Penn State programs help 'Changemaker' make difference, earn recognition

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - What do sneakers and chemistry have in common? If you ask Jakyra Simpson, the answer is everything.

Simpson, who is also known as "Ky the Chemist" and is the founder of STEAM Sneakerheadz, has made a career out of teaching kids chemistry concepts through sneakers. Her presentations have reached hundreds of students across south central Pennsylvania, thanks in part to the $2,000 first-place prize Simpson received from the 2024 LION Tank competition hosted by Mont Alto LaunchBox.

Now, she's being recognized for her work, being named a "Changemaker" by the York County Economic Alliance. In a ceremony in December 2025, Simpson was named "The Catalyst" for the impact her engaging STEM-focused presentations have on students.

A typical STEAM Sneakerheadz workshop is presented to students in third through eighth grades. Simpson, as "Ky the Chemist", teaches kids the basics of chemistry by talking about foam, plastic, and polymers- all components of the sneakers that kids spend the remainder of the session customizing.

It's an idea that started with seeds planted way back when Simpson was a child in York, she said.

"Some of my earliest love for science stemmed from watching 'Bill Nye the Science Guy' every morning as a kid," Simpson said. "My grandparents would also take me to the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in Harrisburg. Going there, I was just like 'This is so cool. This is what I want to do.'"

Things came together for Simpson in her first high school chemistry class.

"The way I see things is that if you're able to understand chemistry, and really any STEM-adjacent field, you can apply the thought processes you learn from that to pretty much anything," Simpson stated.

Building resiliance

Simpson went to college at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), where she studied science. She credits Penn State's Talent Search program with helping her through the college application process.

"I would not be where I am today without Talent Search," Simpson said.

Once in college, Simpson admits she struggled in her early chemistry classes. Looking back, she reflected that those struggles taught her to be resilient, a quality that's served her well as an entrepreneur.

Following her time at IUP, Simpson took a fellowship at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. The fellowship was made possible by a program through the American Chemical Society that makes education possible for students from underrepresented backgrounds.

During that fellowship, Simpson said she became more confident in herself, but was still constantly asking questions.

"I was at a pivotal moment where I was doing a lot of reflection," Simpson recalled. "I sat down with myself and asked, 'why did I start this journey? What were those things that are important to me that motivated me to get to this point in my journey as a chemist?"

That questioning led Simpson to think back to watching Bill Nye as a kid, she said.

"I started to do research and ask if there were other scientists, and more specifically chemists, that were stepping into the space of science communications that reflected my culture. And the answer was no," Simpson said.

Using her resources

Talent Search and Mont Alto LaunchBox aren't the only Penn State resources Simpson has used to get to this point in her career. The Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic, run through the Launchbox and Innovation Network, has helped Simpson fill out the legal paperwork involved with starting and running a fast-growing business.

"People are bringing me out to their schools and community centers. I'm hosting events. Some major companies have asked me to partner with them, and this has all happened in the span of about two years," Simpson reflected.

The lessons will soon be going beyond just sneakers; Simpson says she's excited for a workshop she's starting next year where students will create their own cosmetics, while learning the chemistry of the components involved.

That growth will also include a book, a kids' show on Youtube, and more partnerships in 2026.

"When I first started my business, I was literally in a bedroom at my parents' house," Simpson said. "Now I have two office locations."