Madison native joins Stanford Spokes in biking across the country for STEM mentoring

MADISON – Madison native Puja Chopade, a student at Stanford University, has engaged in a grueling but fulfilling summer commitment. Chopade was selected for Stanford Spokes, a team that travels from California to Washington D.C.

Enroute, Chopade and her six teammates will mentor youth who live in rural areas about STEM-related subjects. Their ambitious journey started on June 17 at San Francisco, Calif. Their goal is to encourage a love for learning in children and young adults.

After graduating in 2023 from Bob Jones High School, Chopade will be a junior at Stanford this fall. Her major is biology.

At first, her mother Beena Chopade was apprehensive on the day when Puja said she wanted to apply to Stanford Spokes. “The possibility was very unlikely of her getting in, but she wanted to try!” Beena said.

“My reaction was like, ‘Why? Do you know what it takes? Please don’t consider it,” Beena said. “But over the days, Puja showed her strong feelings for Spokes. Puja also said she was going to train for the next several months.”

Stanford Spokes will teach workshops and learning festivals that introduce young students to topics beyond standard curriculum. Their belief is that hands-on, exciting, project-based workshops are effective in teaching practical skills and building relationships.

The Spokes’ primary motivation is to reach underrepresented students in post-secondary education in terms of race, gender, geographic region or socioeconomic background. Their mission is rooted in the belief that education and getting outside can inspire students to defy stereotypes while developing a lifelong love for learning.

Puja taught a workshop on emergency medicine skills to introduce practical skills that students can use, like CPR and bleeding control. “The main point is to say education is powerful enough that you can learn how to save lives,” Puja said.

The Spokes’ route took them across the Golden Gate Bridge, through western mountain ranges, across Midwest plains, into Appalachia to reach Washington D.C.

When Stanford Spokes were biking in the Sierra Mountains, both Beena and her husband were anxious. “The end goal was to reach South Lake Tahoe. They knew the climb was about 8,000 feet, but what they were not prepared for was the freak storm that came through,” Beena said.

“The temperature dipped below freezing, and their speed on the steep descends was about 45 mph! They were all wearing summer bike clothes, their fingers froze, their bodies ached, and they had no service to call for the support van,” Beena said.

However, they just kept going. “Once Puja got to the destination, she had a mental breakdown,” Beena said. “The team members consoled each other. That freak storm ended up taking lives of 10 people at Lake Tahoe that day.”

Puja and her Spokes teammates need donations to make their quest a reality. A GoFundMe contribution will fund emergency travel expenses that arise during the trip, including transportation, food, lodging and bike repairs.

Supporting Stanford Spokes will make a tangible impact on the lives of not only the Stanford students but the youth that they teach about STEM principles from coast to coast. Every donation counts.

To donate to help Puja’s team, visit gofundme.com/f/help-stanford- spokes-2025-bike-across-thecountry.

For more information, visit stanfordspokes. squarespace.com or Instagram @stanfordspokes.