Amina Abysheva

San Diego, CA

Amina immigrated from Kazakhstan in middle school, overcoming language and cultural barriers while cultivating a passion for STEM and healthcare equity. She founded TutorForKids, a free tutoring program supporting international students, and the International Justice Organization, which raises awareness about human trafficking and global human rights issues. As a Bank of America Student Leader and a Rise for the World Global Finalist, she has engaged in initiatives at the intersection of technology and social impact. Committed to advancing accessible healthcare worldwide, she will study biomedical engineering at Cornell University to develop innovative medical solutions for underserved communities.

Maurits Acosta

Hialeah, FL

Maurits Acosta is a community leader, advocate, and champion for civic participation. He is the Student Advisor to the School Board of Miami-Dade County, where he represents over 350,000 students in America’s third-largest school district. Born in the Netherlands to Cuban parents, Maurits founded Virtutem Populo, Inc. (VP) after moving to Miami. VP is a student-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting civic engagement and community involvement among youth in the state of Florida. At VP, he has raised over $50,000 for civic education and reached more than 3,000 students with impactful educational programs. In 2024, Maurits was named a delegate to the United States Senate Youth Program and the National PTA Outstanding Youth Advocate of the Year.

Eniola Ajanaku

Mansfield, TX

Eniola has a everlasting passion for bringing innovation to healthcare and AI. Inspired by the political challenges of her home country, Nigeria, she is determined to address food insecurity in underserved communities. She has led as President of the Mark Cuban Foundation’s Student Ambassadors, promoting AI education nationwide and reaching 27K. As a Seeds of Fortune scholar, she has engaged in impact investing with Fortune 500 companies to address modern agriculture’s effect on health. She also serves as President of her local HOSA chapter and VP of the DECA chapter. As a lover of culture, she aspires to become a polyglot and master various dance forms. But above all else, Eniola believes in the power of knowledge as a vessel for change.

Mohammed Ali Al-Sabeh

Dearborn Heights, MI

Mohammed Ali is a driven young leader passionate about equitable STEM education, the environment, and servant leadership. As Key Club International Trustee, Mohammed Ali coordinates the volunteer efforts of over 225,000 high schoolers worldwide and oversees the elections for all 33 districts. Dedicated to bridging educational barriers, Mohammed Ali mentors children at Heritage Orphanage in Nigeria in digital literacy. A NASA-GLOBE scientist, he has published research on artificial light pollution and is currently designing sensors for a ThinSat Satellite with U-Toledo. Mohammed Ali is proud of his involvement as Robotics Electrical Lead, NHS Secretary of Service, Varsity Cross Country Captain, and Watershed Stewards Commissioner.

Melissa Alfaro-Zeledon

Dallas, TX

Melissa Alfaro-Zeledon is an engineer and advocate dedicated to using technology for social impact. As the founder of TechnoChicos, she has introduced Nicaraguan children to programming and computer-aided design. At NASA Headquarters, she leveraged machine learning to inform new policies for New Frontiers and Discovery Missions. Her research on femicide seriality resulted in the development of a predictive computational model, which she presented at MIT’s URTC. Melissa has received national recognition from NCWIT, SkillsUSA, and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation for advancing STEM education equity, her community-driven engineering projects, and her advocacy for technical education funding at both Capitol Hill in DC and the TX State Capitol.

Cora Altizer

Clayton, NC

Cora Altizer is a dedicated advocate and leader committed to social justice and community empowerment. At 14, she raised $10,000 as an American Heart Association Teen of Impact nominee. Cora earned the prestigious Robert F. Lucas Award as a Lieutenant Governor for Key Club International, representing Key Clubbers across North and South Carolina. She founded her school’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance, now the third largest club, and leads the Equity Club as president. At Activate Good, she organizes events, builds partnerships, and connects youth with service opportunities across the Triangle. Cora plans to major in International Relations to continue her advocacy.

Edna Aman

Chicago, IL

Edna Aman is an aspiring healthcare professional and nonprofit leader with a strong commitment to both local and global change. As the founder of the Dream Compassion Organization, she focuses on delivering essential medical supplies to crisis zones in Tigray, Ethiopia. Edna has also worked on an aneurysm awareness campaign under former Olympian Jim Craig and contributed to lung oncology research at Northwestern University. Through her mentorship experience at UChicago’s Cardiac Division, Edna gained valuable experience in heart and vascular medicine and modern surgery. She is also on the executive board of MUN and Spanish Honor Society and has competed at Illinois HOSA and Future Problem Solvers. Edna plans to pursue molecular biology and linguistics in college.

Liam Aranda-Michel

Lake Oswego, OR

Liam strives to engineer new tissues to solve the world’s toughest challenges, especially those related to heart failure. As an aspiring scientist, he has chased this vision by creating collagen-based blood vessel scaffolds he hopes will lead to the discovery of new drugs for patients worldwide. He has presented his research at the AAAS and BMES, earning awards at ISEF, AJAS, EXPLR NSF, and the STS top 300. Outside of research, he enjoys playing cello with the Portland Youth Philharmonic and competing on a First Tech Challenge Team. Liam aspires to become a physician-scientist, where he can lead a laboratory to discover new therapies and make the world a better place. Liam will attend Stanford University in the fall to study bioengineering.

Ruby Arun

Palatine, IL

Ruby Arun, founder of Mission:MathMinds, empowers girls globally, eliminating math anxiety. Reaching 21K+ girls with $1.4M impact, her initiatives disrupt the status quo via UN, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs partnerships. Over her summers, Ruby hosted math programs for Ukrainian refugee children in Poland, a life-changing experience. Author of two books on service & leadership, she’s also published peer-reviewed research on math education at Yale and AI in electric vehicles at Stanford. As an opera & musical theatre singer, Ruby has performed at Carnegie Hall and placed top 3 internationally 13 times. Ruby will pursue applied mathematics & economics, continuing her AI research for education reform and launching new Mission:MathMinds initiatives.

Sreenidi Bala

Farmington, CT

Sreenidi Bala is the Founder of Code for All Minds, a free platform expanding access to computer science and digital skills education for neurodivergent students through adaptive curricula used in schools nationwide. Appointed by the governor, she serves as the student member on the CT State Board of Education, advocating for inclusive education policies. She advises HAAPE and Infosys Accessibility Living Lab, supporting neurodivergent professionals. As the youngest intern at the CT Commission on Human Rights, she develops programs for underserved youth. Recognized by former First Lady Dr. Biden, National Education Association, Prudential, and as a U.S. Senate Youth Program delegate, she champions inclusion in education and the workforce.

Ananya Balaji

Ames, IA

Ananya is a driven researcher and advocate focused on the intersection of global health and sustainability. She has conducted and published research on mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and Alzheimer’s Disease, awarded at Regeneron ISEF. Through 4-H and her own initiatives, she has designed nationally recognized wildlife conservation curricula reaching thousands of students. Ananya helped develop her city’s climate action plan and has authored a book on the interconnectedness of public health and climate change. She is also the president of her school’s Society of Women Engineers and captain of her Science Olympiad team. Ananya plans to pursue an interdisciplinary career in engineering and medicine to advance sustainability in healthcare.

Champ Baumgarten

Sioux Falls, SD

Champ Baumgarten is a cultural bridge builder, using language and communication to strengthen his community. A U.S. State Department and NSA Critical Language Scholar, he spent a year in Taiwan studying Mandarin and is bilingual in Spanish, interpreting across South Dakota for outreach and COVID relief efforts. For his service, he earned the President’s Volunteer Gold Award. He was awarded the Global Seal of Biliteracy in both languages. Champ worked as a U.S. Senate Page and will represent South Dakota as a U.S. Senate Youth delegate in D.C. in March. This fall, he plans to study politics, economics, and international relations, with hopes for the future of helping his state of South Dakota with international trade and national security.

Daniella Biblin

Raleigh, NC

Daniella is passionate about harnessing the power of education to build strong communities. She founded 1GEN, a support network for first-generation students, and worked with Fair Opportunity Project to develop a platform supporting rural students with college and career preparation. Daniella leads a nonprofit providing tennis lessons to kids; she recently hosted a tournament with free equipment and practice. As Youth Attorney at Teen Court, she defends first-time offenders through restorative justice, giving them a voice and second chance. She has served as president of her Mock Trial team, captain of her varsity tennis team, congressional debater, board member for NHS and Key Club, and represented her school at the HOBY Leadership Seminar.

Jaden Blankenship

Richton Park, IL

Jaden Ikaika is an internationally recognized researcher and equitable healthcare advocate. Through his research at UIC and Argonne, he discovered a drug that reduces the spread of triple-negative breast cancer in-vitro, earning coverage on WGN News, international publications, and presentations at Columbia University, Princeton University, and Turkey. As leader of Med4Minorities, Jaden gathered $6,000 in grants and connected 100+ underrepresented students with medical professionals across the U.S. Alongside tutoring 50+ underrepresented students in STEM on the weekends, he also co-founded a national nonprofit, Cyber Scam Prevention for Senior Citizens, to protect seniors from cyber scams. Jaden will be attending Yale University in the fall.

Bella Brown

Chicago, IL

Bella Brown is the Co-Founder and President of Living Outside, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with 19 global chapters dedicated to destigmatizing homelessness through the direct distribution of care bags. Alongside her sister, Bella has impacted 5,000+ lives by reframing distribution as a platform for acknowledgment, conversation, and authentic connection. Her mixed-methods research further confirms that this unique approach reduces bias. Beyond Living Outside, Bella serves as the Global President of the Junior Economic Club and the Executive Director of Innoverge. She is also a competitive dancer and a proud big sister. Recently, Bella was named one of 25 National Finalists for the National Honor Society Scholarship.

Neil Chandran

Alamo, CA

Neil Chandran is a policy advocate and political science researcher focused on education equity and racial justice. He has worked with the United Nations and Digital Promise to advance education reform across the 50 states and in thousands of school districts. As an internationally recognized researcher and author, he has published multiple research papers, including at IEEE, exploring data-driven policy solutions in restorative justice, mental health programs, and voting systems. A community changemaker, he serves as Program Director for ACEing Autism, expanding sports program access to neurodiverse youth. Neil plans to major in political science, focusing on education policy for marginalized communities.

Brennan Chang-Ho

Pasadena, CA

An Eagle Scout, Brennan founded Dental Explorers, a project that educates young patients about oral hygiene to reduce their anxiety during dental visits. He partnered with Mission Flight to bring his project to a remote indigenous village in Huaynamota, Mexico. In addition, Brennan researched treatments for Autosomal Polycystic Kidney Disease at USC Medical School and presented a paper on repurposing FDA-approved drugs at the Southern California Academy of Sciences conference. Passionate about empathy and education, he aspires to become a pediatrician, blending compassion with innovation to improve children’s healthcare experiences. He plans to pursue a dual degree in Public Health and Political Humanities.

Carley Carmen Chavez-Williamson

Albuquerque, NM

Carley is guided by kindness and humility. Inspired by her older brother with special needs, she co-founded three inclusive programs: the Fossil Club, the Special Ed Peer Program, and the Science Speaker Symposium. Carley assists a UNM professor researching traumatic brain injury on speech, with findings to be published. She’s been a mentor in a community social skills program for six years and won Most Dedicated. Her team won the NM STEM Challenge for a first responder device. Passionate about classical guitar, Carley has earned state and national ensemble selections and co-founded the Guitar Club. Her writing, recognized by Scholastic, earned her two Gold Keys and an Honorable Mention. She plans to double major in classical guitar and speech pathology.

Derek Chen

Syosset, NY

Derek is a global leader and humanitarian committed to improving healthcare access in underserved communities. He co-founded and serves as the CEO of Statice Health International, an NGO comprising 4,000+ students across 200+ academic institutions dedicated to global health advancement. Derek advocates for youth representation at the United Nations and organizes the International Youth Conference–biannually engaging 20,000+ young leaders worldwide. As president of Syosset’s Global Health Club and Pre-Medical Society, he raised $15,000+ for Gift of Life International to fund lifesaving pediatric heart surgeries in under-resourced areas. Derek is a certified EMT, a Coolidge Senator, a Point of Light Honoree, and Newsday’s Hometown Hero.

Brandon Cheng

Los Angeles, CA

Brandon Cheng seeks to elevate the marketplace of ideas and engage with the pantheon of people and perspectives that shape America and the world. As Founding Executive Director of the East-West Forum, he leads a pen pal program reaching more than 7,000 students in Asia and North America. He also manages Academy 37, a free public speaking institute. Brandon serves as a voting member on L.A. Metro’s Public Safety Advisory Committee and has advised the City of San Marino, Harvard Graduate School of Education and Asian Youth Center. At school, he is the student body vice president, newspaper editor-in-chief and debate team captain. Brandon is honored to be an NSDA national champion and two-time finalist, Cameron Impact Scholar and Coolidge Senator.

Kristen Chun

Cambridge, MA

Kristen is a dedicated leader passionate about serving the community and driving impact through education, music, and science. As president of Continuo Music and Pro Musica Chamber Players, she has organized free performances for communities with limited access to music and led fundraising efforts for Feeding America. She advocates for STEM accessibility as the Executive Director of Biotech & Global Health Outreach. Kristen was selected as an oboist for the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute and currently works as a research intern at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Additionally, she is a Head Copy Editor of The Register Forum, a leader of her school’s HOSA chapter, and a captain of the varsity fencing team.

Tasanee Cogliandro

Kihei, HI

Tasanee Cogliandro is a passionate advocate for marginalized communities and a leader in her community. As founder of Youth4Hope, she has reached over 600 Hawaii youth with human trafficking awareness campaigns. Passionate about encouraging local youth to tackle issues important to their communities, Tasanee serves as an intern for U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, student body president, and Maui District Student Council Chairperson. As Youth President of the American Legion Auxiliary for Hawaii, Tasanee works to promote civics and women in government. Her work with Blue Planet Foundation’s Climate Crew advanced youth-led climate action. She plans to study international relations and law at the University of Chicago to advocate for vulnerable communities globally.

Sophia Craiutu

Bloomington, IN

Sophia is an advocate, political debater, figure skater, and writer. Sophia co-founded Global Learners, a nonprofit organization bringing current events education to K-8th graders. As the founder of a city government-sponsored program, NextGen Advocacy, she has published pieces on state legislation and lobbied in the Senate. Sophia is a research assistant, intern, and published author at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, a summer intern for a top Romanian law firm, a legislative ambassador for the American Cancer Society, a leader on her county’s youth council, and her school’s BridgeUSA club president. She will be a panelist at the 2025 iCivics National Forum in Palo Alto. Sophia plans to work as an international lawyer.

Hayden Crocker

Solana Beach, CA

Hayden Crocker is a nationally recognized sustainability advocate and community leader. He co-founded Go Greenish, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit driving sustainability initiatives in K-12 public schools, securing over $50,000 for site projects across 34 schools nationwide. Dedicated to environmental justice, Hayden spearheaded a project to combat data underrepresentation in San Diego by installing air sensors in public schools, ensuring equitable access to air quality data amid worsening wildfires. Hayden also serves as both student body president and student board representative for San Dieguito Union High School District, amplifying the voices of 13,000+ students district-wide. Hayden will be studying Earth Systems at Stanford this fall.

Jonathan De Caro

Moodus, CT

Jonathan De Caro made history as the youngest-ever United Nations Global Goals Ambassador, fearlessly challenging corruption to advance equitable healthcare worldwide. As the executive director of the largest youth-led economic development fund in Latin America, he spearheaded initiatives that lifted over 500 rural women out of poverty across 10 countries. Born to Brazilian immigrants and raised in the rural appalachian town of Moodus, Connecticut, Jonathan’s lived experiences with inequality ignited his relentless drive for systemic change. He believes there is “too much on the line to stay on the sidelines.” De Caro was named a Prudential Emerging Visionary, one of America’s Top 100 Students by Disney, and featured in Times Square twice.

Aarushi Dedhiya

Enola, PA

Aarushi is passionate about journalism, research, and health advocacy. Through her PennLive column, she shares local and national stories and covered the ABC News Presidential Debate. Fascinated by the intersection of science and health, Aarushi conducted chemical biology and biophysics research at Princeton and Carnegie Mellon. She also serves as the 2025 student representative on the PA State Board of Education, representing 1.7+ million K-12 students. Advocating for mental health support and free menstrual products, she brings a health-focused perspective to education policy. As the national president of Students Against Destructive Decisions, Aarushi designs projects to encourage healthy lifestyles and mobilizes communities nationwide.

Alexis DiPrima

Rosemead, CA

Alexis DiPrima is a relentless advocate for youth and marginalized voices. She is the Founder of three organizations, serving as CEO of VUELA (Visionaries Uniting & Empowering Leaders of America) as well as President of her school’s Hispanic Youth Leadership Council and her district’s Special Education Inclusion Council. Throughout high school, she has interned for the USC Shoah Foundation, a State Senate campaign, and YWCA San Gabriel Valley, additionally holding various positions in her school’s SAGATHS (Sisters Achieving Greatness Art Truth Health and Service) and Link Crew groups. She is a Gold Hispanic Heritage Foundation Youth Awardee, serves on two state education advisory boards, and intends to major in Political Science in college.

Ashton Dolce

Phoenix, AZ

Ashton is a civic advocate on various policy issues. Serving on FEMA’s National Youth Preparedness Council, Phoenix’s Youth & Education Commission, and Arizona’s Youth Arts Commission, Ashton centers youth voices in different policy spaces. Founding the Phoenix chapter of the Sunrise Movement, Ashton has lobbied officials, held rallies, and contacted voters, leading to the creation of Phoenix’s Extreme Heat Youth Council. Through The Polling Place, Ashton has also provided nonpartisan information on local elections to thousands of voters. Within school, Ashton serves as President of the National Art Honor Society, Speech and Debate Captain, and former Model UN President. In college, Ashton will major in Public Policy or Political Science.

Rose Downey

New Smyrna Beach, FL

Rose Downey is passionate about environmental justice, driven to create a sustainable future. After a traumatic brain injury left her without memory for nine months, her recovery inspired her to use her second chance to help others. Rose co-leads a nonprofit that has built over 50 garden beds to provide fresh produce to low-income individuals. For her efforts is empowering youth leadership by founding a town Junior Advisory Board, she was presented with the Mayors Award. This Spring, she will graduate with an AA degree while serving as Activities Office Director’s assistant, and head manager for men’s volleyball/soccer. An award-winning artist and former varsity golf captain, Rose plans to attend Duke University to study Environmental Law.

Emmanuel Edebiri

Minneapolis, MN

Emmanuel is an advocate for equity in healthcare, education, and STEM. Serving on the Minnesota Youth Council, he represents over 1.3 million youth in his state, voicing youth concerns to elected officials and state departments. Emmanuel continues to further his dedication to STEM through basic and clinical research, engaging in research at the University of Minnesota and working with clinical trials at the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation. Within his school, he works to support students’ needs through roles such as leading event planning as a founding member of the Diversity Council and teaching about mental health as President of the Mental Wellness Club. He’s been featured on channels such as CBS News in recognition of his work.

Eva Egozi

Miami, FL

Eva is a social entrepreneur creatively investing herself in positive change. Representing 89,000 students on the Youth Commission, Eva collaborates with Florida policymakers to expand educational access, recently distributing 1,000 supply-filled backpacks to Miami’s youth. A nationally ranked policy debater and state champion, Eva founded Florida’s first Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, launching Libros Para Latinas to promote sustainable language learning in Hispaniola through her hand-written storybooks. Her research on climate justice and postcolonial feminism has furthered her approach to systemic change. Eva will present at the 2025 UN Commission on the Status of Women and plans to study Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at UPenn.

Yohanna Endashaw

Morton Grove, IL

Yohanna Endashaw is a Christian and changemaker for health equity. She founded Uplifting Health, a global nonprofit that has donated 6,000 supplies, raised $8,000, and reached 4,000+. She is President of Research Investigators, UNICEF, and HOSA, bringing anxiety awareness to 700+ teens. She represents 4,600 students on the D219 Education Foundation and is a tutor and mentor. She is first chair violist and a recognized poet as 2-time Poetry Out Loud State Champion, Princeton Prize recipient, and Proclamation recipient from the IL General Assembly. She has conducted biochemistry research, completed Northwestern Medicine programs, and served as a Red Cross biomedical volunteer. Yohanna plans to study Global Health & Neuroscience while pre-med.

Jeremy Estep

Bonney Lake, WA

Jeremy Estep is a passionate advocate for social change. He lead a Suicide Prevention Campaign impacting over 60,000 high schools across North America and is a nationally recognized poet. At his senior center, he hosts Friday Night Bingo with over 35 weekly participants. Jeremy volunteers at nine elementary schools, organizing clothing drives and delivering over 1,000 items annually to students in need. Also, he works with children with social and learning disabilities, helping them improve their social skills and cognitive processing. As a Hebrew-English translator, he assists unhoused refugees in accessing essential care and supports homeless youth with wellness packs. He plans to major in astrophysics with a concentration in particle physics and quantum theory.

Thomas Evans

Frederick, MD

Thomas is dedicated to improving the lives of Hispanic youth through education and policy initiatives. As Vice-Chair of the Maryland Youth Advisory Council, Thomas advocates for legislation that supports youth in achieving the American Dream and leads youth engagement efforts for his county’s first $4.3 million youth center. Passionate about storytelling, he teaches English to over 120 immigrants at Centro Hispano, a local nonprofit. At Centro, he has also founded a piano program that plants the seeds for self-expression in Hispanic youth. In addition to his advocacy work, he DJs; and, inspired by the stories of his students, he writes poetry. In the fall, Thomas intends to major in economics while aspiring to become an immigration lawyer.

Ranye Ezenekwe

Westminster, CO

Ranye Ezenekwe is a humanitarian health advocate, UN High-Level Political Forum teen delegate, and legislative pioneer. As an International Ambassador of the Global Co Lab Network, Ranye galvanizes teens across six continents to advance the 17 UN SDGs through film, virtual reality, and educational programs reaching students as far as Uruguay and Nigeria. As the Vice Chair of the Colorado Youth Advisory Council’s Healthcare Committee, Ranye spent years drafting and advancing Colorado Bill SB25-0211 to the General Assembly, ratifying access to health literacy resources for 800,000+ youth into state law. A tennis state champion, Ranye channels this ambition into videography, animating multicultural perspectives with warmth and authenticity.

Olivia Feng

Appleton, WI

Olivia Feng is a servant changemaker and equity advocate. As President of the Appleton Youth Education Initiative, she launches free educational events to bridge opportunity gaps, from international hackathons to health-focused career field trips. Believing that healthy living is a human right, she founded Wellness Equity Care to connect underserved Parkinson’s patients with accessible dance therapy. As Wisconsin HOSA’s State VP of Service, she leads 5,000+ members in impactful service initiatives. With Wisconsin Providers and Teens Communicating for Health, she organizes workshops on healthcare rights, advises health organizations on adolescent health issues, and spearheads projects like developing accessible health education modules.

Matthew Fischer

Issaquah, WA

Matthew is a civic-minded leader who is passionate about community support systems and environmental sustainability. As the director of the non-profit tutoring organization PeerGuide, he has connected over 350 underserved students worldwide with 275 caring tutors to support them academically and emotionally. Matthew is also the co-founder of God’s Apparel, an eco-conscious Christian clothing brand with over $30,000 in revenue and a mission of spreading joy. He has published research on and is actively patenting a nuclear fusion engine at the Northwest Nuclear Laboratories in an effort to work toward net-positive clean energy production. Matthew also enjoys serving as a Freelance Photographer, Student Body President, Eagle Scout, and Varsity Cross Country Athlete.

Giovanna Franco

Omaha, NE

Giovanna is a student-athlete from Omaha South High School with a passion for sports medicine and forensic science. As a leader in student council, she organized her school’s first-ever blood drive, demonstrating her commitment to community service and healthcare accessibility. Her research interests focus on sports injuries, particularly labrum tears, and improving treatment options. She plans to double major in sports medicine and forensic science, combining her love for athletics and investigative science to help others. Whether supporting athletes’ recovery or solving forensic cases, Giovanna is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in her community and beyond.

Finán Gammell

East Greenwich, RI

Finán is a dedicated researcher and passionate leader. He has conducted research at URI’s College of Pharmacy, Brown University’s Genomics and Machine Intelligence Lab, and Tufts Medical Center through MIT’s Research Science Institute. His bioinformatics research earned acceptance to graduate-level conferences plus recognition as a Regeneron STS Top 40 Scholar. Beyond research, Finán shares scientific curiosity in his community–founding a Science Fair Club and launching a middle school outreach program. He also serves as Class and Student Council President. In his free time, Finán enjoys working out, spending time with friends, and playing lacrosse. This fall, he will attend Harvard to study Economics and Molecular & Cellular Biology.

Asha Gandreti

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Asha is an emerging leader in the healthcare field, committed to supporting marginalized communities worldwide. She is the founder/president of Young Voices for Hospice, a national youth leadership board based in Florida. She is the director of educational programs at Girls Who Start International, a 501(c)(3) supporting thousands of young women interested in entrepreneurship. Asha has an active presence in school as the Girls Who Start club president, Help for Hospice founder/president, a tutoring program co-president (for foster children), orchestra co-president, National English Honor Society officer, Technology Student Association sergeant-at-arms/biotech team captain, and more. Asha will study Health Care Policy at Cornell in the fall.

Amogh Ganjikunta

Fairfield, CT

Amogh is a Technology entrepreneur and Eagle Scout who believes in the power of technology to improve nascent fields. He has founded and currently leads EducateHacks, an international Education Technology hackathon event which has had a cumulative 5000+ participants and has been sponsored by groups like Google and DeepAI. Additionally, he has founded and sold Schoolyard, an Education Technology startup that launched a high school community building app which had the support of organizations like Amazon AWS. He has also worked at various startups, sings in his school’s choir, is a third degree black belt, writes and blogs, does political canvassing, and is involved with biking and outdoor groups across Connecticut.

Sarah Gao

San Diego, CA

Sarah Gao is passionate about leveraging environmental engineering to address issues like desertification and access to clean water. For her research on creating sustainable hydrogels to improve soil water retention, Sarah was recognized by the EPA at ISEF and selected as a Regeneron STS Scholar. She is president of the Greater San Diego Science & Engineering Fair Student Leadership Board and serves as a NOAA fellow. At the Summer Science Program, Sarah conducted biochemistry research, designing molecules to prevent fungi from infecting crops. Beyond STEM, Sarah loves history and law–she’s excited to represent California at the US Senate Youth Program. Sarah plans to major in computer science, environmental engineering, and public policy.

Kaleb Gebresillasie

Phoenix, AZ

Kaleb Gebresillasie is an Ethiopian-American currently living in Phoenix. As a leader, Kaleb is the Chair of Arizona’s Board of Education Student Advisory Panel, representing 1.4 million students on educational policy matters, and was selected as a Bank of America Student Leader. As a writer, Kaleb is a 2025 YoungArts Winner and an alum of Kenyon Young Writers and the Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship. His biggest accomplishment to date is surrounding himself with driven and compassionate people who inspire him to grow. In the future, Kaleb hopes to create a consulting firm to support entrepreneurs in Africa through strategic guidance and funding, and to assist international companies entering African markets with investment incentives.

Asia Genawi

Indianapolis, IN

Asia is a Sudanese activist and researcher dedicated to AI, social responsibility, and policy. As the IN Executive Director of Encode Justice, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, she has led efforts to integrate AI guidelines into IN education policy, including crafting IN House Bill 1296 and publishing a legislative analysis paper on AI in K-12 schools. Recognized by the IN Senate, Asia has spearheaded several youth gun violence prevention initiatives on behalf of the Indianapolis MYLC, collaborating with 15+ organizations and earning support from the IN Pacers. At Yale University’s Wright Lab, she conducts computational nuclear physics research for the international Project-8 consortium. She will be majoring in Computer Science at Columbia University.

Arya Goyal

Scarsdale, NY

Arya Goyal is a dedicated Speech & Debate competitor, having placed first in New York and sixth at the National Tournament of Champions. She has played the violin since she was five, performing in All-State orchestra and bringing modern composers like Aaron Copland to life. When she’s not playing music, she’s perfecting her tornado kick as a black belt in Tae Kwon Do (because why not?). Arya is also involved in local politics and is interning with Congressional Representative George Latimer, helping with community outreach. Whether through music, policy, or debate, Arya hopes to make an impact on her community–ideally using her voice for good, her violin for fun, and her tornado kick only when absolutely necessary.

Andrew Grau

Coal Valley, IL

Andrew Grau is a curious learner and enthusiastic leader committed to sharing his passion for STEM within his community. As Co-Founder of Beyond The Student, a non-profit STEM tutoring organization for struggling elementary school children, he’s opened a world of problem-solving to more than 60 students. Andrew drives community outreach efforts for his FTC robotics team by collaborating with Fortune 500 professionals and hosting engineering workshops at underrepresented schools across the Quad Cities. Serving as his school’s NHS Treasurer, he raised over $60,000 to clothe almost 400 underprivileged students, and as a Boy Scout he orchestrated the repair of local park recreation equipment, impacting over 73,000 community members annually.

Grace Ham

Bellmore, NY

Grace Ham is a senior in high school on Long Island, NY. She has been recognized by dignitaries from County Legislatures to Presidents for her Scouting America Eagle Scout Award designation. Additionally, Grace contributes to her local community through volunteer firefighting. In school, Grace is an all-division athlete in track & field. She also has a passion for the arts as Drama Club President, Crew Head, and playing the alto saxophone in her school’s Wind Ensemble. Grace was among the few students that had the honor of playing at Carnegie Hall earlier this year. She stays competitive in academics as an honor roll student herself and a tutor for elementary school math to AP-level curriculum for students with learning disabilities.

Gabriella Hample

Pittsburgh, PA

Gabriella (Gella) Hample worked to redesign city plans better equipped to address the homelessness crisis, promoting harm-reduction strategies and creating resources. She has researched psychological safety in educational environments, been recognized for the American Voices Award, and illustrated a few children’s books. Gella has championed various FBLA and TSA events, fences foil in PIFA, and helped to found her school’s largest organization, Pickleball Club. She is a student ambassador, a volunteer photographer, and colorguard captain, but in her free time, she enjoys painting, hiking, and MMA. She hopes to become an oncologist, fulfilling her passion for patient autonomy and combating the rise of neo-paternalism in healthcare.

Grant Harper

Glasgow, KY

Proud Barren County, Kentucky native Grant Harper, serves over 500,000 members in his role as National & Kentucky President of the National Beta Club. Additionally he serves as a Regional Vice President for Future Business Leaders of America, Swim Team Captain, and participates in numerous activities in his school and community. He is working to publish research on the straight-ticket voting option’s impact on local elections, conducted while earning the AP Capstone Diploma. Grant aims to use his experiences in leadership, academics, and his community to create tangible solutions. In high school alone, Grant has obtained over 300 hours of documented community service, in hopes of inspiring his generation to lead by serving others.

Kamryn Harris

Kansas City, MO

Kamryn is a dedicated student leader, biomedical engineering major, and future physician who hopes to attend the University of Southern California this fall. Passionate about bridging medicine and technology, she aspires to advance neurological research and improve treatments for mental health conditions like ADHD. As Leadership Chair of the National Honor Society and Vice President of the Black Student Coalition, she fosters mentorship, service, and inclusivity. As a National AP Scholar and Dartmouth College Book Award recipient, she balances academic excellence with athletics as a captain in both track and golf. Through healthcare volunteering and research, she is committed to global health, innovation, and advocacy in medicine.

Carolyn He

Randolph, NJ

Carolyn He combines data-driven action with empathetic servant leadership. Her globally-recognized nonprofit–A Sustainable Future–has saved 1.7M+ sheets of paper and upskilled 98k students in eco-advocacy. More broadly, whether researching wildfire vegetal disruptions with NASA or mapping heavy metal exposure as a NJ Governor STEM Scholar, she’s proud to anchor climate solutions in defensible science. As President of Women in STEM and national youth council member of Project Green Schools and the Jane Goodall Institute, Carolyn is equally passionate about combatting “activism anxiety” for the 750k+ youth she serves, representing them worldwide at COP28, SXSW EDU, DOE, and the UN. She envisions a future where empathetic climate communication is the norm.

Jimmy Helferty

Malvern, PA

Jimmy Helferty is a passionate changemaker who champions financial equality for underserved communities. He co-founded Financial Literacy 4 All, an advocacy group focused on economically empowering students with learning needs through tailored financial literacy in high schools. Jimmy has met with policymakers and education leaders to advocate for inclusive policies in Supplemental Security Income, special education grants, and curricula in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Additionally, Jimmy is a three-time DECA International medalist, presenter at the IEEE Junior Conference, and author of Money Moves, a children’s book on economics. In his free time, Jimmy is an avid classical pianist and world explorer (Google Maps scroller).

Katherine Hinton

Fayetteville, AR

Katherine Hinton, a compassionate leader from Fayetteville, Arkansas, is devoted to spreading kindness and uplifting others. At Fayetteville High School, she fostered school spirit, organized pep rallies, and actively participated in over 20 clubs and honor societies, earning over 300 service hours. She tutored Ukrainian students through ENGin, mentored middle schoolers via DAWG Crew, and built meaningful connections in the BeeHive program, supporting neurodivergent students. Katherine’s unwavering empathy and open heart guided her efforts, allowing her to create inclusive spaces where everyone feels valued, supported, and encouraged to thrive.

Haden Hodge

Hurricane, WV

Haden is deeply passionate about politics and public policy. Haden has involved himself in state and federal level politics to develop political leadership skills. In 2024, Haden authored a piece of legislation and introduced it into the West Virginia State Legislature. Haden spoke, lobbied, and wrote in defense of the bill and eventually was successful in earning passage. It was signed into law by the Governor of West Virginia. Haden was elected Governor of Boys State and Senator to Boys Nation. Haden deeply loves Jesus and speaks in churches all over his region. He is the author of a Christian book titled SET APART, where he encourages Christians in their walk with Jesus in a world that is increasingly negative towards Christians.

Natalie Hodge-Hannula

Anchorage, AK

Natalie Hannula of Anchorage Alaska is a dedicated advocate for youth empowerment, education, and suicide prevention. The founder of Keys to the Future, a nonprofit that has served over 30 rural Alaskan communities through 25+ virtual and 10 in-person workshops, she works to equip underserved youth with essential life skills for life after 18. Her leadership has earned her a $2,000 grant for continued nonprofit work, and the 2025 Spirit of Youth Award nominee. A NHS National Finalist, and Valedictorian of her class, she serves as President of both the NHS and YANA (You Are Not Alone) chapters at her school. The Stories of Youth Liaison and article writer for YAHA with the AK Department of Public Health, she believes we are the future–and that future begins today.

Ruby Honjol

Irvine, CA

Ruby is an ambitious scientist, advocate, and storyteller, restoring the “care” in healthcare. An International Biomedicine Olympiad winner, she has published Hepatic Cancer research at clinics across Oxford, UCL, and Global Metaverses. As a Cleveland Clinic and CHOC intern, she collaborates with doctors to innovate in precision medicine, genomics, & AI. She prototyped SuturE CURE–the world’s 1st nanotechnology-powered, self-repairing surgical mesh. Ruby also co-organized the UAE’s largest conference educating 800+ aspiring medics, and founded Books Break Borders–the 1st student-led libraries with 15,000+ books across 7 underserved countries. Through her MedVentures initiative, Ruby empowers 5000+ people across 70 countries with free, multilingual health education.

Johnny Honnold

Mission Hills, KS

Whether it’s law or public policy, Johnny loves everything government. He served our country as a U.S. Senate Page in Washington DC which allowed him to witness our government function firsthand. He has also volunteered with the Midwest Innocence Project in KC for several summers helping free those who have been wrongfully convicted. Johnny founded a sock collection project that has donated over 10k pairs of socks to the homeless in KC to date. At school, Johnny serves as the captain of the Mock Trial, Model UN, Lincoln Douglas Debate, Swim, and Golf teams. Johnny is a Boys Nation Senator, a National Merit Finalist, a Coolidge Senator, an NSDA Academic All-American, and a published author. Johnny plans on studying Ethics, Politics, and Economics at Yale in the fall.

Carlos Hsieh

El Paso, TX

Carlos Hsieh founded LOGRAR Project, a pro-bono business analytics consulting service uplifting minority and women entrepreneurs, impacting 15+ businesses, raising revenues by ~$4.5K, and securing $25K in microloans. He’s the startup founder of CareerCoachAI.org, a free AI platform expanding employment opportunities for 3K+ Title 1 HS students. Carlos serves on the Texas Association of Student Councils Conference Coordinator Board and District 9 Student Council Board, helping organize a ~5K-attendee, $250K statewide student leadership conference in Arlington, TX. He’s a National Hispanic Institute State Mock Trial Finalist, a Notre Dame Leadership Seminar alum, and has been recognized by Congresswoman Veronica Escobar. This fall, Carlos plans to study data science.

Brian Huang

Boston, MA

Inspired by his upbringing rooted in service, Brian is passionate about leveraging journalism and technology to promote social impact in his hometown of Boston. Elected as Editor-in-chief of MA Boys State, he led the publication of The Citizen to encourage storytelling and community-building. As a researcher, he published a paper to analyze educational inequalities in U.S. public schools using Geographic Information Systems to provide recommendations for policymakers. He served as a board member on Boston Public School’s Youth Civic Council, a reporter with the Asian American Journalist Association’s JCamp, and an innovator with Citizen University’s Youth Collaboratory. Brian will be attending the University of Pennsylvania this fall.

Addison Huff

Austin, TX

Addison measures her success by her impact on others. A dedicated team player, she seeks to improve herself and those around her by leading by example. Addison has initiated several environmental improvement efforts and recruited hundreds of volunteers to enhance the Texas ecosystem. She is a multiple-time President’s Volunteer Gold Service Award recipient who enjoys camping, trail running, and spending time at the lake with friends. Addison began learning Arabic in Jordan through the NSLI-Y Scholarship and expanded her STEM knowledge via the MIT Women’s Technology Program, focusing on clean energy transportation. She plans to attend Stanford University in the fall to gain skills that will help her create a company that betters the world.

Arthur Ilyasov

Suwanee, GA

Arthur is passionate about using engineering to support his community and beyond. As a volunteer–and now chapter president and international voting board member–for e-NABLE, he works to design and donate 3D printed prosthetics and splints to help amputees in Ukraine’s warzones. Researching robotics at Georgia Tech and Emory University, Arthur has developed novel sensors for bipedal humanoid robots, and most passionately, a steerable concentric tube robot for minimally invasive neurosurgery. Arthur has served as lead engineer of his 2x state champion FIRST Robotics Team, ranking 8th in the world. Additionally, he heads his school’s Science Olympiad team and is a member on his school advisory team. Arthur will pursue engineering in college.

Anastasia Ivanova

Miami, FL

Anastasia, a proud half-Venezuelan, half-Ukrainian Miamian, is a passionate advocate for disability empowerment and serving those in need. As the Founder and President of her school’s Best Buddies Chapter and Co-Chair of the Best Buddies Miami Student Advisory Board, she fosters inclusion for disabled youth through volunteer activities and media awareness campaigns. She also serves as the Community Service Chair of her District’s Student Government, educating the 377,000 Miami-Dade students on volunteerism and service. As the decorated President of her Model United Nations team, she leads policy-driven discourse at competitions. Anastasia is a Carson Scholar, CHCI Junior Alumna, HSF YLI Scholar, and 2025 Silver Knight nominee in Journalism.

Rinaz Jamal

Franklin, TN

Driven by the philosophy of Ubuntu–“I am because we are”–Rinaz founded the 501(c)(3) Ubuntu For Humanity when she was 13, helping build schools in Sierra Leone and Mali, supporting teachers’ training, and sponsoring quality education for youth worldwide. As a dedicated neuroscience researcher, Rinaz has written several papers on mental health and neurodegenerative diseases, including a peer-reviewed paper investigating critical transitions in depressive symptoms. In addition to serving as President of Speech & Debate and Science Olympiad at her school, she is a passionate musician, playing first chair flutist/piccoloist in prestigious All-State ensembles. Rinaz is excited to attend Columbia University in the fall, majoring in Neuroscience.

Prabanjan Jayachandran

Zionsville, IN

Prabanjan “Prab” Jayachandran is an entrepreneur bridging communities and expanding research access. He’s the co-CEO of NextGen Education LLC, a $3.2MM startup that has reached 100,000+ students and connected 600+ high schoolers with research at T30 and Ivy League schools. As CEO of Orostone LLC, Prab has reached 30,000+ users through his app portfolio, including QuickSports (sports networking) and Voxify (text-to-speech). He also leads his school’s Entrepreneurship Club and is a published IEEE author, a BPA multi-event champion, a PE intern, a Coolidge Senator, and a Buildspace International Finalist. In the future, Prab hopes to build a venture capital firm dedicated to uplifting B2C startups and producing world-class organizations.

Morgan Johnson

Wagoner, OK

Morgan is a student at Wagoner High School in Oklahoma. Outside of school, he’s served as Scouting America’s National Lead Journalist, overseeing a team of twenty writers, publishing content that reaches over 160,000 members, and emphasizing equitable representation by highlighting local member stories across gender, ability, and nationality. An Eagle Scout, Morgan has directed the National Youth Leadership Training course and serves in various regional and national roles. Cultivating a passion for public policy, he became the fourth Oklahoman in history to be elected President of the American Legion Boys Nation Program. He has also led WHS to four straight Quiz Bowl state championship games. Morgan will attend Harvard University in the fall.

Reem Kamil Kirja

Iowa City, IA

Reem Kirja is a dedicated advocate and leader committed to equity and policy reform. From age 10 to 14, Reem led The NSE Campaign, successfully advocating for district-wide days off on Muslim holidays, earning national support from 7,000 individuals for her activism. Reem is also the Chief Financial Officer for Pulse, a 2024 U.S. Senate Youth Program Delegate, the Director of West Student Fund–securing $10,000+ for extracurricular accessibility–and the co-Director of Voices of the Nile, working with key orgs. like the US Department of State Bureau of African Affairs. Reem is the Spokesperson of Zhive Media, hosting nation-wide webinars with 500+ attendees each. Reem hopes to become a Physician-Executive and policymaker, passing equitable healthcare legislation.

Anna Kardashyan

Anchorage, AK

Anna Kardashyan is an Armenian immigrant, advocate, and leader dedicated to driving policy change. At the Arctic Encounter Symposium, North America’s largest Arctic policy and business convening, Anna helps unite over 1,000 global leaders, including ambassadors, senators, and scientists, to address critical security and economic issues. A four-time published author, she leads statewide climate initiatives in Alaska. Anna also served as Senator Murkowski’s Senate Page for a semester in the U.S. Senate. In Anchorage Youth Court, a youth-led restorative justice system, she works as Vice President, Board Director, Presiding Judge, and Attorney, handling real court cases. Anna plans to study international relations and data science at Stanford.

Khedaar Kashyap

Morgan Hill, CA

Khedaar Kashyap is a researcher and advocate for solving societal problems. As a researcher, he works on deep-sky exploration (at UCSC, NASA, & more) at the intersection of astrophysics and machine learning, building efficient, low-cost pipelines to uncover the cosmos. He’s presented at 4 conferences and is a Regeneron ISEF Grand Award winner. Khedaar founded the 501(c)3 nonprofit SVPSO, where he taught public speaking to local students, expanded the program nationally and partnered with ENGin to teach Ukrainian teenagers. He raised and donated aid and books to help students in Ukraine, Sudan, Venezuela, and Boys & Girls Clubs. Khedaar displays his rhythm through the mridangam. He’s a local STEM educator and three-event nationally-ranked public speaker by the NSDA.

Sharon Katoh-Jones

Beaumont, TX

Sharon Katoh-Jones is from the Houston area and plans to major in Electrical Engineering with a focus on biomedical technologies to further her goal of developing affordable medical technologies that improve global healthcare access. Her most notable accomplishment is founding Healing Hands, a nonprofit that provides equitable access to healthcare resources. Sharon helped develop an AI therapy bot and has been involved in white labeling the technology to extend its reach. She led research in EEG-based biofeedback to help find new mental health care solutions. Sharon is committed to creating sustainable solutions that improve lives. With a strong foundation in both technology and social impact, she continues to seek ways to bridge gaps in healthcare.

Varenya Katta

Concord, NC

Varenya Katta is an ambitious researcher, entrepreneur, and leader transforming neuroscience and healthcare. His research spans clinical care models at UNC Health, cognitive bias shifts from misinformation through the U.S. Army, and Alzheimer’s pathology. As the creator of NeuroGuard, a patent-pending surgical assistance technology backed by private investors, he is redefining surgical precision. A passionate advocate for equitable education, he led initiatives to introduce specialized biology curricula in India, raising thousands to expand access. At school, he has held leadership positions in five clubs, currently serving as president of DECA and FBLA. With plans to study Neuroscience and Economics, Varenya is committed to driving global healthcare innovation.

Samantha Kayne

Cincinnati, OH

Samantha Kayne is a service-minded leader dedicated to removing barriers to equity for women and marginalized groups. She is the founder of NextGenWomen Professionals, a nonprofit empowering hundreds of girls from under-resourced communities through connection to women professionals from diverse industries. She was also appointed to a government commission where she drafted legislation removing barriers facing working-class youth. She is an advocate for the use of data-driven research to inform public policy. A published author, her research has focused on socioeconomic factors influencing decision-making when hiring individuals with criminal records. Samantha is also a three-sport varsity athlete. She will attend Yale University this fall.

Emilia Kim

Tucson, AZ

Emilia Kim is an environmental activist dedicated to creating positive change. As Co-Director of AZ’s largest youth climate nonprofit, she has lobbied for the most comprehensive school climate resolution in America, collaborated with the US State Department’s MENA delegation, and has been featured in Yale Climate Connections and Teen Vogue. Beyond the environment, Emilia serves as Co-Chair of the Governor’s Youth Commission on Substance Use Prevention and as President of the County Education Commission. Her documentaries on AI and education have garnered national recognition from CSPAN. At school, Emilia founded newspaper club and is President of Mock Trial. This fall, Emilia will continue her advocacy journey by studying political science.

Elena Klopfenstein

Cameron, AZ

Elena Klopfenstein is a social justice advocate from the Navajo (Diné) Nation. She spearheaded Rezbotics, bringing STEM to Indigenous youth, forming 20+ teams, and organizing the first all-indigenous robotics region, uniting 150+ students. 3 of her teams reached the World Championships, with her own team winning the Impact Award World Championship Award and awarding her the Allaire Medal. Elena is a strong STEM policy advocate, playing a key role in passing the CHIPS Act, increasing ESSA funding, organizing the Arizona Advocacy Conference, and promoting STEM at the Pentagon. With her love for nature, she is an extreme river rafter, serving as a cultural specialist, leading youth trips, and addressing issues impacting the Colorado Plateau.

Veda Kommineni

Edwardsville, IL

Veda Kommineni is a student leader and policy advocate dedicated to equity. She founded Veda’s Care Closet in 8th grade to provide essentials for students in need and launched Pads for Progress with I Support The Girls to combat period poverty globally. As a legislative advocate, Veda has worked to advance menstrual equity, pushing for increased access to period products in Illinois schools. In addition to policymaking, Veda serves as editor-in-chief of her yearbook and teaches at Bal Vihar, where she fosters cultural understanding among young students. She also helped her Ethics Bowl team qualify for the National competition. She plans to major in global affairs, using her voice to drive systemic change and build more inclusive communities.

Jack Krauss

Hot Springs, AR

Jack Krauss is incredibly passionate about advocacy for the intersection between medical and humanitarian issues. This passion led him to work with the Syrian Emergency Task Force for five years to lead efforts in awareness events, foreign aid, and education for displaced Syrian citizens. Beyond humanitarian work, Jack–an advocate for equal educational opportunities–enjoys conducting collaborative academic research in ethnic and financial education, and he has worked in US Senator Boozman’s Congressional Youth Cabinet as the Chair of Education to help mend Arkansas’s educational disparities. Jack is looking forward to attending Harvard University to study Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, and he plans to later attend medical school.

Anna Krolik

San Diego, CA

Anna Krolik is passionate about the intersection of neuroscience, AI, and robotics. At Scripps Research, she employs bioinformatics to analyze brain MRI datasets, investigating connections between neural biomarkers and alcohol-related diagnoses to bridge computational approaches with clinical understanding. As captain of her robotics team, Anna leads AI-driven projects and develops robotics programming curricula for underserved communities. She also teaches python programming to Afghan girls through a remote learning platform she co-created, called Mission to Mars. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, crocheting, and playing piano.

Vaishnavi Kumbala

Metairie, LA

Vaishnavi is an advocate for mental health resource access, utilizing tech, policy, and journalism as outlets for increasing awareness. She developed Saplings, a teen mental health app that has partnered with schools globally and collaborated with government agencies and Fortune 500 companies. Saplings has been featured in The Washington Post, NBC News, and the US Capitol. Vaishnavi’s writing has been published in The New York Times, Teen Vogue, and Business Insider. She has co-written Louisiana laws around mental health resource access and is currently working on Congressional legislation. Having represented youth on federal councils with FEMA and youth.gov, Vaishnavi is passionate about using her voice to support community well-being.

Kayla Lee

Reno, NV

Kayla is passionate about government accountability, crimmigration, and access to justice. She has expanded prison education and journalism, co-developing liberal arts curricula taught to 1,200+ incarcerated individuals nationwide. As a steering committee member for the NV Prison Education Project and education advisory board member for NV’s Dept. of Corrections, she secured $25,000+ in grants, organized prison classes across the state, and co-drafted 2025 legislation, with work featured in The New York Times. Kayla loves to write, and serves as co-founder and editor-in-chief for her school newspaper. She has also interned with legal aid groups, international think tanks, and the Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center to study immigration policy.

Temple Lester

Tucker, GA

Temple Lester is a remarkable and accomplished teenager, celebrated for her innovation and advocacy in STEM. As the creator of “STEM Girl Swag” and the visionary behind the STEM Swag Box, she has distinguished herself as an entrepreneur, public speaker, and science communicator. Temple’s passion for science ignited at a young age, leading her to establish www.JustTemple.com in third grade, a platform dedicated to inspiring her peers, particularly girls, to embrace STEM fields. Through her free science workshops, engaging social media presence, and inspiring motivational talks, Temple has reached over hundreds of thousand individuals around the world, spreading the excitement and importance of STEM education far and wide.

Myla Leung

Potomac, MD

Myla is founder of Climate Health Education Initiative, empowering K-12 students through environmental education. On Capitol Hill, she lobbied the USDA, EOP, and Representatives for the $10M Healthy Future Students and Earth Act (H.R.3276). Selected as 1 of 9 School Food Youth Advocates, she advises the World Food Programme and FAO on school nutrition worldwide. She has also served as an MD Sierra Club Youth Council Member, Chesapeake Bay Student Leader & EarthEcho Ambassador. At school, she is Families4Families Co-President, collecting hundreds of pounds of groceries, Science Olympiad Captain, NHS President & UNICEF Co-President. She is a Girl Scout Gold Awardee, T. Colin Campbell Nutrition Scholar, U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate & 2x Gold PVSA recipient.

Julia Lever

Madison, MS

Julia Lever is a passionate leader who creates opportunities for youth in her area. She is the founder of the Gluckstadt Mayor’s Youth Council which gives youth a voice in local government. She serves as president of her Speech and Debate team, Spanish Club, World Culture Club, Chess Club, Mu Alpha Theta and captain of Science Olympiad at her school. Julia founded Young Women’s Leadership, an inclusion club dedicated to empowering and connecting young women. As founder of non profit Project Pink, she addressed and researched the availability of feminine products in schools statewide. She will major in policial science at Columbia University this fall. In her free time, she enjoys sewing, swimming and keeping up with political issues.

Bodhi Lewis

Santa Fe, NM

Bodhi Lewis is an aspiring physician with a drive to learn from and serve global communities. He started working towards an equitable, environmentally conscious, and compassionate future for all through international diplomacy programs to Ecuador and Cuba. He promotes discourse on climate change, access to healthy food, and healthcare as a city council advisor and as a journalist. Bodhi runs varsity cross country, enjoys hiking and skiing, and plays the electric bass in two bands. He is a youth soccer referee, and he teaches sailing in northern Michigan during the summer. Bodhi hopes to pursue studies that intertwine biomedical and environmental sciences, and use his Spanish fluency to help address the social drivers of health worldwide.

Patrick Li

Greenwood Village, CO

Patrick Li is a passionate fencer, mentor, and community leader dedicated to expanding opportunities for others. A nationally ranked fencer with multiple state titles and national points, he has spent the past eight years not only competing at a high level but also working to make the sport more accessible to underrepresented communities, including low-income and disabled athletes. Patrick serves on the youth board for the Young Americans Center, an organization that provides financial literacy programs across Colorado. He is a three time AIME qualifier with distinction (top 1% in the world). In college, Patrick plans to major in behavioral economics, exploring the psychology behind decision-making and its impact on business and finance.

Andrew Lin

Suwanee, GA

Andrew is a first-generation student exploring the intersection of technology, education, and equity. He co-founded BLSTOFF, an AI startup offering resources for underrepresented entrepreneurs with $30,000 in funding. A MITES alum, he has utilized GIS to analyze education disparities nationwide and published a research article on brain-computer interfaces with MIT. Within his community, Andrew has presented his findings on education and housing affordability to Atlanta leaders and hosted multiple free STEM workshops. He has served as a swim coach for both the Special Olympics and his middle school team, Lil’ Horns. Alongside balancing three jobs, he is also an AIME Qualifier, Cyberstart National Scholar with Honors, and STAR student.

Sophia Lin

Scottsdale, AZ

Sophia Lin is a passionate advocate for education equality. She represents 1.4+ million students as an Arizona student advisor for both the State Board of Education and State Board for Charter Schools, Governor’s Youth Commission Vice President, and Scottsdale Mayor’s Youth Council President. She co-founded the 400+ member education nonprofit, iReach, delivered/hosted TEDx talks, interned for Congressman Stanton, and created an AI model to predict high school dropouts. Sophia is the Voice of Democracy audio essay National Champion, a Diana Award Recipient, a US Senate Youth Program Delegate, the Distinguished Young Woman of Arizona, and a top 11 National Speech and Debate Association speaker. Sophia plans to study Policy and Data Science.

Frank Lin

Suwanee, GA

Frank is a researcher and engineer with a passion for exploring innovative ideas and tackling complex challenges. He has designed prototypes for various missions and collaborated with professors at many institutions on research across material science, computational modeling, and applied physics. As a captain of his school’s Physics Team, Frank enjoys creating a supportive environment for everyone to grow. Outside of academics, he is a chef who enjoys experimenting in the kitchen and an athlete who stays active. He also loves to travel and explore new places. This fall, Frank will be attending Stanford University.

Rohit Lobo

Chester Springs, PA

Rohit Lobo is a dedicated leader and advocate for public health and emergency medical services. As a founder of Project CleanSlate, a nonprofit combating the opioid epidemic through community education and narcan training, he has made an immense impact in his community. As Battalion Chief of the Uwchlan Ambulance Corps Junior Program, he has expanded youth involvement in EMS and served his community as an EMT. Rohit also serves as the Vice President of Pennsylvania HOSA, helping lead over 4,500 aspiring healthcare professionals to network and explore career pathways. In his free time, Rohit enjoys playing volleyball, going to the beach, and spending time with friends. This fall, he plans to pursue a career in medicine and continue his interest in patient advocacy.

Ryan Loughran

Orinda, CA

Ryan Loughran is a dedicated leader passionate about public service, debate, and sustainability. As President of his school’s debate program and Model UN, he has mentored students while competing at the highest levels, placing top 14 at Nationals and earning awards at major conferences. Ryan serves as a Student Representative on the school board, voicing student concerns. As an Eagle Scout, he led environmental initiatives to promote conservation. Through his internships with the California State Assembly and Senate, Ryan engaged in policymaking and constituent advocacy. This fall, he will study Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania to further his commitment to crafting policy and driving meaningful change.

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Imanga Lufungulo

Toledo, OH

Imanga Lufungulo is a dedicated advocate for equity and social justice. As a STEM DRC volunteer webmaster, she secured donations to fund 180 scholarships for Congolese students. She developed apps with MIT FutureMakers, won 1st in the MIT/SureStart Data Jam, and is a 2x NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Rising Star. She also served as a Civics & Social Justice Intern at TurnUp Activism. This past summer, Imanga spoke as the sole youth panelist at the Entiska Foundation Youth Fellowship in South Africa. At school, she’s Executive Student Council Secretary, African American Club President, Link Crew Leader, and ambassador–all while performing in musicals and managing her small business! Imanga plans to study computer science in college.

Aubrey Manchester

Kalkaska, MI

Aubrey Manchester is an exceedingly involved and dedicated student at Kalkaska High School in Northern Michigan. She is a captain of the varsity basketball, softball, volleyball, and dance teams. She serves as Secretary of the National Honor Society and has been Student Council President since freshman year. Aubrey is also a leader on the Youth Advisory Council and Regional Youth Advisory Council through the Grand Traverse Regional Foundation. She holds the title of Miss Kalkaska, is a student ambassador for the Health and Wellness Committee, and a National Ambassador for Epilepsy Awareness. She plans to pursue a doctorate in Physical Therapy at Central Michigan University or Saginaw Valley State University.

Kevin Martinez

Montgomery, IL

Kevin Martinez is an ambitious senior at East Aurora High School in Aurora, Illinois. From a humble first-generation, low-income Hispanic background, his resilient mindset has earned him the position of valedictorian among 1,000 students with a weighted GPA of 4.9. Kevin has expressed his leadership abilities on the Aurora Youth Council and as a dedicated youth soccer coach and referee. His involvement in the LEDA Scholars Program, Disney Dreamers Academy, and Trio Upward Bound highlights his commitment to empowering underrepresented communities. He plans to attend Harvard University to explore the intersection of law and finance to drive equitable change with the ultimate goal of inspiring others to embrace the belief that “si se puede.”

Ava Martoma

Boca Raton, FL

Ava is an engineer, changemaker, and advocate for children of incarcerated parents. As co-founder of KidsMates, she has led literacy initiatives across 23 states and championed policies keeping families connected. A Youth Fellow for Worth Rises and the Osborne Association, she has published research on prison design and justice reform in Prison Legal News and RISE News. Additionally, Ava has explored research at Harvard, MIT, and Duke, focusing on using fluid dynamics to optimize vehicle design. She spends her free time building in her makerspace, designing wood-based art, and pushing the boundaries of creativity. This fall, Ava plans to study mechanical engineering, using it as a tool to create social change within communities.

Conner Mattox

Altavista, VA

Driven by a passion for politics and civil engagement, Conner represents over 1.1 million students as an advisor to the Virginia Department of Education, appointed by Governor Youngkin. He also serves as a national board advisor to the Y-USA, advocating for the interest of the 4 million youth members. As a city planning commissioner, he pushes for environmental sustainability. He has successfully authored two youth-led bills that were presented in the Virginia House of Delegates, and represented Virginia at the Conference on National Affairs. A state champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate, an All-State swimmer, and a Civics Innovators Fellow. Conner will attend Columbia University, where he will major in Political Science and Economics.

Darius McGregor

Denver, CO

Darius McGregor is a student leader and advocate for equity in education, sports, and healthcare. As Student Body President, he championed initiatives to expand mental health support, increase student representation, and improve school safety. As an executive board member of Denver CityLax, he works to remove financial barriers to lacrosse, increasing access for underrepresented athletes. Interning in the neurophysiology department at Children’s Hospital Colorado and serving on the Youth Council for Mental Health, Darius helps improve healthcare access for Colorado youth. He will continue his commitment to advocacy at Brown University, addressing healthcare disparities and expanding medical access for underserved communities.

Ava Miller

Duncan, OK

Ava Miller is an active philanthropist, student pilot, and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Turning Red Lights Green, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designed to provide drivers education, permit, and licenses to at risk kids in the Duncan community. She, and her board, were able to give away over $8,000 worth of scholarships in their first year to students in need. Ava is also the owner of Made With Love From Ava, her small business that has sold over 300 hand knit blankets since it began in 2020. Through this, she has donated several blankets to charity auctions that have brought in over $28,000 for local community needs. Ava is passionate about her local community and hopes to return to Duncan one day as a practicing general surgeon.

Zara Miller

Durham, NC

Zara Miller is an advocate and researcher passionate about environmental policy and diplomacy. As a 2024 Borlaug-Ruan International Intern for the World Food Prize, she received a full scholarship to conduct research at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics in Hyderabad, India. She has also served as Student Government Sustainability Chair, lobbied politicians with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, worked as a House and Governor’s Page, and volunteered with Kids Voting Durham, creating guides for 40+ schools about local elections. She is an NSLI-Y Arabic Scholar, a tennis All-State selectee, Global Youth Institute Leader, and a TedX Speaker. This fall, she plans to study international relations and economics.

Luca Mollo

West Bloomfield, MI

Luca is an avid entrepreneur with a passion for service-based leadership. As Co-Founder and President of EmpowerU: Young Business Leaders, he provided entrepreneurship resources to over 50,000 students nationwide. As President of his school’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter and a member of the Michigan State Board, he helped raise over $12,000 and led his chapter to its first Nationals. He also founded Walnut Lake Homecare Services, which serves over 20 clients and has grossed over $45,000. Luca volunteers with the Friendship Circle and Letters Against Isolation (>1000 hours, >2700 letters). He also enjoys playing soccer, co-captaining his varsity soccer team for two seasons, and competing nationally with ECNL and MLS Next teams.

Mazzi Moore

Hills, MN

Mazzi Moore is a service-oriented leader and an advocate for expanding STEM opportunities in rural areas. After founding an FLL robotics program in seventh grade, she has continued to develop impactful programming in the form of after-school camps, Teen Science Café career encounters, and other activities. As a member of the Million Girls Moonshot Flight Crew, she even shares her unique STEM education perspective on a national level. Committed to compassionately leading her peers, Mazzi is also the South Dakota HOSA State President, as well as Student Council President and a 4-year member of technical theater. In college, she hopes to build on her past research experiences at the University of Connecticut and Sanford Research by majoring in chemical engineering.

Sriyutha Morishetty

Richmond, VA

Sriyutha is a financial literacy advocate, journalist, and firm believer of civil discourse. She founded FinanceForwards, a nonprofit gamifying personal finance for 250K+ students and 14K+ teachers across six countries, and has spoken at the VA Credit Union, Jump$tart Coalition, NBEA, and VATFACS’ conferences. She is the Program Manager at Divided We Fall, a bipartisan news publication serving 200K+ Americans, the Editor-in-Chief of multiple statewide publications, and a writer for local magazines. A nationally recognized environmental economics researcher, she also researches at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. A 2024 Bank of America Student Leader and Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award recipient, she will study Economics at Harvard University.

Vaishnavi Moturi

Frisco, TX

Vaishnavi Moturi is a student researcher passionate about neuroscience research and using technology to improve public health. At the Research Science Institute (RSI) and the Mind Data Science Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital, she focused specifically on treatment-resistant depression and neurodegeneration. She has also presented her research at national and international science conferences and has co-authored published research papers. Beyond research, she developed ODConnect, a digital platform mapping opioid overdoses nationwide to inform public health interventions, and founded CitizenZ, where she aims to help create a generation of global citizens through collaborative public policy briefs. She plans to attend Harvard University.

Ganesh Nair

Jonesboro, AR

Ganesh Nair is a trailblazer in public health, fighting to uplift underserved communities. He launched a statewide initiative providing free ECGs to thousands of student-athletes & donated 1,400+ free 3D-printed respirators to hospitals during the pandemic. He’s presented his research internationally (HRS, AHA, AFS), exposing racial & geographic inequities in cardiovascular trials & becoming the youngest Young Investigator Award recipient. A nationally ranked debater (#1 in AR, #15 TOC) & Chairman of the AR Student Congress Republican Party, he leads legislative efforts, advocacy, & policy reform. Planning to pursue an MD-MPH, he aims to leverage technology, policy, & grassroots organizing to build scalable, equity-driven healthcare systems.

Navneeth Nalajala

Fort Mill, SC

Navneeth Nalajala is a driven leader who finds purpose in service. As the Palmetto Council of SC’s Boy Scout of the Year and his troop’s leader, he has mentored 50+ Scouts through high-adventure expeditions and leadership development. His dedication to advocacy continues as student body president. He also founded a lawn-mowing service, donating all proceeds to a local social services home for teens. Committed to hands-on impact, he helped grow the Fort Mill EMS Cadet Program from 2 to 25+ volunteers, earning state recognition for emergency response training. On the front lines of emergency medicine, he volunteers in EMS response and the pediatric ER, striving to make a lasting impact in his community and in the future as a physician.

Pearl Nguyen

Albuquerque, NM

Pearl is a researcher, nonprofit founder, and public health advocate with a passion for medicine and civic engagement. She founded The Great Toy Drive, a non-profit organization supporting pediatric patients and underserved families with essential items. As a researcher in the UNM-CURE program, she studied ovarian cancer through organoid models to enhance treatment outcomes. Pearl serves as Youth Lieutenant Governor of NM Youth & Government, advocating for public health policy. Additionally, she manages rental properties in Albuquerque, developing entrepreneurship skills. In college, she plans to study biochemistry on an interdisciplinary track with medical anthropology to address healthcare disparities through research and advocacy.

Chinualumogu Nwosu

Cypress, TX

Chinualumogu Nwosu is an advocate for women in STEM and a leader in technological innovation. As a Student Council Executive, founder, and co-president of her high school’s Girls Who Code Club, she mentored 400 young women through workshops. She honed her skills at UT Austin’s Computer Science Academy, NASA High School Aerospace Scholars, and MIT LLCipher. A 2x National Honorable Mention recipient of NCWIT, Chinualumogu developed “CogniFit “ and “Period AI” to support health through tech, reaching 500 users. She is an Event Lead at NHS and has over 700 volunteer hours serving at Bear Creek Baptist Church. As a Varsity Track and Field athlete, Chinualumogu plans to major in Electrical and Computer Engineering to inspire the next generation through technology.

James Obasiolu

Columbia, MD

James Obasiolu translates numbers into narratives and barriers into bridges. As Howard County’s Student Board of Education Member, he represents 57K+ students while leading 18 cellists at Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras. Beyond marble halls of Board meetings and Carnegie Hall’s spotlight–where he stood as America’s only Black cellist in their 2023 National Youth Orchestras (NYO2)–James champions data-driven environmental justice. Following his father’s passing and mother’s cancer diagnosis, he balanced caregiving with creating district-wide LGBTQIA+ training reaching 9K+ staff. He’ll study Environmental Science and Public Policy at Harvard, working toward a future where no child’s zip code determines their right to breathe freely.

Oluwatobiloba Olaore

Pittsburgh, PA

Oluwatobiloba, the current Youth Poet Laureate for Allegheny County, is driven by her sense of empathy and commitment to social justice. During her four-year internship at the Hillman Cancer Research Center, she conducted research and experiments focused on HIV-1; her findings are expected to be published in a scientific paper. As a member of both the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council and the African American Centers for Advanced Studies council, she uses her voice to inspire change. Oluwatobiloba aspires to become a lawyer, aiming to deliver justice with mercy. With her dedication to art, advocacy, and leadership, she is poised to make a lasting impact in both the legal field and her community.

Kelvin Orduna

Huntsville, AR

Kelvin Orduna is an impact-driven trailblazer dedicated to empowering underserved communities. He founded Empowering Rural Progress, an international initiative that provided first-time internet access to remote indigenous communities. Kelvin also developed ClearCross, an AI-powered app designed to enhance pedestrian safety for visually impaired individuals using computer vision and augmented reality. Apart from commitments to digital equity and accessibility, he advocates for policies that expand gifted education, working with legislators and stakeholders to ensure high-achieving students—regardless of background—have access to rigorous academic environments. Kelvin will pursue Computer Science and Economics at Yale University in the Fall.

Lizbeth Ortiz

Buckeye, AZ

Lizbeth Ortiz, a proud Mexican-American, is an advocate for civic engagement, public policy, & Latino representation. As Executive Director of Civic Activists, she’s distributed 25,000+ civic guides nationwide, bridging voter education gaps. She is a Congressional intern & researched political polarization at Harvard Law. Lizbeth initiated AZ Youth Votes, registering first-time voters, & is Editor-in-Chief of HispanosCan, providing Spanish political news to 15,000+ students. She’s FBLA’s National Western Region VP, a CHCI alum & founded Equity Drivers to tackle policy disparities. As Civic Engagement Chair of her city’s Youth Council, she amplifies youth voices in government. Lizbeth is attending Stanford University to study Public Policy & Economics.

Sierra Pape

Atlanta, GA

Sierra Pape is an impact-driven leader committed to empowering youth. Inspired by her uncle’s heart transplant, she partnered with State Senator Albers and Georgia DOE to mandate organ donation education, reaching over one million students. Serving as a US Senate Page, Vice Chair of Fulton County Youth Commission, and President of Midtown Votes, she advocates for change at the local, state, and national levels. As Editor-in-Chief of The Southerner, Georgia’s top high school paper, Sierra leads 76 writers, amplifying community voices, and was recognized as Georgia Jr Journalist of the Year Runner-up. Sierra will attend Harvard, where she plans to major in Government and continue work at the intersection of policy, advocacy, and journalism.

Kushal Patel

Memphis, TN

Kushal Patel is a health equity advocate and social entrepreneur passionate about improving health outcomes in the rural South. He leads the Memphis Elderly Outreach Association, the only organization supporting isolated seniors in the rural Mississippi Delta, and he serves as a Delta Directions Scholar and Memphis Business Journal Next Gen Leader. Beyond community work, he advocates for health policy through blogging, lobbying at Woodberry Associates in D.C., and publishing policy reviews on rural healthcare. Also, he co-founded Pathlight, a tech startup reducing the social stigma for the blind, earning over $15k in pitch competitions. At school, he leads as Fencing Team Captain, Latin Club Consul, DECA President, and Ambassador.

Ridhi Penmecha

Frankfort, KY

Ridhi Penmecha is passionate about tackling food insecurity through her work at Spark Community Cafã, a pay-what-you-can nonprofit that has provided over 85,000 meals across Central Kentucky. As a marketing intern, she manages social media, fundraising, and outreach and helped design Spark’s website. She also uses her chalkboard art business, RidhiSigns (@ridhisigns), to highlight food insecurity and encourage community support. Ridhi is a legal intern at Howard Law Group and an active leader in her school as student council president, Beta Club president, DECA founder, and a Future Problem Solvers team member. She is an alumna of the Governor’s Scholars Program, Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs, HOBY, Girls Who Code, and a Kentucky Student Voice Team member.

Grant Pool

Woodstock, GA

Grant Pool is a passionate advocate for educational equity and policy solutions. He founded Pages of Hope, an organization that has donated over 12,000 books to underfunded schools and families internationally. As a Boys Nation Senator, he authored a bill to expand STEM programs and served as Secretary of Education. He advocates for youth as an intern for his city’s civic administration and a member of Make-a-Wish’s youth leadership board. He’s a national-qualifying swimmer, two time All-State selectee, and captain of his swim team. In school, he’s the president of the Music NHS, Spanish NHS, Page Star student, first chair violist and president of the orchestra. For his work, Grant has been named a Youth Champion by the American Legion.

Alisha Raiker

Acton, MA

Alisha is an aspiring physician, avid researcher, and tireless advocate for health equity. With research across institutions like Mass General Hospital and Stony Brook Medicine, her work has been published in JVIR and BioTreks and presented at ISET, S4SN, MIT, and Stanford. Her equitable solutions in the fields of neuroscience and vascular medicine received first place at the HOSA Conference and Massachusetts science fairs. Alisha’s community advocacy spans tutoring underprivileged girls, organizing health camps, EMS, caring for seniors with dementia, and giving TEDx talks. She has also founded Project Beacon— a service organization supporting vulnerable populations. Alisha finds joy in cross-country running and reading about public health!

Saanvi Ram

Dubuque, IA

Saanvi Ram is a student and storyteller from Iowa. She founded Lives Through Letters during the COVID-19 pandemic, brightening the lives of over ten thousand isolated seniors through handwritten letters. She has served as the president of her school’s Debate Team and Key Club while also chairing the Dubuque Youth Area Philanthropists. As a journalist, Saanvi has honed her craft through the Asian American Journalism Association’s JCamp and contributed to platforms such as the Telegraph Herald, Our Iowa Magazine, and PBS NewsHour. Guided by the mantra “courage over comfort,” she spent a summer in Peru as a Borlaug-Ruan International Intern, researching food insecurity. Her work celebrates human connection and her belief in the power of stories to inspire change.

Husam Ramadan

Fresno, CA

Husam has distinguished himself as a passionate advocate for equity and community development. As Executive Director of the Muslim Community Association, NSDA Student Leadership Council member, and White House in Arabic intern, he consistently leverages leadership to empower underrepresented communities. His extensive involvement spans roles with Civics Unplugged, Ballotpedia, and CAIR, complemented by prestigious recognitions including being a Coolidge Senator, Live Más Scholar, and Princeton Prize recipient, in addition to attending the Telluride Association Summer Seminar. He will pursue Political Science and Economics at Harvard College, continuing his mission of advancing social justice.

Bruno Rodriguez Diaz

Irvine, CA

Drawing on his experiences as a debate coach, celebrated orator, and published journalist, Bruno devotes himself to democratizing confident and effective self-advocacy. A founder of Start With SPAR, he provides underserved students with free and approachable debate curricula and competitive opportunities. Bruno is a University of Chicago Neubauer Adelante Scholar for his engagement in Latino communities, a commitment shaped by the several years he lived jointly in Irvine and Tijuana. Within his school, Bruno serves on the Associated Student Body, leads a nationally-ranked Model UN program, runs his school newspaper as Executive Editor, and captains a championship-winning Mock Trial team.

Maya Roseboro

Wilmington, NC

Maya champions education and collaboration as President of the Student Government Association and National Honor Society. Her research includes work with UNCW’s Wang, Taylor, and Kohman Labs, as well as NASA’s Analysis Working Groups and MARBIONC’s Plastic Ocean Project. A Disney Dreamers Academy alumna and Boston RISE biomedical engineering intern, she was later recognized as a World Science Scholar and an American Junior Academy of Science Fellow. Maya co-leads the Special Olympics Eastern NC Youth Activation Committee and the county’s Student Ambassador Team. A former Special Olympics US Youth Ambassador, she has earned 3 Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Awards for 1,000+ service hours. Maya will study Biological and Biomedical Engineering at MIT.

Ian Rosenzweig

Bryn Mawr, PA

Ian Rosenzweig is a leading voice in the bridging space. He is the Founder and CEO at the Global Compromise Collective, where he fights international polarization and conflict with education focused on diplomatic strategy. GCC’s fellows hail from six continents, and Ian’s team has published a complete unit of middle school curriculum. A thought leader and writer, Ian has seen his work published at AllSides, International Policy Digest and Tangle. Ian is also a curious researcher, currently investigating the historical support of third-party candidacies in the United States with an eye toward future viability. At school, Ian leads in journalism and service learning, and he plays tennis.

Steven Sanchez-Barrera

Fresno, CA

As an adventurer and advocate for food security, Steven strives to push boundaries within his community. He is the current president of a community-serving food pantry, focused on giving back through nutrition. Through collaborative efforts, the pantry has raised over forty thousand dollars and assisted more than one thousand community members. As student body president at a new high school, he has connected with his overall community and has established events garnering 25,000+ attendees yearly. Passionate about public health and biomedical research, he will continue this work at Columbia University, aspiring to become a surgeon. Beyond academics, Steven loves traveling, trying new foods, and most importantly sparking conversations anywhere he goes.

Anuj Singh

Omaha, NE

Anuj is a passionate advocate for equity in education and healthcare. He founded Mental Melting Pot, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to implementing diverse perspectives on mental health education in high school curriculums. Anuj also founded his school’s South Asian Association and represented over 150 volunteers as a National Youth Council Field Ambassador with the American Red Cross. Anuj is also a published researcher, focusing on neural mechanisms associated with opioid abuse. An RSI scholar, his research has been recognized by NJSHS and the U.S. Department of Education among others. At his school, Anuj leads multiple activities, including his speech team, Science Olympiad, and school newspaper. He will attend Harvard in the fall.

David Solano

Huntington, NY

David is a visionary in human rights, climate action, & linguistic empowerment. A Jane Goodall Institute Youth Council lead, he represents 150k+ youth at global conferences, such as the DOH, UNFCCC-LCOY, & IFTJ. An Ambassador for FXB Climate Advocates, he leads climate literacy in 70+ countries. He is the President of the Kino Border Initiative NYC Chapter, founding an ESL school & screening with lawyers daily. He founded the Literary Palette Magazine, sponsored by Yale & based in 5+ countries. He speaks Spanish, German, Latin, & as a DOS NSLI-Y Taiwan Scholar, studies Mandarin. He is a state & national NSDA champion speaker. At school, he leads the Liturgical Music Ministry and Theater Arts. He will study Economics at Columbia University.

Nour Soulane

Yukon, OK

Nour is a Moroccan-American from Dove Science Academy, and is passionate about increasing medical health access and literacy. As her state’s health ambassador through Youth Action for Health Leadership and a student candidate at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, she’s planned multiple events and fundraisers for this cause. Finding creative ways to tie this drive with other interests, she’s coded a health advocacy website and designed brochures to help educate families on diseases. In school, Nour is President of Science Olympiad and Parliamentarian at HOSA. In the community, she’s Youth Director at AMEN Nonprofit, having founded a girls youth club and opening a chapter of the First Lego League – mentoring them to their win at State.

Rachel Starghill

Cincinnati, OH

Rachel Starghill is a passionate advocate for educational equity through her community leadership. She engineered city-wide conferences with UC-DAAP to offer 300+ Black youth professional networking, college exposure, and financial education opportunities. As an Ohio DECA Executive VP, representing over 6,800 students to the Ohio Department of Education, she started the first Ohio DECA scholarship to alleviate financial barriers. She co-founded an African Library Project club, collecting over 13,000 books and empowering her community to acknowledge education disparities. Having lived in China in her youth, Rachel is also a nationally decorated essayist and orator in Mandarin and serves as president of her school’s NCHS chapter.

Sierra Sun

Sandy, UT

Sierra is passionate about the intersection of science, ethics, and communication, and hopes to drive positive change through research and advocacy. She is a national leader for Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, advocating for school seismic safety and conservation, and she amplifies youth voices as a published op-ed writer in The Salt Lake Tribune, a two-time Scholastic national medalist, and an executive editor for Polyphony Lit, a national literary magazine. Sierra is a Regeneron STS Scholar and ISEF Grand Award winner for her research on empathy, and she led her team to the National High School Ethics Bowl. Sierra is a violist, pianist, and guitarist, and is in her tenth year as a member and soloist with the internationally recognized One Voice Children’s Choir.

Sofia Taborda

Boston, MA

Sofia is a dedicated leader passionate about mentoring youth and helping them discover and share their histories to bridge opportunity access, and awareness. She founded Seeing Me in the World, a youth-led tour of Roxbury that has educated over 200 visitors and evolved into a teaching program where young guides share their stories while revitalizing the local economy. She has led three public health projects on mental health and identity, earning recognition from the New England Patriots. As NHS President, a cultural club leader, and a teacher’s assistant, she supports students impacted by COVID-19. Her passion for youth extends globally through student exchange in South Korea and volunteer work in the Dominican Republic.

Sebastian Tan

Sewickley, PA

Sebastian Tan is a rising freshman at Stanford University, studying economics and computer science. A social entrepreneur, policy innovator, and justice advocate from Sewickley, PA, he is the founder of OutsideConnection, a platform that has helped over 10,000 reentrants secure employment through partnerships with the U.S. Department of Justice, REFORM Alliance, and Fortune 500 companies. He also serves as Senior Vice President of SPRING, a global youth think tank recognized by the UN High-Level Advisory Body on AI, where he leads initiatives on juvenile justice reform and workforce equity. His work has earned honors, including the Schmidt Futures Rise Global Winner, Prudential Emerging Visionary Award, and Diamond Challenge Global Winner.

Elaine Tang

Gilbert, AZ

Elaine is an internationally published researcher and passionate advocate for healthcare equity and music. As the founder of the EquiMed project, she has facilitated the distribution of $1.5 million worth of medical supplies to 25 countries worldwide. An aspiring physician-scientist, she launched pop-up clinics that provide free health services, and with Columbia University, she created public health educational materials for over 2,000 individuals in developing countries. She is also engaged in research at ASU, Stanford, and NASA. A musician at heart, Elaine is a nationally ranked pianist and founded Music Matters, a free program that provides music lessons to over 1,000 low-income students in Arizona, China, Korea, and Ukraine.

Ryan Tellado

Mountain View, CA

Ryan is a forward-thinking social entrepreneur guided by a vision of using technology as a catalyst for positive change. Driven by this purpose, he founded LatinXTech, a 501(c)(3) bringing STEM programming to under-resourced schools and professional development to educators. Mobilizing 100+ student leaders, he actively drove its expansion nationwide across 9 states. Taking his vision global, Ryan developed a medical informatics system with humanitarian organizations that enables coordinated care for over 500,000 patients throughout North and Central India. Ryan is also a Machine Learning Researcher, with work to optimize fall detection models presented at the prestigious NeurIPS conference. Ryan will continue his journey at Stanford University this fall.

Aanandi Thakur

Concord, NC

Aanandi is dedicated to shaping equitable & culturally inclusive healthcare. Co-founder of Remediate, an organization raising awareness of medical malpractice within marginalized communities, Aanandi has educated 41K+ globally. Furthering healthcare access through tech, she has innovated for Deloitte Health Equity Institute & RTX Corp.. State President-Elect of NC HOSA, Aanandi leads 9.3K+ future health professionals. A Scholastic National Gold Medalist, her passion for writing translates to founding a Harvard journal initiative and public health research with Duke & UNC Gillings. By authoring children’s books, producing state-wide media & legislation, & organizing & speaking at TEDx events, Aanandi uses storytelling to bridge boundaries.

Agneya Tharun

Clarksburg, MD

Agneya is a student passionate about leveraging technology to support others. He founded SchoolNest, a site used over 700,000 times to help students connect to educational resources. As a skilled programmer and cybersecurity enthusiast, Agneya has won three international intercollegiate cybersecurity competitions and was a national finalist in the AFA’s CyberPatriot competition. Agneya has developed and trained his own production-scale large language model, been named a National STEM Challenge Champion, and qualified for AIME. As an Eagle Scout, Agneya perseveres to serve his community and creates assistive technology to help students with disabilities. In his free time, Agneya loves to spend time outdoors and play badminton.

Matthew Torres

Charlotte, NC

Matthew Torres is dedicated to improving equity in every form possible. Through research in bioengineering and economics, he’s worked towards global equity in biotechnology; additionally, he represents his county to address the most pertinent issues in his peers, such as nutrition and mental health. Shaped by a Colombian/Puerto Rican childhood, Matthew is dedicated to bridging the socioeconomic gap in his Latino community educationally, economically, and politically. Holding leadership positions in DECA, HOSA, FBLA, and more has given Matthew valuable leadership skills, which he hopes to utilize to study the intersection of biomedical engineering and economics, and continue to give back to the communities that have raised him.

Victor Vasnetsov

Dorado, PR

Victor Vasnetsov blends his passions for the environment, economics, and entrepreneurship to create a better world for future generations. His community leadership in promoting environmental awareness and sustainable living earned him the 2024 U.S. President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA). Driven by a desire to understand the interplay of ecology, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors, Victor spearheaded an independent project on Environmental Justice for diverse US Hispanic communities. His research results on novel multi-action cancer drugs were published in several academic papers and received a Regeneron ISEF Grand Award in Chemistry. Looking ahead, Victor plans to study at Cornell’s Dyson business school, majoring in finance and strategy.

Melisa Velasquez-Zunun

Georgetown, DE

Melisa is a passionate and ever-growing environmental leader within her community. She has dedicated 100+ hours to environmental advocacy, working with organizations such as the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy, Inland Bays & Delaware Student Success to coordinate initiatives impacting over 45,000 students statewide. Named Delaware’s Young Environmentalist of the Year, she has competed in state-level science competitions, placing top 5 individually in forestry at Envirothon. She is also a Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards Gold Recipient in the Green category, recognizing her work in environmental education and policy. In her free time, Melisa enjoys playing the piccolo and baking with her 3 younger sisters. Melisa will be attending Swarthmore College this fall!

Anjali Verma

Perkasie, PA

Anjali Verma serves as the Inaugural President of the National Student Council, representing nearly 3 million students. A passionate champion for mental health, school safety, and youth leadership, she serves as a Team Lead for Providence’s Work2BeWell and was the 2023 State Student Council President. Anjali mentors over 65 wellness clubs across 25+ states, has presented at the U.S. Department of Education, worked with White House officials, and spoken to thousands of students on mental health. She is a Chief Science Officers Int’l Leadership Council member and a U.S. Senate Youth Delegate. Her advocacy has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Vox. She plans to study public health policy for a future in social impact.

Dylan Vinson

Bryant, AR

Dylan Vinson has a passion for public advocacy and institutional equity, dedicating himself to providing enriching educational experiences for students in his community. As such, he cultivated a partnership with his city’s Chamber of Commerce as FBLA President and co-founded a flea market booth grossing over $2000 to facilitate entrepreneurship within his school’s student body. Converging his desire for both a global intellect and interest in civicism, he has grown to love learning languages and improving his community. After working with the Little Rock City Director’s campaign, he plans to pursue policymaking to spark international mitigation of systemic barriers that hinder the advancement of marginalized groups.

Isaac Vosburg

Hampton, IA

Isaac Vosburg is first and foremost an active global citizen. Spending a year abroad in Malaysia through the US Department of State’s YES Abroad program, Isaac is passionate about building community through volunteerism, spreading joy, smiles, and laughter, and challenging his perspectives. Isaac is First-Vice President of the Iowa Association of Student Councils, a 2025 USSYP Iowa Co-Delegate, and is currently seeking an international internship through the World Food Prize. Attending Grinnell College in the fall, Isaac aims to earn a degree in Global Developmental Studies, after which he plans to enter the Peace Corps. His goal is to work in rural areas of the developing world to help eradicate global poverty by ensuring access to proper nutrition and education.

William Wakefield

Boca Raton, FL

William is an internationally awarded researcher, an avid musician, and a passionate leader. He is dedicated to using AI to improve patient care in neurology. William’s work at Mayo Clinic’s Neurology AI lab led to a novel method for clinical decision support for dementia. He published his findings in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, and was awarded at ISEF, JSHS, and Regeneron STS, among others. As an All-State saxophonist, he serves as President of his school band and regularly performs at memory centers. He has won several national Chinese speech contests and leads his school’s Computer Science Club. William will continue to explore AI and the brain at Yale University.

Sophie Wang

Portland, OR

Sophie is a dynamic leader who craves a creative challenge. Passionate in public health, she has expanded youth impact by developing healthcare education initiatives in underrepresented spaces. From serving as Oregon HOSA’s State President and a GoldTogether National Ambassador to being a State Ambassador for the National Organization for Rare Disorders and co-founding Youth HPV Champions, Sophie is dedicated to empowering others and reaffirming identity in every space she enters. Using storytelling as a tool for change–whether through speaking on TEDx, lobbying at Capitol Hill, or working on publishing her first children’s book–nothing fuels Sophie more than harnessing artistic expression to impact and elevate her health systems globally.

Dean Wang

Rochester, MN

Dean is a devoted scientist, leader, and activist building a healthier world. As a scientist, he has conducted groundbreaking bioinformatics research at hospitals and the Research Science Institute. His findings have been globally recognized and awarded at the International Science & Engineering Fair, BioGENEius, and professional conferences. Additionally, Dean was elected to serve as the Executive Vice-President for the Minnesota Business Professionals of America (BPA), fostering educational opportunities equitably. In school, he leads as President of BPA and Captain of the Debate & Swim teams. Dean is a two-sport varsity athlete, excelling in tennis and swim. Dean aspires to pioneer biomedical innovations to advance medicine.

Evan Wang

King of Prussia, PA

Evan Wang is the author of Slow Burn, forthcoming from Northwestern University Press, and the 9th Northeast Regional Youth Poet Laureate of the United States. His work appears in POETRY Magazine, The Kenyon Review, The Harvard Advocate, and elsewhere, and has been featured by The White House, NPR, TEDx, and more. Evan has earned invitations to perform at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Smithsonian Institution. He is the recipient of two National YoungArts Awards, a Scholastic National Gold Medal, and was a commended 2024 Foyle Young Poet of the Year. Evan serves as a member of the Montgomery County Commission for LGBTQ+ Affairs and the Indian Valley Arts Foundation Board of Directors.

Cady Wang

Fargo, ND

Cady is a sustainability advocate focused on environment, education, and health issues. She serves as a Youth Advisor for ND Health and Human Services, representing 200K+ youth. Her work in advocacy has shaped policies at district, state, and national levels. Cady has organized educational justice conventions for 400+ Midwest educators, youth-oriented health fairs, and recycling initiatives for 5,000+ healthcare equipment. An RSI Scholar, Cady developed mathematical models of cellular development for cancer research. She is researching the rhizobia-legume symbiosis, working with local farms to develop sustainable agricultural practices. Cady is also a US Senate Youth Program Delegate, 6x State Champion in Forensics, and an avid volunteer.

Brandon Weibel

Durant, OK

Brandon Weibel is passionate about leadership, advocacy, and service, using his platform to empower others with authenticity and intentionality. As FCCLA National President, he leads over 250,000 members, serving as a role model for the next generation of leaders. He is the founder of the Pearl House Teen Advisory Board, supporting at-risk women in Africa, and has spearheaded national traffic safety initiatives, corporate fundraising efforts, and educational outreach programs. A dedicated scholar, Brandon has earned top honors, maintained a perfect GPA, and been recognized for his academic excellence. He will attend NYU to study Political Science, committed to shaping public policy and creating meaningful change through leadership and advocacy.

Ella Witalec

Orange, OH

Ella Witalec is passionate about using technology for social good. To expand access to computer science education in the greater Cleveland area, she started [CodeHers CLE], which runs free coding workshops and creates a community in CS for local middle school girls. Ella has also engaged in CS research, investigating how visual-tactile policy learning models can improve robot accuracy on manipulation tasks at NYU’s Generalizable AI and Robotics Lab. A dedicated member of her school’s speech and debate team, she is a national finalist and state champion in United States Extemporaneous Speaking. Ella is passionate about how computational methods can accelerate social change and hopes to study both computer science and government in college.

Kendall Wu

Sugar Land, TX

Kendall is an enthusiast in all things life sciences. At Baylor College of Medicine, he bioengineers enhanced CAR-T immunotherapies for solid tumors and investigates how telomere shortening drives intestinal aging. But his interest in the life sciences extends beyond the lab. Kendall is the founder of the WeVitalize Initiative, an international 501(c)(3) leading lifestyle initiatives across four continents, and a Focal Point of the WHO’s Youth & Adolescents Constituency, advocating for global adolescent health. He has been recognized as an invited speaker to the 10th International Youth Conference, a top 20 USA Biolympiad National Finalist, a Texas Science & Engineering Fair Champion, Nature Communications co-author, Coolidge Senator, and World Science Scholar.

Erik Wu

Madison, AL

Erik is a dedicated advocate for educational equality in the Greater Huntsville area and beyond. He founded the James Clemens Math Tournament at his high school, fundraising over $10,000 dollars to provide hundreds of students collaborative learning opportunities over the course of two years. He also loves working as a “Star” Instructor for LIVE by Po-Shen Loh, where he combines improvisational comedy techniques with math education to engage students from across the world. Additionally, Erik enjoys playing varsity tennis and captaining his school’s Science Bowl team. After graduating from high school, Erik plans to major in computer science and dreams of becoming a machine learning researcher who helps implement safe, ethical AI systems.

Juan Wulff

Needham, MA

Juan Wulff is a Venezuelan-American immigrant writer and advocate. Under the Fr. Begley Scholarship, he founded “Through Their Eyes,” documenting migrant disenfranchisement at the US-Mexico border and in Boston. His writing, published in Newsweek and America Magazine, hopes to highlight the humanity of migrants and the flaws of the immigration system. He received the Gold Key Scholastic Art & Writing Award, was a Boston Globe Teen Speak Writer and Panelist, and his one-act play “Esperanza” was selected for the Lyrics First Page Playwriting Festival. He also teaches English to immigrants in his community, securing $20K for the program. In the future, he aims to continue writing to illuminate injustices and advocate for immigration reform.

Faith You

Missoula, MT

Faith You is a staunch advocate for healthcare equity and fosters a deep passion for neuroscience. She has conducted PhD-level research in labs at MIT and the University of Montana, studying miRNA and protein engineering. For her research, she has been recognized as a National Champion for NJSHS, a Finalist and Outreach Speaker for ISEF, and a Top 5 Oral Presentation at RSI. Through Faith’s positions in HOSA and a national representative for the Y-USA, she advocates for more accessible healthcare, education, and career pathways for youth. She has also served as a Senate Page and delegate to the United States Senate Youth Program, where she was selected as a keynote speaker. Faith is excited to study Neuroscience and Government in the fall.

Raza Zaidi

Chicago, IL

Raza Zaidi is a researcher and advocate addressing educational and socioeconomic disparities. As founder of Finding Your Voice, he teaches public speaking to refugees and marginalized communities. His education reform work includes research at the UChicago Becker Friedman Institute, exploring scalable solutions to bridge learning gaps. A published researcher, he studied socioeconomic inequality’s impact on health and authored a Concord Review-published analysis of the 1973 Oil Crisis. He founded his school’s F1 in Schools team, winning Nationals and representing Team USA at the World Finals. He also co-leads his school’s Finance Club, Economics Club, and Maroon Key Society, competing in finance, economics, and Model UN competitions.

Jessie Zheng

West Haven, CT

Growing up as a low-income first-generation Chinese American, Jessie was surrounded by the inequities of the world. Using their lived experiences as the foundation for their activism, they have testified before the State Board of Education, proposed and successfully passed their own bills in the Connecticut General Assembly, and worked directly with the Department of Education to promote access to education, representation for marginalized communities, and affordable healthcare. Raising over $10.2k, they have founded CT Speech & Action, a nonprofit organization funding debate opportunities and social action projects, begun a movement for Asian representation, and been recognized for their work as an activist youth leader.

York Zhou

Lagrangeville, NY

York Zhou is a well-rounded leader and creative problem solver. His award-winning GenAI project streamlined the FAFSA application and tackled LLM’s challenges. Ranked #1 in his class of 700+ students, York founded the STEM Tutor Club to help his peers overcome academic difficulties. A Junior Olympic and Senior Mets swimmer, York was a captain and led his school varsity team to set the longest win streak in 12 years. York acclaimed prizes in international piano competitions, performed at Carnegie Hall multiple times, and was featured on PBS. He also brought music to hospitals and helped patients combat illnesses. York’s dedication to services is reflected by his leadership roles in communities and internships at West Point and Naval Academy.