Our Story

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted our lives in ways unimaginable. It changed the way we live, study, work, and socialize. It has brought families, neighbors, and communities together. It made us strong, kind, compassionate, and creative. This was the environment in which Sequoia Scholars was born.

Our founder, Tara DSilva, is a high school student (Class of 2021) living in the Northeast. Like most kids her age, she had aspired to spend her summer working, volunteering, and vacationing. However, all that changed when the virus began spreading aggressively. The Tri-State Area went into lockdown, and schools and offices became remote.

Tara reflected on her current situation and immediate future. She realized that she had to adapt if she wanted to have the summer experience she desired.

Tara graduated from the Brown Leadership Program in 2019. She joined her alumni friends to start a non-profit organization that brings youth volunteers together. She further wanted to find avenues to gain work experience. This, she hoped, would help her develop new skills, meet new people, and improve her work ethic.

She saw a need for kids to be engaged over the summer and realized that she could bring her passion for learning to a virtual classroom. Tara created a well-rounded learning program which encompasses Science, Math, Foreign Language, Creative Writing, Poetry, and Leadership. Currently, she runs this organization from her home, managing all aspects including social media, website building, lesson planning, and teaching. She is excited for the future growth of this organization.