Meet Simran: Wayne County 4-H
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EmailWayne County 4-H'er Simran gives a personal testimonial of the impact of Michigan 4-H.
Simran is a 12-year-old member of Michigan State University Extension’s Wayne County 4-H program. A 4-H’er since the age of five, Simran is active in 4-H STEM and community service projects. In 2025, Simran wrote the following essay about her 4-H experience as part of the Michigan 4-H Mark of Excellence contest.
“Have you ever heard of the 4-H motto, “Making the best better?” For me, this motto is a way of life. Because of 4-H, I am beyond ready to take on the world.
During the pandemic, I started a weekly virtual 4-H STEM club to stay connected with my friends. The club quickly evolved into a valuable learning platform, which has remained active and thriving for the past five years. The STEM speakers at my club have supported students’ passions and furthered their communication and leadership skills. Over the past five years, I’ve held 190 club sessions, hosted over 60 STEM speakers, and welcomed 40 club members, dedicating more than 500 volunteer hours to running the sessions.
While leading my own 4-H STEM club has been a rewarding experience, it has also opened doors to explore other 4-H clubs that have broadened my perspective.
Because of the 4-H STEM club, I have grown socially, emotionally and academically. Along the way, I have built deep friendships, connected with exceptional mentors, collaborated with brilliant minds and served those in need.
Over the years, I have attended various 4-H clubs, including youth leadership development, cultural explorations and community outreach events. In 2024, I attended the 4-H license plate signing event, where Governor Whitmer signed a bill to approve the 4-H license plate. Thanks to 4-H, I had the incredible opportunity to speak to the governor about my summer and share my passions with her.
Beyond shaping my leadership journey, the 4-H STEM club experience has also provided me with the tools to pursue my passion for math and science. I have successfully completed several STEM projects and presented them at the annual Detroit Science and Engineering Fair. My most recent project, titled “From Diapers to Mars: Harnessing Unconventional Materials for Terraforming,” won the grand prize at the 2024 Detroit Science and Engineering Fair. I created a superabsorbent soil using sodium acrylate crystals (commonly found in diapers) to grow plants on Mars.
Through 4-H, I have also discovered the importance of community outreach and giving back.
Every year, I conduct fundraisers to donate books and school supplies to the Children’s Hospital of Michigan. As someone who has been a patient at the hospital, I know how boring it can be for kids to wait for their appointments, and books provide a perfect way to pass the time. I also attend community outreach events to promote vaccine awareness. At the McKinney Foundation community outreach event, I served as a vaccine ambassador. My favorite part of attending community outreach events is connecting with leaders at other display stations and learning about their work.
Whether connecting with community leaders, collaborating with peers or leading my club, 4-H has empowered me to work ethically, make a meaningful impact and adapt to change.
With this foundation and my passion for STEM, I want to pursue a career at the intersection of mathematics and healthcare — one that will allow me to solve complex problems and serve others.”
