Matt’s Kindness Ripples On is happy to announce the Kindness Award Winner for August, 2025.

Congratulations to Catherine Agarwal!

She will receive an award to help fund her acts of kindness project.

When Catherine Agarwal, (Dallas, TX), moved to Lubbock for college, she carried with her more than just books and dreams; she brought a deep desire to give back. “I had a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) program at my elementary school. I come from a low socio-economic background where most of the kids at my school were on free or reduced lunch, so to have a program like that was something I wouldn’t ordinarily have had access to,” Catherine said.

She never forgot the after-school STEM clubs that ignited her love for science. Those formative experiences planted the seeds of a career path that would eventually lead her to medical school. But before donning a white coat, Catherine wanted to return the favor: to help young students discover the same spark of inspiration that had changed her life.

That intention became Widening Horizons, a student-led organization Catherine founded to offer free, hands-on STEM programming to schools with limited resources. Beginning with just five undergraduate volunteers, Widening Horizons has grown over five years into a team of more than 30 members from a variety of disciplines – science, engineering, education, business and the arts – all united by the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to explore their potential.

“We aim to inspire young children to remain curious and pursue careers in science to better themselves intellectually and socioeconomically,” said Catherine.

Experiments they’ve done with the kids include extracting DNA from strawberries, making lava lamps in test tubes, DIY bath bombs and making monsters out of given genetic traits. “You don’t need fancy equipment to learn about science and to do research; you can use household items and things like that,” she said.

While Widening Horizons empowers the curiosity in young students, it also empowers the Tech students who are a part of the organization.

Catherine envisioned more than just science lessons. She wanted to create a community of mentors. She introduced a “Team Captain” role, encouraging undergraduate volunteers to take on leadership responsibilities, organize weekly lessons and mentor their peers. For many, this role became their first real taste of teaching, leadership and collaboration – skills that would stay with them long after the last experiment of the semester.

One volunteer said, “It’s a great leadership opportunity. I’ve been able to grow as a leader by planning and organizing the experiments. It’s very rewarding.”

When Catherine learned that one local middle school only had an all-boys science club, she acted quickly, working with other women at Texas Tech University to establish an all-girls STEM program. Inclusivity became a pillar of the organization’s identity.

Even the pandemic didn’t stop her. In the spring of 2021, she and her team assembled over 1,000 science kits and distributed them to schools throughout Lubbock. Weekly activities were then taught virtually, keeping students engaged with STEM despite the distance. The hybrid format was just one more example of Catherine’s creativity and determination.

Today, Widening Horizons serves not only schools, but also a local library and science museum, expanding its impact to over 500 children. The organization has won multiple awards, but for Catherine, the real reward comes in the students themselves. “The best moment,” she says, “is when a student who didn’t think they liked science tells us at the end of the semester that they want to be an engineer or doctor. That’s when I know we’re doing something right.”

Now a medical student in Dallas, Catherine plans to serve her community as a physician. She hopes to continue mentoring young students, especially those from underserved backgrounds like her own. Because for Catherine, Widening Horizons isn’t just a name, it’s a mission; and her journey proves that one person, armed with empathy and a vision, can truly change the trajectory of hundreds of lives.