STEM to Summit Program
Combining STEM Learning with Judo
Yoshihiro Uchida valued education above all else, consistently encouraging his judokas to prioritize their studies as much as, if not more than, their training. Inspired by his legacy, the Yoshihiro Uchida Legacy Foundation (YULF) is partnering with Experiential Inc., professors and students from Cornell University, and Dr. Sabrina Filzmoser to launch the inaugural STEM to Summit program to expand access to hands-on STEM education around the world.
STEM to Summit Program
The 2026 STEM to summit program is currently underway, as YULF proudly supports Dr. Filzmoser—Olympic judoka, founder of Everest Judo, and PhD graduate—on her inspiring mission across Nepal as she brings STEM learning and judo to students in remote Himalayan schools.
Filzmoser (top row, second from right) at Sir Edmund Hillary Khumjungschool(3,790m).
In partnership with Experiential Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to bringing hands-on STEM education to youth around the world, Filzmoser, students from Cornell University, and students from Sir Edmund Hillary Khumjungschool in Nepal will be collaborating to build a portable weather station and a rope-climbing robot. These devices will be deployed at various points along the Everest ascent to collect and transmit environmental data.
Students that attend Sir Edmund Hillary Khumjungschool, many who are judokas from Everest Judo, will be actively involved in developing, testing, and retrieving data from these devices, reinforcing the program’s mission of combing education with judo.
YULF’s Support
Filzmoser at Everest base camp (5,364m).
Motivated by a group of enthusiasts, YULF established the World Judo Fund, to support initiatives outside the US.
YULF, through the World Judo Fund, is able to support this project and Filzmoser by funding the travel and expedition cost that is required to set up the STEM and judo program at Sir Edmund Hillary Khumjungschool, as well as schools in Monjo, Chaurikharka, and Kathmandu.
Additionally, YULF financed the pre-expedition logistics and operations required before the official Everest expedition began. This includes international travel coordination, organization of the bicycle journey across Nepal, planning and execution of STEM and Judo outreach stops (training sessions, equipment distribution, school coordination), and full operational support for a field team managing navigation, accommodations, equipment, and documentation.
Mission
As a pilot program, STEM to Summit aims to combine STEM education and judo to create a unique program for developing the mind, body, and spirit.
As the YULF founder Len Tedeschi explains, “STEM to Summit, Everest, is a pilot program that combines judo, mountaineering, and STEM to develop the minds, bodies, and spirits of young people around the world.”
Looking ahead, YULF aims to grow the STEM to Summit into a global program, bringing similar opportunities to other underserved communities, with plans to expand this initiative to Africa in the near further.
Learn More
To read more about Filzmoser’s work, check out the International Judo Federation’s article:
https://www.ijf.org/news/show/inspiring-the-next-generation-on-the-roof-of-the-world
For live updates on Filzmoer’s journey, check out the Forever Everest Instagram page:
