At Milwaukee Tool, we’re all about building what’s next—and that doesn’t stop with power tools. It includes powering up future innovators, too.
That’s why we’re proud to support the 2025 National STEM Festival, where two standout students from Wisconsin were recently recognized as National STEM Champions.
Aditi Muduganti (Onalaska, WI) and Ritisha Dey (Shorewood, WI) were selected from more than 2,500 student applicants nationwide to showcase their research in Washington, DC, at a national celebration of science, technology, engineering, and math. As part of our continued commitment to support STEM education and a partnership with EXPLR, Milwaukee Tool covered their expenses to attend and present their award-winning projects.
Meet Aditi Muduganti – Exploring the Cosmos Through Code
A self-proclaimed “space nerd,” Aditi has always been captivated by the unknowns of the universe. Her love of science deepened after participating in the “You Be the Chemist” challenge in 8th grade—where her team won the Wisconsin competition with a space-themed project.
For her STEM Festival entry, she combined this passion with machine learning to tackle a complex astronomical challenge. Her project, “A Neural Network Approach Using Deep Learning for Image Classification of Polar Ring Galaxies,” sought to expand the catalog of these rare galaxies, which are key to understanding dark matter and galactic formation. Her work can assist astronomers in building more comprehensive galaxy catalogs, ultimately advancing research into the nature of dark matter, galaxy evolution, and the structure of the universe.
She is also the recipient of the Congressional Innovation Award, recognized for her creativity and impact in STEM.
Aditi is currently in 11th grade and dreams of a future in space medicine or astronomical engineering.
Meet Ritisha Dey – Battling Antibiotic Resistance with Science
Ritisha Dey’s journey into STEM began at home. Inspired by her father, a microbiologist, she grew up curious about how science could solve real-world problems. That curiosity evolved into a passion for biomedical research, especially in the fight against antibiotic resistance.
With mentorship from Dr. Steven Forst at UW-Milwaukee, Ritisha took on an ambitious project: developing a low-cost, accessible method for isolating antimicrobials from Xenorhabdus zentirmaii, a type of bacteria that produces compounds with antibiotic properties. Her process not only made it easier to extract these compounds but also helped identify 17 operons in the bacteria’s genome that are likely responsible for antibiotic production—an exciting breakthrough in the search for new, effective treatments.
Ritisha's hands-on experience with university-level lab work, paired with mentorship from graduate students, gave her a deep appreciation for scientific collaboration. Now in 12th grade, she plans to study biomedical, chemical, or bioengineering, with the goal of developing life-saving treatments for underserved communities around the world.
Looking Back on an Inspiring Week
The 2025 National STEM Festival has officially wrapped—and Aditi and Ritisha made the most of their time in Washington, DC. Surrounded by fellow student innovators, researchers, and STEM professionals, they had the opportunity to present their work, explore others’ projects, and connect with a community just as passionate about science and discovery as they are.
“The National STEM Festival was truly an amazing experience. There were so many other talented teenagers who were all just as passionate about their work and love for science. It was awesome seeing everyone's unique projects, and hearing about everybody's ordeals with science - the good, the bad, and the ugly,” said Ritisha.
“Being surrounded by so many brilliant, passionate students was incredibly inspiring. It reminded me that science isn’t just about answers; it’s about the drive to keep asking questions,” said Aditi.
We’re proud to have supported these exceptional students on their journey to this event. Their curiosity, creativity, and drive are exactly what will fuel the future of innovation in the U.S.—and we can’t wait to see what they do next.