib Lalani and Avery Salin are each founders of their own club PET projects here at West Ranch, dedicating three to four years into their clubs: Kim for ICSTEM, Lalani for SalaamShalom and Salin for Girl Up. Starting from the beginning of their freshman and sophomore years, all three devoted seniors have grown with their clubs and are now passing them down for other high school students to continue their legacy.

After learning that females make up less than 30% of people in STEM fields, senior Charlotte Kim knew she had to make a change. Inspired by Tech Trek, a STEM-based summer camp for women, she founded Inspired and Connected by STEM— ICSTEM—a club that aims to close the gender gap in the male-dominated industry. ICSTEM encourages female students to pursue STEM fields by bringing in guest speakers and providing further insight into the various STEM careers. Each speaker visits West Ranch to explain their career, their experiences working in their respective fields and the importance of women in STEM. “We want to prove that STEM is not just for men, since it is a male-dominated field. There is space for women too,” Kim emphasized. Leading the club since freshman year, Kim has contacted numerous universities such as UCLA and UC Berkeley to partner with ICSTEM. Kim explained, “We collaborated with UC Berkeley Big Data over distance-learning to introduce Python and Data Science and with UCLA City Lab this spring where our ICSTEM members worked with STEM majors at UCLA.” After she graduates, Kim hopes the club continues to expand so that more female students can join the STEM field. She expressed, “I feel confident that the new officers will do amazing things with this club and will continue to carry on the legacy of ICSTEM. I have high hopes for them all.” Her strong passion for gender equality in STEM continues to inspire many members to pursue jobs in these fields, and her legacy will continue to live on for many years through her lasting impact here at West Ranch.

Senior Shazaib Lalani’s idea of founding his own club— SalaamShalom—started the summer before his sophomore year, with his participation in the Muslims and Jews Inspiring Change program. Motivated by the connectivity between people of these two faiths from all backgrounds within the program, Lalani said he “realized there was a need for a unified safe space for students on campus.” This inspired him to create SalaamShalom, an interfaith club for students of Muslim and Jewish faith at West Ranch. “Our goal is to not only encourage students of both communities to come together, but it is also to offer a space for all students on campus to learn and share more, regardless of their background,” Lalani explained. SalaamShalom’s monthly meetings focus on the various holidays and traditions of people of Muslim and Jewish faith, building the connection between the two religions and encouraging West Ranch students to learn about a variety of cultures. As Lalani passes down his club after three years as president, he recalls his most memorable moment when the organization hosted their first food drive to support those struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was an opportunity for SalaamShalom members to bond while helping out the Santa Clarita community. After he graduates, he hopes that SalaamShalom will continue to reach out to those at West Ranch, inviting students to learn more about their peers’ religious backgrounds. As his high school journey comes to an end, it is still only the beginning for SalaamShalom. As Lalani expressed, “I am extremely excited to see the progress that our club will carry out in the years to come. It’s been a fun and fulfilling time leading such a group, but I can’t wait to see what’s next.”

By dedicating all four years of her high school career, senior Avery Salin was able to found Girl Up, a club that advocates for global gender equality and empowers women to change the world, inspired by her passion for education. “Growing up, my family has always instilled in me the importance of education,” Salin explained. “My grandmother, a Jewish woman in the Soviet Union, had to fight for her education. She graduated valedictorian of her class and had an impressive application yet was rejected from every university on the basis of her religion. She appealed and, with tenacity, became a biochemical engineer. Knowing this, I have always valued my access to education and sought to ensure that all girls have the same opportunity.” Girl Up comes from a larger campaign for global gender equality by the United Nations that Salin wanted to bring to West Ranch. Members are given the opportunity to listen to guest speakers advocating for the cause, with meetings held to collaborate and fundraise. As president of Girl Up for four years, Salin has learned valuable skills in leadership, admitting that “during freshman year, [she] did not have any idea about how to lead a club.” However, with the support of her sister and friends, she was able to ensure her goal of successfully establishing the West Ranch Girl Up Club. Salin hopes that the club continues to grow and reach more passionate women at West Ranch after she graduates. She expressed, “I feel confident that other grade levels will continue the club in a new and unique way that will only make it better. Having a fresh perspective is very valuable, and I am excited to see what the members will do in the future.”