Naunihal "Nihal" Gill
I aim to teach students in underprivileged areas about STEM, Robotics, and Design Thinking to inspire their interest and passion for these topics.
I am passionate about helping others in my community and my goal is to pursue a career where I can make an impact on others.
About Me
220
Project Sessions
175+
Students Taught
08
Awards
My name is Naunihal “Nihal” Gill. I am currently an incoming senior at Turlock High School located in Turlock, CA. I am the Founder of Project Spark, which aims to provide free STEM and robotics classes for underprivileged youth in my community.
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I am also an author of the book I May Be Small but I Am a Lion at Heart. I wrote this book to convey hope and courage to parents with premature newborns in the NICU in hopes it will help relieve some of the anxiety parents experience during the time their children are in the hospital. In writing this book I would like to stress the importance of reading to preemies for better mental and cognitive development. The profits of this book will be contributed to organizations such as March of Dimes and the Little Miracles Foundation.
- My love for golf has taught me life lessons that I use daily and always strive to work harder.
- I value my family and friends as they always push me to be the best version of myself that I can be.
- My creativity and passion for my projects come from my personal experiences and how I can impact those around me.
My Résumé
Education
Golf is another passion of mine. I enjoy the competition and collaboration that golf offers and I enjoy being a part of the Men's Varsity Golf team at Turlock High as well as the Junior Golf Association of Northern California (JGANC).
I have been playing golf for 9 years now, and it is an integral part of my high school career. Golf has taught me a lot about creating strong bonds and relationships as well as lessons on focus, patience, and fitness. During my high school golf career thus far, I have placed First Team All-League three times.
EDUCATION
Turlock High School
2019-2023
AWARDS
Automation
Robotics
Golfing
NSHSS Scholarship Award: Recipient of a $1,000 Claes Nobel Academic Excellence Scholarship
2022
AP Scholar Award
2022
Turlock Varsity Championship Achievement
2022
Varsity Speech and Debate
Ceres Community Service Mayor’s Award
2020
Student Superintendent Senate Award
2019
National Merit Award for Quality Education
2022
CCAL Academic All-League
2022
CCAL Men’s Golf First Team All-League
2021-2022
First Team All-League
2021-2022
Inspiring Teens Magazine
Nihal Gill was nominated and will be featured in Inspiring Teens Magazine Issue 59. He is recognized for the positive impact he has made on his community and the communities around him, to find out more please click on the link below.
National Piano Guild Award
2019
Certificate of Merit Level 5 Achievement
2019
Automation
Robotics
Golfing
NSHSS Scholarship Award: Recipient of a $1,000 Claes Nobel Academic Excellence Scholarship
2022
AP Scholar Award
2022
Turlock Varsity Championship Achievement
2022
National Merit Award for Quality Education
2022
CCAL Academic All-League
2022
Varsity Speech and Debate
CCAL Men’s Golf First
2021-2022
First Team All-League
2021-2022
Ceres Community Service Mayor’s Award
2020
Inspiring Teens Magazine
Nihal Gill was nominated and will be featured in Inspiring Teens Magazine Issue 59. He is recognized for the positive impact he has made on his community and the communities around him, to find out more please click on the link below.
Student Superintendent Senate Award
2019
National Piano Guild Award
2019
Certificate of Merit Level 5 Achievement
2019
EXPERIENCE
STEM Education
Teen Radio
Interview Host
Book Author
Data Intern
Tri-Nut Farm
Golf Coach
Tri-Nut Farm Management
2022
• Assisted with almond and apricot harvest planning and scheduling
• Helped monitor data from moisture probes within the field and helped calibrate same
• Prepared and presented ranch safety rules to farm employees
• Worked with Pest Control Advisor to coordinate fertigation timing and needs
Link Crew Leader
2022
• Welcomed incoming freshman as part of crew
• Helped provide guided tours to students of Turlock High School
• Helped students garner interest in various school activities including clubs and sports
MedTech Billing Services Modesto, CA - Data Management Intern
2021
• Organized billing receipts for healthcare billing company on behalf of various medical specialties
• Communicated with multiple colleagues regarding completion of data management spreadsheets
• Presented data management improvement methods to senior team
Piano Student
Potter Music Studio (2013-2020)
• Certificate of Merit Level 5 Achievement
• Learned and practiced technique, ear training, sight reading, and music theory
• Participated in annual evaluations for Certificate of Merit
• Completed written theory exam with an ear training component up to Level 5
• Participated in National Piano Guild Auditions
• National Winner, Intermediate Class 2020, in the National Piano Guild Auditions
District Capital, Washington D.C. - Data Management Intern
2020
• Organized various data sets on commercial and residential real estate mortgages and presented to leadership team
• Helped with data management and provided updates on weekly calls to executive team
Express Yourself Teen Radio Turlock, CA - Volunteer Host/Reporter
2020
• Curated content for radio for over 15+ shows on climate change, mental health, etc.
• Conducted thorough research in over 15+ concentrations with a primary focus on teen health
• Collaborated with a team of 5-6 fellow student reporters to produce content for listeners nationally
First Tee of Central Valley - Volunteer Assistant Golf Coach
2019
• Taught 10+ elementary school students the fundamentals of golf
• Communicated with coaches and parents to better organize and manage classes
The Project Spark Ceres, CA - Founder/CEO
2019
• Provided bi-monthly free STEM/Robotics classes to over 20+ underprivileged elementary age students in Ceres/Turlock
• Introduced design-thinking to young children to emphasize problem-solving skills utilizing prototypes and hands on problem solving
• Partnered with One Warm Coat to host a coat drive of over 60+ donations for community members in need during the pandemic
My Portfolio
The Project Spark
Imagination, Creativity, and Entrepreneurial Ideas
Project Spark was started in 2019 by Naunihal "Nihal" Gill due to his passion for engineering and robotics.
Nihal grew up in the Central Valley and saw firsthand how underserved engineering-related fields were in the Central Valley's curriculum, a region dominated by Agriculture and blue color jobs.
Nihal is passionate about helping educate children in these fields as a way to get them interested in STEM or just to spend a day learning something new.
STEM Education
Realizing that not all families can afford to send their kids to a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based class like he enjoyed, Turlock High freshman Nihal Gill will be offering free classes in Ceres starting in January.
Dubbed “Project Spark,” the classes will take place at the Ceres Community Center once a month for students in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades. Classes will focus on providing STEM education to elementary school students in Ceres, with an emphasis on robotics. The monthly class will include guest speakers from engineering and robotics industries along with hands on projects that students will participate in.
Project Spark
Nihal Gill, founder of Project Spark, is excited to open in-person STEM and Robotic classes once again for fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-graders at the Ceres Community Center.
Project Spark had resumed classes virtually during COVID-19 and is looking forward to providing opportunities to youngsters in person to experience hands-on STEM-based activities and education. The monthly class will include guest speakers from engineering and robotics industries along with hands-on projects that students will participate in.
Design Thinking
3E's: Empathy, Expansive Thinking, Experimentation
Project Spark continues to provide bi-monthly STEM education to students in grades 6th through 8th at the Ceres Community Center. Although these classes are focused on Robotics, Project Spark has recently added Design Thinking to all of its classes.
With this new focus, students learn skills needed to bring their creativity, imagination and entrepreneurial ideas to the next level.
I May Be Small but I Am a Lion At Heart
By Naunihal "Nihal" Gill
Nihal is also an author of the book I May Be Small but I Am a Lion at Heart. He wrote this book to convey hope and courage to parents with premature and newborns in the NICU in hopes it will help relieve some of the anxiety parents experience during the time their children are in the hospital.
In writing this book he would like to stress the importance of reading to preemies for better mental and cognitive development. The profits of this book will be contributed to organizations such as March of Dimes and Little Miracles Foundation. 
A fundraiser for March of Dimes
I am ecstatic to inform everyone who supported the cause that we have sold 130 copies of "I May Be Small but I Am a Lion at Heart" and the proceeds are being donated to March of Dimes and Tiny Miracles Foundation. We have also donated copies of the book to 5 hospitals for their NICU's: Doctor's Medical Center in Modesto; St. Joseph's Medical Center in Stockton; Valley Children's Hospital in Madera; UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in Oakland; and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Stanford.
You can follow us on Instagram at lionatheart1205.
Community Service
Turlock High Student Looks to Give Back During the Cold Months
Naunihal "Nihal" Gill, a junior at Turlock High, was inspired to give back to those in need one day when he was on his way to school and saw a man outside in need of a coat.
“My mind started to think about how many people were probably trying to survive through these winter months without a coat. I wanted to do something to help people stay warm during the dead, cold winters,” said Gill.
Gill is the founder of Project Spark, a non-profit that provides free classes for kids in the Ceres community about STEM and robotics.
The Art of Perseverance
Hosted by The Express Yourself!™ STAR On-Air Teen Team
Perseverance is tenacity, persistence, better-than-average drive, holding firmly to beliefs, and never giving up. Host Andrea Smith reads Cynthia Brian’s chapter, The Gift of Perseverance, from her book, Be the Star You Are! 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference.
Newest reporter Nihal Gill encourages teens to turn off the screen, get up, and move. Even though it may be tempting to be a couch potato, it is necessary to set up some exercise regimen and always persevere and push yourself to feel great and healthy.
Andrea interviews Judith Peck, an accomplished artist, sculptor, professor, and author of several books.