Congratulations to our 2026 STEAM Educators of the Year, RAFT Heroes of the Year, RAFT Volunteer of the Year, and RAFT Partner of the Year! Thank you for all you do for our educators, our students, our community, and RAFT!
STEAM Educators of the Year
Jenny Doan
Washington Elementary
STEAM Teacher of the Year presented by Star One Credit Union
Ms. Doan is a 4th grade science teacher at Washington Elementary. Her nominator shared Ms. Doan’s commitment to creating engaging, hands-on lessons for her 4th graders, stating, “Ms. Doan believes that teaching the subject and leading hands-on experiments for her students will benefit them and help them remember the concepts.” Some of her lessons include “Tectonic Plates with Cookies” and “Candy Corn Fractions.” Thank you, Ms. Doan, for making STEAM learning a treat for your students!
Giselle Serafin
Columbia Middle School
STEAM Teacher of the Year presented by Credo
Giselle Serafin is a science teacher at Columbia Middle School. Her hands-on teaching style brings lessons to life both in and outside of the classroom. Ms. Serafin knows that hands-on learning is how you inspire students to see themselves as scientists. She serves as department chair and has been working to ensure all science classes have the materials they need. Thank you, Giselle, for ensuring all students have access to hands-on science learning!
Christina Pham
Yew Chung International School
STEAM Educator of the Year presented by Skyline Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley
As the K-8 Curriculum Coordinator at Yew Chung International School, Christina Pham takes the principles of hands-on learning to a whole new level. Ms. Pham encourages students to lead their own projects and create events for their community, and she ensures they are developing 21st century skills like creativity, resilience, and collaboration in a dynamic and supportive environment. Thank you, Ms. Pham, for supporting the students and educators of Yew Chung International School!
Francis Rivas
Morrill Middle School
STEAM Teacher of the Year presented by Morgan Stanley at Work
Francis is our STEAM Dream Camp Educator of the Year and an art teacher at Morrill Middle School. As the site director for the Alum Rock location of RAFT’s STEAM Dream Camp, Francis was responsible for all logistics for the educators, students, and families. Thank you, Francis, for your service to our teachers and students during STEAM Dream Camp and for supporting our students throughout the school year!
RAFT Heroes of the Year
Lewis and Dianna Chew
RAFT Hero Award presented by KPMG
Lewis and Dianna Chew have been key characters in the RAFT story. Since 2002, they have supported RAFT in a variety of ways. Lewis supported our founder, Mary Simon, as part of our Development and Finance Committee and has even helped emcee previous fundraisers.
Lewis also secured sponsorship and support from many of the companies he worked with over the years, including Dolby, Intuitive Surgical, Arista, and KPMG.
Over the years, Lewis and Dianna’s support became a family affair, as their children volunteered at RAFT as well. Lewis and Dianna also host a family bocce tournament that raises funds for local charities. They have featured RAFT in the past, and this year they selected RAFT as the beneficiary, raising over $50,000 to support RAFT’s mission.
RAFT Volunteer of the Year
The RAFT Pioneer Club: Gianmarco Pavia, Kaden Gobok, and Hayk Khachaturyan
RAFT Volunteer of the Year presented by Cisco
These three high school students took it upon themselves to organize a volunteer club at their high school to help serve their community. At least 12 students have volunteered their time each month, totaling over 500 hours in the last year!
These students are on track to graduate this year and have aspirations of pursuing degrees in engineering, business administration, and sociology.
RAFT staff have shared that the students in the club are some of the most respectful and enthusiastic volunteers they’ve worked with. As a result of their work, new Pioneer High School students have signed up this year to continue the tradition.
RAFT Partner of the Year
Synaptics
Synaptics has provided comprehensive support to RAFT through grant funding, volunteer hours, and material donations. Last year, RAFT hosted over 100 Synaptics employees at our warehouse for Chip In: Synaptics Global Giving Day.
Synaptics has also invited RAFT to its Bring Your Kids to Work Day event for the past two years, engaging more than 100 Synaptics employees’ families in hands-on learning activities.
In addition, Synaptics sponsored camp registrations for Synaptics employees’ children to attend RAFT’s STEAM Dream Camp and provided grants to bring RAFT programs to underserved schools.