Business & Entrepreneurship
Community Service
Education
Engineering
Healthcare & Science
Media & Entertainment
Public Service & Social Justice
Sports & Fitness
Sustainability (Green)
Technology
Business & Entrepreneurship
GOLD - Carolina Noguera
Hometown: Bethesda, MD
GPA: 4.0
High School: Winston Churchill High School
Heritage: Argentine
Carolina’s entrepreneurial ways have been around since her early years. Since she was young, she recalls working hard and fundraising money to donate to those less fortunate or to causes that were special to her.
In primary school, she would create lemonade stands at the corner of her house to raise money for her local church’s “CRS Rice Bowl”. “I would raise a few hundred dollars, a large contrast to the couple of dollars that were typically expected,” recalls Carmen. In ninth grade, she led fundraising efforts for her soccer team’s trip to Europe, organizing bake sales and a partnership with a local brand to sell stuffed animals and split the profits with the team.
More recently, this very spirit led her to create a non-profit named Solidarity Masks. Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, Carolina knew she wanted to find a way to help those in need somehow and that’s when she had the idea of making masks using her sowing machine to raise funds that she could then donate to organizations that provided resources to the Latino community during the pandemic. To date, her non-profit was able to sell almost 3,000 masks and raised more than $30,000 in donations.
Carolina hopes to serve as a role model for future generations of young Hispanics in her community not just by leading as an entrepreneur but also by promoting the importance of diversity and inclusion, an area she’s highly passionate about. She is currently the salutatorian of her class, a member of the National Honor Society, and is an AP Scholar with Distinction.
She maintains a 4.00 GPA, has applied to the University of Chicago, the University of Maryland, and Georgetown University. Although she is still exploring her options, she remains very interested in environmental science.
GPA: 4.0
High School: Winston Churchill High School
Heritage: Argentine
Carolina’s entrepreneurial ways have been around since her early years. Since she was young, she recalls working hard and fundraising money to donate to those less fortunate or to causes that were special to her.
In primary school, she would create lemonade stands at the corner of her house to raise money for her local church’s “CRS Rice Bowl”. “I would raise a few hundred dollars, a large contrast to the couple of dollars that were typically expected,” recalls Carmen. In ninth grade, she led fundraising efforts for her soccer team’s trip to Europe, organizing bake sales and a partnership with a local brand to sell stuffed animals and split the profits with the team.
More recently, this very spirit led her to create a non-profit named Solidarity Masks. Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, Carolina knew she wanted to find a way to help those in need somehow and that’s when she had the idea of making masks using her sowing machine to raise funds that she could then donate to organizations that provided resources to the Latino community during the pandemic. To date, her non-profit was able to sell almost 3,000 masks and raised more than $30,000 in donations.
Carolina hopes to serve as a role model for future generations of young Hispanics in her community not just by leading as an entrepreneur but also by promoting the importance of diversity and inclusion, an area she’s highly passionate about. She is currently the salutatorian of her class, a member of the National Honor Society, and is an AP Scholar with Distinction.
She maintains a 4.00 GPA, has applied to the University of Chicago, the University of Maryland, and Georgetown University. Although she is still exploring her options, she remains very interested in environmental science.
Silver - Daniel Runde
Hometown: McLean , VA
GPA: 3.70
High School: St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School
Heritage: Argentine
Daniel is intimately familiar with the challenges of being an entrepreneur with his creation of a social enterprise called “Connectando Culturas.” He has spent the last two summers creating and expanding a program that connects Latino student volunteers in the U.S. to people in Mexico. The idea began during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown when he and his friends proposed leading an English class to the Pan American Development Foundation. PADF Mexico connected them with Mexican teachers in Chiapas. It was a pilot venture which turned out to be very successful and that encouraged the team to expand the organization from just Chiapas to also include Oaxaca.
He led the effort to recruit 15 Latino bilingual teenagers to be volunteer teachers, created and improved the curriculum, provided training, and managed a team. The result was being able to deliver lessons on Zoom to artisans, hotel workers, and young women studying STEAM. Through this enterprise, Daniel was able to experience what is like to be an entrepreneur and build something from the ground up even during a challenging time.
“The first year was full of personal lessons, the second year was when my leadership skills were really tested. I had to recruit other teenagers to volunteer for Oaxacan women. I learned to be convincing, but I also learned that recruiting volunteers is hard and that they need to feel it is meaningful. I now know that it is useful to speak from my own experience. Most of all, I learned that we are architects of our own paths of impact. I am proud of what I achieved over those two summers, of what I learned as a person and of the fact that this program will persist and grow in the future,” says Daniel.
Daniel maintains a 3.70 GPA with a full AP course load and has made the Dean’s List consecutively since 2019. He plans to study international business and global affairs and has applied to Notre Dame, Georgetown University, and Boston College.
GPA: 3.70
High School: St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School
Heritage: Argentine
Daniel is intimately familiar with the challenges of being an entrepreneur with his creation of a social enterprise called “Connectando Culturas.” He has spent the last two summers creating and expanding a program that connects Latino student volunteers in the U.S. to people in Mexico. The idea began during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown when he and his friends proposed leading an English class to the Pan American Development Foundation. PADF Mexico connected them with Mexican teachers in Chiapas. It was a pilot venture which turned out to be very successful and that encouraged the team to expand the organization from just Chiapas to also include Oaxaca.
He led the effort to recruit 15 Latino bilingual teenagers to be volunteer teachers, created and improved the curriculum, provided training, and managed a team. The result was being able to deliver lessons on Zoom to artisans, hotel workers, and young women studying STEAM. Through this enterprise, Daniel was able to experience what is like to be an entrepreneur and build something from the ground up even during a challenging time.
“The first year was full of personal lessons, the second year was when my leadership skills were really tested. I had to recruit other teenagers to volunteer for Oaxacan women. I learned to be convincing, but I also learned that recruiting volunteers is hard and that they need to feel it is meaningful. I now know that it is useful to speak from my own experience. Most of all, I learned that we are architects of our own paths of impact. I am proud of what I achieved over those two summers, of what I learned as a person and of the fact that this program will persist and grow in the future,” says Daniel.
Daniel maintains a 3.70 GPA with a full AP course load and has made the Dean’s List consecutively since 2019. He plans to study international business and global affairs and has applied to Notre Dame, Georgetown University, and Boston College.
Bronze - Carmen Regan
Hometown: Chesterfield , VA
GPA: 4.00
High School: Matoaca High School
Heritage: Filipino
“Growing up I have been surrounded by family members who dreamed of having their own successful business while doing what they love. And my Uncle Alex has been my biggest inspiration when it comes to my entrepreneurial endeavors,” says Carmen. Growing up watching the drive her uncle had to chase his dream of becoming a mechanic and owning his own shop deeply inspired her to one day become an entrepreneur herself.
She began to learn more about what knowledge and skills it would take to become an entrepreneur by signing up for courses like Business and Marketing her freshman year of high school. She also became a member of the Distributive Education Clubs of America through her high school which allowed her to compete in various competitions across the district. Most recently, in her junior year, Carmen placed third in a regional’s competition in the entrepreneurship category and went on to participate at the state level. By participating in such competitions her passion for business has continued to grow and has inspired her to major in a business-related field this fall.
Aside from her entrepreneurial aspirations and goals, Carmen is highly involved as a Junior Marshall, is a member of the National Honor Society, holds the Vice President position in the Student Council Association at her high school, and is the Captain of the JV Girls soccer team. Despite her busy schedule, she maintains a perfect 4.00 GPA.
She has applied to the University of Georgia, the University of Tennessee, and the University of South Carolina plans to major in marketing or accounting.
GPA: 4.00
High School: Matoaca High School
Heritage: Filipino
“Growing up I have been surrounded by family members who dreamed of having their own successful business while doing what they love. And my Uncle Alex has been my biggest inspiration when it comes to my entrepreneurial endeavors,” says Carmen. Growing up watching the drive her uncle had to chase his dream of becoming a mechanic and owning his own shop deeply inspired her to one day become an entrepreneur herself.
She began to learn more about what knowledge and skills it would take to become an entrepreneur by signing up for courses like Business and Marketing her freshman year of high school. She also became a member of the Distributive Education Clubs of America through her high school which allowed her to compete in various competitions across the district. Most recently, in her junior year, Carmen placed third in a regional’s competition in the entrepreneurship category and went on to participate at the state level. By participating in such competitions her passion for business has continued to grow and has inspired her to major in a business-related field this fall.
Aside from her entrepreneurial aspirations and goals, Carmen is highly involved as a Junior Marshall, is a member of the National Honor Society, holds the Vice President position in the Student Council Association at her high school, and is the Captain of the JV Girls soccer team. Despite her busy schedule, she maintains a perfect 4.00 GPA.
She has applied to the University of Georgia, the University of Tennessee, and the University of South Carolina plans to major in marketing or accounting.
Community Service
GOLD - Isabella Landino
Hometown: Farmingdale, NJ
GPA: 3.99
High School: Howell High School
Heritage: Puerto Rican
“Volunteerism has been an enormous part of my life for as long as I can remember,” says Isabella Landino. Sophomore year of high school, she was diagnosed with Gastroparesis, a gastrointestinal illness that affects the way her stomach digests food and drinks. She felt alone, confused, and even frustrated at why this was happening to her. The diagnosis changed her life completely and it also ignited a passion in her to want to help others who share a similar struggle. Having a rare disease helped shape the way she sees the world and those around her. Using herself as an example, “surrounded by my friends, I appear to be a normal teenager but when you look beneath the surface I struggle every day with a chronic disease,” mentions Isabella.
“My desire to be of service to others creates this yearning to understand why humans behave in certain ways, hence my interest in studying psychology. By providing the best guidance to people seeking change, you can help transform lives for the better and I want to contribute to that effort,” she continues.
This past spring, she was given the opportunity to become Co-President of the Howell High School’s Fighting H.A.R.D. Club. From planting trees to organizing food drives, these simple acts provided her with the understanding of the pain others face. She also started attending the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life events and meetings. And a couple of years ago she started her own mental health project called BookMarks for BookMinds, to help those in her community suffering with mental illness.
Isabella continues to be an inspiration as she manages a full academic and extracurricular calendar and maintains a 3.99 GPA. She has applied to Lafayette College, Monmouth University, and Bucknell University where she plans to major in psychology.
GPA: 3.99
High School: Howell High School
Heritage: Puerto Rican
“Volunteerism has been an enormous part of my life for as long as I can remember,” says Isabella Landino. Sophomore year of high school, she was diagnosed with Gastroparesis, a gastrointestinal illness that affects the way her stomach digests food and drinks. She felt alone, confused, and even frustrated at why this was happening to her. The diagnosis changed her life completely and it also ignited a passion in her to want to help others who share a similar struggle. Having a rare disease helped shape the way she sees the world and those around her. Using herself as an example, “surrounded by my friends, I appear to be a normal teenager but when you look beneath the surface I struggle every day with a chronic disease,” mentions Isabella.
“My desire to be of service to others creates this yearning to understand why humans behave in certain ways, hence my interest in studying psychology. By providing the best guidance to people seeking change, you can help transform lives for the better and I want to contribute to that effort,” she continues.
This past spring, she was given the opportunity to become Co-President of the Howell High School’s Fighting H.A.R.D. Club. From planting trees to organizing food drives, these simple acts provided her with the understanding of the pain others face. She also started attending the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life events and meetings. And a couple of years ago she started her own mental health project called BookMarks for BookMinds, to help those in her community suffering with mental illness.
Isabella continues to be an inspiration as she manages a full academic and extracurricular calendar and maintains a 3.99 GPA. She has applied to Lafayette College, Monmouth University, and Bucknell University where she plans to major in psychology.
Silver - Sofía Tejada
Hometown: Fairfax, VA
GPA: 3.94
High School: Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School
Heritage: Dominican & Nicaraguan
“My pride and joy is the Special Olympics (SO) Club that I founded at my high school,” recounts Sofia. She wanted to create an organization at her school that would bring more community and diversity through the power of sports, which has played a pivotal role in her earliest years and shaping the leader she has become today. The effort to create this now thriving organization at her school involved countless hours of planning, zoom meetings, email exchanges, project planning and coordination. She worked closely with the SO Directors and led the presentation for the idea and vision she had. This would be the first high school club in the Washington, D.C. area and they were thrilled to help make it a reality. Sofia knew that this idea would be challenging but that only motivated to work even harder.
Last March, she worked closely with the Directors to design a social media challenge. Her “Smash the R-Word” challenge spread awareness about ending the use of discriminatory language against those with intellectual differences. Designing a challenge whose goal was to criticize a common occurrence in our society was inspiring to her peers and the community at-large. This year as the first high school student-run SO club, she is planning a major fundraiser with local businesses, organizing a soccer tournament for SO athletes, and fundraising for the SO Polar Plunge.
She was also part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) 2021 Student of the Year (SOY) Campaign. Her and her team raised $100,000 in 7 weeks for blood cancer research, and experience that further strengthened her leadership and desire to serve her community. “From the seven months I spent organizing my campaign to following up with individuals regarding donations, I learned that I could make a difference in my community even though I am in high school,” says Sofia.
Sofia has a 3.94 GPA and plans to attend University of Virginia, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), or Villanova University to study psychology and policy and law.
GPA: 3.94
High School: Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School
Heritage: Dominican & Nicaraguan
“My pride and joy is the Special Olympics (SO) Club that I founded at my high school,” recounts Sofia. She wanted to create an organization at her school that would bring more community and diversity through the power of sports, which has played a pivotal role in her earliest years and shaping the leader she has become today. The effort to create this now thriving organization at her school involved countless hours of planning, zoom meetings, email exchanges, project planning and coordination. She worked closely with the SO Directors and led the presentation for the idea and vision she had. This would be the first high school club in the Washington, D.C. area and they were thrilled to help make it a reality. Sofia knew that this idea would be challenging but that only motivated to work even harder.
Last March, she worked closely with the Directors to design a social media challenge. Her “Smash the R-Word” challenge spread awareness about ending the use of discriminatory language against those with intellectual differences. Designing a challenge whose goal was to criticize a common occurrence in our society was inspiring to her peers and the community at-large. This year as the first high school student-run SO club, she is planning a major fundraiser with local businesses, organizing a soccer tournament for SO athletes, and fundraising for the SO Polar Plunge.
She was also part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) 2021 Student of the Year (SOY) Campaign. Her and her team raised $100,000 in 7 weeks for blood cancer research, and experience that further strengthened her leadership and desire to serve her community. “From the seven months I spent organizing my campaign to following up with individuals regarding donations, I learned that I could make a difference in my community even though I am in high school,” says Sofia.
Sofia has a 3.94 GPA and plans to attend University of Virginia, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), or Villanova University to study psychology and policy and law.
Bronze - Christopher Ruiz
Hometown: Morristown, NJ
GPA: 4.00
High School: Morristown High School
Heritage: Puerto Rican & Spanish
“Social justice has become one of the most important pillars in my life. Although I realized this passion just a few years ago, I have committed myself since then to doing hard work to achieve a more just school, community, and country,” says Christopher.
A prime example of his work in social justice is his involvement in his high school's Equity and Inclusion Student Council (E&I), which began in the summer of 2020. As co-founder of this organization, he helped start the E&I council to bring anti-racist, policy-driven change to his high school. One of the initiatives of the council that he is most proud of is the Bilingual Program (English Language Learner) Buddy System. He thought of this idea after realizing that he was one of the only students in his classes to have friends in ELL. The initiative's purpose is to have students in ELL partner with English-speaking students to allow for an exchange of language, culture, expose the ELL students to Honors and AP classrooms, and most importantly, give them connections to the school as they adapt to new lives, as many of the students recently immigrated to the US. E&I has created waves in his school district, and he is especially proud to be in such an influential organization.
He has also been a very active volunteer at the Grow it Green Urban Farm in Morristown, NJ. He was chosen as the Youth Volunteer of the Year in 2020, with over 300+ hours in support of sustainable farming. In addition, as the only volunteer who spoke Spanish, he was able to help low-income families obtain nourishment at reduced or no cost. The farm also provides educational opportunities for all students in the school district, and he was able to lead lessons for the kindergarten students who came to the farm to learn about agriculture, healthy eating, and sustainability.
Christopher has applied to Harvard University, Boston University, and Princeton University and maintains a perfect 4.00 GPA. He hopes to major in Political Science, Government, or Engineering.
GPA: 4.00
High School: Morristown High School
Heritage: Puerto Rican & Spanish
“Social justice has become one of the most important pillars in my life. Although I realized this passion just a few years ago, I have committed myself since then to doing hard work to achieve a more just school, community, and country,” says Christopher.
A prime example of his work in social justice is his involvement in his high school's Equity and Inclusion Student Council (E&I), which began in the summer of 2020. As co-founder of this organization, he helped start the E&I council to bring anti-racist, policy-driven change to his high school. One of the initiatives of the council that he is most proud of is the Bilingual Program (English Language Learner) Buddy System. He thought of this idea after realizing that he was one of the only students in his classes to have friends in ELL. The initiative's purpose is to have students in ELL partner with English-speaking students to allow for an exchange of language, culture, expose the ELL students to Honors and AP classrooms, and most importantly, give them connections to the school as they adapt to new lives, as many of the students recently immigrated to the US. E&I has created waves in his school district, and he is especially proud to be in such an influential organization.
He has also been a very active volunteer at the Grow it Green Urban Farm in Morristown, NJ. He was chosen as the Youth Volunteer of the Year in 2020, with over 300+ hours in support of sustainable farming. In addition, as the only volunteer who spoke Spanish, he was able to help low-income families obtain nourishment at reduced or no cost. The farm also provides educational opportunities for all students in the school district, and he was able to lead lessons for the kindergarten students who came to the farm to learn about agriculture, healthy eating, and sustainability.
Christopher has applied to Harvard University, Boston University, and Princeton University and maintains a perfect 4.00 GPA. He hopes to major in Political Science, Government, or Engineering.
Education
GOLD - Ever Hernández
Hometown: Silver Spring, MD
GPA: 3.93
High School: Northwood High School
Heritage: Honduran
From an early age, Ever has considered becoming an educator. “Education is the most important thing that any child could have in their lives,” says Ever. “Education helps us so much in life because it opens many doors that we can take advantage of,” he continues.
One of the most influential people in his life was his ESOL teacher who was also a mentor in many ways for him. He was always there making sure Ever learned something every day and motivating him to continue and grow. When the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2019, one of the ESOL teachers needed assistance with a few students in their academics, especially with their English classes where Ever volunteered translating from English to Spanish. Ever jumped right in to help by creating a Zoom meeting to provide support to students and to make sure they succeeded in their classes because he knew exactly what they were going through.
His goal is to become an English teacher in the future by going to college and earning his bachelor’s degree, but the most important thing about his plan is wanting to give back to my community and especially the students.
Ever is highly involved in a program called Liberty’s Promise where he has been participating over the last 3 years. Last year he was elected as President of one of the two programs Liberty’s Promise has at Northwood which is called CE-BELL in Spanish. He led the programs according to the topics the coordinator had assigned to the programs and had the opportunity to meet new students, discuss college, prepare for interviews, resume writing, and ice breakers.
In addition to all the giving back and volunteering Ever has done, he continues to maintain a 3.93 GPA. He wants to major in education either at Montgomery College or University of Maryland at College Park this fall.
GPA: 3.93
High School: Northwood High School
Heritage: Honduran
From an early age, Ever has considered becoming an educator. “Education is the most important thing that any child could have in their lives,” says Ever. “Education helps us so much in life because it opens many doors that we can take advantage of,” he continues.
One of the most influential people in his life was his ESOL teacher who was also a mentor in many ways for him. He was always there making sure Ever learned something every day and motivating him to continue and grow. When the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2019, one of the ESOL teachers needed assistance with a few students in their academics, especially with their English classes where Ever volunteered translating from English to Spanish. Ever jumped right in to help by creating a Zoom meeting to provide support to students and to make sure they succeeded in their classes because he knew exactly what they were going through.
His goal is to become an English teacher in the future by going to college and earning his bachelor’s degree, but the most important thing about his plan is wanting to give back to my community and especially the students.
Ever is highly involved in a program called Liberty’s Promise where he has been participating over the last 3 years. Last year he was elected as President of one of the two programs Liberty’s Promise has at Northwood which is called CE-BELL in Spanish. He led the programs according to the topics the coordinator had assigned to the programs and had the opportunity to meet new students, discuss college, prepare for interviews, resume writing, and ice breakers.
In addition to all the giving back and volunteering Ever has done, he continues to maintain a 3.93 GPA. He wants to major in education either at Montgomery College or University of Maryland at College Park this fall.
Silver - Rachel Head
Hometown: Chesterfield, VA
GPA: 3.55
High School: Cosby High School
Heritage: Guatemalan
“My mother was an elementary school teacher before I was born. I don’t know much about this time in her life, except the stories I have heard, because she left her career after a decade to stay home and take care of me after I was adopted from Guatemala,” says Rachel. Her mother’s past has always intrigued her and most recently, it has deeply influenced her to pursue a career in education. She is especially interested in middle school education.
She recalls those middle school years and how difficult they were for her, and she wants to be able to have an impact in that capacity. She wants to be able to take her love of STEM and art and impart it to students who may be struggling during those very formidable years.
One of the most meaningful experiences she has had while serving her community is being a mentor for the Cheer Abilities Team at her local cheer gym. This is a team comprised of athletes with special needs, ranging from autism to Down syndrome.
Each athlete has a cheer mentor from a sister team that stays with them throughout the season practicing with them and helping them during performances. More important, though, than just the performance aspect is the relationships that are built. She practices with the athletes for several hours a week as well as participates in many events with them allowing them to get to know each other well and build a mutual trust. Working with FAME Legacy has changed the way she hopes to live her life and continues to inspire Rachel to give back to her community and to become an educator.
Rachel maintains a 3.55 GPA, is involved in the National Honor Society as well as Beta Club and has applied to The University of Alabama, Jacksonville University, and Florida Gulf Coast.
GPA: 3.55
High School: Cosby High School
Heritage: Guatemalan
“My mother was an elementary school teacher before I was born. I don’t know much about this time in her life, except the stories I have heard, because she left her career after a decade to stay home and take care of me after I was adopted from Guatemala,” says Rachel. Her mother’s past has always intrigued her and most recently, it has deeply influenced her to pursue a career in education. She is especially interested in middle school education.
She recalls those middle school years and how difficult they were for her, and she wants to be able to have an impact in that capacity. She wants to be able to take her love of STEM and art and impart it to students who may be struggling during those very formidable years.
One of the most meaningful experiences she has had while serving her community is being a mentor for the Cheer Abilities Team at her local cheer gym. This is a team comprised of athletes with special needs, ranging from autism to Down syndrome.
Each athlete has a cheer mentor from a sister team that stays with them throughout the season practicing with them and helping them during performances. More important, though, than just the performance aspect is the relationships that are built. She practices with the athletes for several hours a week as well as participates in many events with them allowing them to get to know each other well and build a mutual trust. Working with FAME Legacy has changed the way she hopes to live her life and continues to inspire Rachel to give back to her community and to become an educator.
Rachel maintains a 3.55 GPA, is involved in the National Honor Society as well as Beta Club and has applied to The University of Alabama, Jacksonville University, and Florida Gulf Coast.
Bronze - Jadisha Proano
Hometown: East Orange, NJ
GPA: 3.76
High School: Oldfields School
Heritage: Ecuadorian
As a first-generation student, education and academics had always been a main priority for Jadisha. The value of an education had been instilled in her from an early age and it has been a driving force for her to succeed in the classroom and beyond. When she was in middle school, this was further reinforced when she happened to fracture her leg and was forced to stay on bedrest for an extended period. She missed being in the classroom and learning alongside her peers. The experience taught her firsthand the importance of the inequalities that students who may have physical needs or other disabilities face when it comes to education. In short, it inspired her to learn and more and get more involved in education and education advocacy.
She became a member of her high school’s chapter of National Honors Society and found mentorship and tutoring opportunities to work with students. Her goal is to help students become who they want to be by giving them a path towards a more inclusive and equitable education. During her summers, she volunteers at her former middle school as a counselor and tutor for summer day camp. She recalls how much she enjoyed working with the other students and how one student thanks her for helping them learn the material in a different manner that was easier for them to understand. Although the interaction was brief, it meant a lot to hear that her method of teaching was effective. The impact of that comment further encouraged her to envision herself as a future educator.
Jadisha is Student Body President, a Lorna M. Kelly Award recipient and she plans to study education. She has applied to New York University, Emerson College, and Vassar College and currently maintains a 3.76 GPA.
GPA: 3.76
High School: Oldfields School
Heritage: Ecuadorian
As a first-generation student, education and academics had always been a main priority for Jadisha. The value of an education had been instilled in her from an early age and it has been a driving force for her to succeed in the classroom and beyond. When she was in middle school, this was further reinforced when she happened to fracture her leg and was forced to stay on bedrest for an extended period. She missed being in the classroom and learning alongside her peers. The experience taught her firsthand the importance of the inequalities that students who may have physical needs or other disabilities face when it comes to education. In short, it inspired her to learn and more and get more involved in education and education advocacy.
She became a member of her high school’s chapter of National Honors Society and found mentorship and tutoring opportunities to work with students. Her goal is to help students become who they want to be by giving them a path towards a more inclusive and equitable education. During her summers, she volunteers at her former middle school as a counselor and tutor for summer day camp. She recalls how much she enjoyed working with the other students and how one student thanks her for helping them learn the material in a different manner that was easier for them to understand. Although the interaction was brief, it meant a lot to hear that her method of teaching was effective. The impact of that comment further encouraged her to envision herself as a future educator.
Jadisha is Student Body President, a Lorna M. Kelly Award recipient and she plans to study education. She has applied to New York University, Emerson College, and Vassar College and currently maintains a 3.76 GPA.
Engineering
GOLD - Giancarlo Zambrano
Hometown: Linthicum, MD
GPA: 4.00
High School: North County High School
Heritage: Venezuelan
The passion for engineering that Giancarlo has was ignited by the immersion he has had at his schools STEM program. Being enrolled in this program means he has challenged himself with a rigorous course load that includes AP classes such as calculus AB/BC, physics C, and now chemistry and biology.
Furthermore, he has started to explore the possibility of a project under the leadership of Dr. Emily Wilson, at NASA GSFC, who was thrilled to have him aid her in developing a Python coding protocol that would assist her in the data processing of her two-decade project: the Mini-LHR. This instrument essentially amplifies trace green gases from sunlight to create a graph of the concentrations (spectrum) and is thus a viable option for measuring climate change. His contribution would be a script that takes the data files and removes those that have noticeably awry graphs and contains outliers. Reading her complex papers and being able to present at the AGU fall conference regarding the project is a true honor that has given Giancarlo insight into the engineering process and a variety of connections.
Giancarlo is President of National Honor Society and in that role, he has had many opportunities to be involved in projects that have continued to guide his interest in biology and engineering. One such opportunity is the Environmental Change Task Force he participates in under the mentorship of Dr. Wilson. This experience has led him to carry out work that involves testing the Little Patuxent River Watershed for levels of calcium, which is harmful at high levels to the wildlife in the area. All this research and opportunities have empowered Giancarlo to continue educating himself, and the community at large, to make lasting impact and change the world for the better.
Giancarlo maintains a 4.00 GPA, has applied to Princeton University, Duke University, and Georgia Institute of Technology. He plans to major in aerospace or biomedical engineering.
GPA: 4.00
High School: North County High School
Heritage: Venezuelan
The passion for engineering that Giancarlo has was ignited by the immersion he has had at his schools STEM program. Being enrolled in this program means he has challenged himself with a rigorous course load that includes AP classes such as calculus AB/BC, physics C, and now chemistry and biology.
Furthermore, he has started to explore the possibility of a project under the leadership of Dr. Emily Wilson, at NASA GSFC, who was thrilled to have him aid her in developing a Python coding protocol that would assist her in the data processing of her two-decade project: the Mini-LHR. This instrument essentially amplifies trace green gases from sunlight to create a graph of the concentrations (spectrum) and is thus a viable option for measuring climate change. His contribution would be a script that takes the data files and removes those that have noticeably awry graphs and contains outliers. Reading her complex papers and being able to present at the AGU fall conference regarding the project is a true honor that has given Giancarlo insight into the engineering process and a variety of connections.
Giancarlo is President of National Honor Society and in that role, he has had many opportunities to be involved in projects that have continued to guide his interest in biology and engineering. One such opportunity is the Environmental Change Task Force he participates in under the mentorship of Dr. Wilson. This experience has led him to carry out work that involves testing the Little Patuxent River Watershed for levels of calcium, which is harmful at high levels to the wildlife in the area. All this research and opportunities have empowered Giancarlo to continue educating himself, and the community at large, to make lasting impact and change the world for the better.
Giancarlo maintains a 4.00 GPA, has applied to Princeton University, Duke University, and Georgia Institute of Technology. He plans to major in aerospace or biomedical engineering.
Silver - Joshua Zamora
Hometown: Lorton, VA
GPA: 4.00
High School: Hayfield Secondary School
Heritage: Salvadoran
Joshua loves engineering and computer science. The problem solving and complexity that is involved continues to pique his curiosity and is his drive to study these two subjects this fall when he enrolls in college.
Upon completing his junior year of high school, Joshua applied for and was admitted to the Pathways for Future Engineers program hosted by Virginia Tech. This program tasked participants with generating solutions to issues regarding snowplows and their implementation that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) had presented to the group.
“We were able to create a slideshow depicting our thoughts and a prototype, using an Arduino, that was a supplement to our presentation. On the last day of the program, we presented our WIP ideas to VDOT themselves… we were also introduced to all the engineering fields by guest speakers who were Virginia Tech graduates,” says Joshua as he recalls his experience. He had such an incredible experience that it was after this program that he was compelled to apply Early Decision Application to Virginia Tech.
For the past two years, Joshua has also been involved in Honor Societies at his high school. In these societies and he regularly tutors students in math and science as well. He serves as a mentor of sorts to them and in addition to all of this, he also finds the time to work a part-time job. He does all of this while maintaining a perfect 4.00 GPA.
Joshua plans to enroll at either Virginia Tech, George Mason University, or University of Virginia and major in engineering and computer science.
GPA: 4.00
High School: Hayfield Secondary School
Heritage: Salvadoran
Joshua loves engineering and computer science. The problem solving and complexity that is involved continues to pique his curiosity and is his drive to study these two subjects this fall when he enrolls in college.
Upon completing his junior year of high school, Joshua applied for and was admitted to the Pathways for Future Engineers program hosted by Virginia Tech. This program tasked participants with generating solutions to issues regarding snowplows and their implementation that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) had presented to the group.
“We were able to create a slideshow depicting our thoughts and a prototype, using an Arduino, that was a supplement to our presentation. On the last day of the program, we presented our WIP ideas to VDOT themselves… we were also introduced to all the engineering fields by guest speakers who were Virginia Tech graduates,” says Joshua as he recalls his experience. He had such an incredible experience that it was after this program that he was compelled to apply Early Decision Application to Virginia Tech.
For the past two years, Joshua has also been involved in Honor Societies at his high school. In these societies and he regularly tutors students in math and science as well. He serves as a mentor of sorts to them and in addition to all of this, he also finds the time to work a part-time job. He does all of this while maintaining a perfect 4.00 GPA.
Joshua plans to enroll at either Virginia Tech, George Mason University, or University of Virginia and major in engineering and computer science.
Bronze - Melissa Gullien
Hometown: Upper Marlboro , MD
GPA: 3.90
High School: Elizabeth Seton High School
Heritage: Salvadoran
Melissa still remembers when she fell in love with engineering – she was in middle school and attended a STEM workshop at James Madison Middle School where she was able to program and build a robot as well as build catapults to launch marshmallows. This experience fascinated her and inspired her to attend an engineering focused high school. At Elizabeth Seton, she enrolled in a pre-career program called LEAD, which stands for learning, engineering, and design. Her first year alone she worked with machinery and building various structures which led her to want to focus on civil engineering. She absolutely loved being able to work with her hands.
Her curiosity and drive led her to create a robotics club during her sophomore year of high school. It began with just seven members, and it has now grown to more than thirty. As a team, the club has already received prestigious awards and recognitions including: the VEX IQ Robotics Judges Award at US Postal Office (USPTO) in Virginia in 2019, the VEX IQ Robotics Judges Award at the Charles County Competition in 2020, and they have competed in the Maryland State Robotics Championship. Additionally, she has individually participated in the 2020 Exelon STEM Innovation+Leadership Academy and won the Fire Protection Engineering Burn Day 2020 at the University of Maryland.
In addition to all her accomplishments, she always finds time to give back to her community. So much so that in 2019, she received the award for Student
with the Most Service Hours. “I love my service hour experiences because it allows me to see the world beyond what I know and see the happiness that spreads,” says Melissa.
She maintains a 3.90 GPA and plans to study civil engineering this fall at either the University of Maryland, Northeastern University, or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
GPA: 3.90
High School: Elizabeth Seton High School
Heritage: Salvadoran
Melissa still remembers when she fell in love with engineering – she was in middle school and attended a STEM workshop at James Madison Middle School where she was able to program and build a robot as well as build catapults to launch marshmallows. This experience fascinated her and inspired her to attend an engineering focused high school. At Elizabeth Seton, she enrolled in a pre-career program called LEAD, which stands for learning, engineering, and design. Her first year alone she worked with machinery and building various structures which led her to want to focus on civil engineering. She absolutely loved being able to work with her hands.
Her curiosity and drive led her to create a robotics club during her sophomore year of high school. It began with just seven members, and it has now grown to more than thirty. As a team, the club has already received prestigious awards and recognitions including: the VEX IQ Robotics Judges Award at US Postal Office (USPTO) in Virginia in 2019, the VEX IQ Robotics Judges Award at the Charles County Competition in 2020, and they have competed in the Maryland State Robotics Championship. Additionally, she has individually participated in the 2020 Exelon STEM Innovation+Leadership Academy and won the Fire Protection Engineering Burn Day 2020 at the University of Maryland.
In addition to all her accomplishments, she always finds time to give back to her community. So much so that in 2019, she received the award for Student
with the Most Service Hours. “I love my service hour experiences because it allows me to see the world beyond what I know and see the happiness that spreads,” says Melissa.
She maintains a 3.90 GPA and plans to study civil engineering this fall at either the University of Maryland, Northeastern University, or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Healthcare & Science
GOLD - Briana Howard
Hometown: Saddle River, NJ
GPA: 3.97
High School: Bergen County Academies
Heritage: Puerto Rican
Briana is a student at the Academy for Medical Science Technology, a public magnet school, Bergen County Academies (BCA). The honors-only curriculum at this school provides exposure to specialized coursework, including anatomy & physiology, biotechnology, pharmacology, hematology & oncology, epidemiology, neuroscience, bioethics, zoology, and immunology. She has completed coursework with clinical and research opportunities at local hospitals. Specifically, she was chosen as 1 of 3 students to work with Englewood Hospital and the National Cancer Institute to analyze patient data to assess genetic predisposition for breast cancer.
Most recently, she was named Chief Scientific Officer of her school’s student-run biotech firm, Provita Pharmaceuticals. And she is currently working as 1 of 2 students chosen for a general pediatrics internship at a local children’s hospital. She has had the opportunity to establish foundational skills in laboratory research in molecular biology and genetics at the BCA Stem Cell Research Lab through a personal research project titled “Retinoid Modulation on MYCN Gene Expression Inhibiting Neuroblastoma Cell Growth.” In addition to culturing cells and performing RNA extraction and RT-PCR, she was the first student to use my school’s newly obtained RNA sequencing equipment.
All these incredible experiences mentioned have further reinforced her desire to attend a college with a strong pre-med curriculum and pursue research opportunities at affiliated hospitals. Her ongoing neuroblastoma research has further fueled her interest in using these experiences to eventually become a physician.
The sky is the limited for Briana who maintains a 3.97 GPA and plans to major in biology at Harvard this fall.
GPA: 3.97
High School: Bergen County Academies
Heritage: Puerto Rican
Briana is a student at the Academy for Medical Science Technology, a public magnet school, Bergen County Academies (BCA). The honors-only curriculum at this school provides exposure to specialized coursework, including anatomy & physiology, biotechnology, pharmacology, hematology & oncology, epidemiology, neuroscience, bioethics, zoology, and immunology. She has completed coursework with clinical and research opportunities at local hospitals. Specifically, she was chosen as 1 of 3 students to work with Englewood Hospital and the National Cancer Institute to analyze patient data to assess genetic predisposition for breast cancer.
Most recently, she was named Chief Scientific Officer of her school’s student-run biotech firm, Provita Pharmaceuticals. And she is currently working as 1 of 2 students chosen for a general pediatrics internship at a local children’s hospital. She has had the opportunity to establish foundational skills in laboratory research in molecular biology and genetics at the BCA Stem Cell Research Lab through a personal research project titled “Retinoid Modulation on MYCN Gene Expression Inhibiting Neuroblastoma Cell Growth.” In addition to culturing cells and performing RNA extraction and RT-PCR, she was the first student to use my school’s newly obtained RNA sequencing equipment.
All these incredible experiences mentioned have further reinforced her desire to attend a college with a strong pre-med curriculum and pursue research opportunities at affiliated hospitals. Her ongoing neuroblastoma research has further fueled her interest in using these experiences to eventually become a physician.
The sky is the limited for Briana who maintains a 3.97 GPA and plans to major in biology at Harvard this fall.
Silver - Michelle Rodríguez Cruz
Hometown: Bowie, MD
GPA: 4.00
High School: Bowie High School
Heritage: Mexican
Michelle’s interest in healthcare started at an early age and it grew exponentially with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the peak of COVID, she participated in a citywide lecture series where she organized & co-hosted a virtual conference around COVID-19; recruiting four NIH research scientists to provide accurate information & debunk myths surrounding the virus. In addition, she has been a team director for her high school’s Teens with Heartsongs initiative, where she leads 20 students and organizes multiple active fundraisers with businesses. As a result of this, she was able to raise nearly two thousand dollars for the Children’s National Hospital Housing fund.
In addition, she has also been involved in virtual tutoring for the Latino Student Fund and tutoring students as a Writing Center tutor at her high school. As a tutor in the Latino Student Fund, she works to construct lesson plans and teach math, English, and native language concepts to Latino elementary & middle school students. Since her junior year of high school, she has worked with a group of 8 to support hundreds of high school students with all forms of writing, including class assignments, AP exam essays, supplemental & personal statements.
Michelle is also involved in Phi Theta Kappa, has been awarded the President’s award for Educational Excellence, is a SUMMIT Scholar, and maintains a perfect 4.00 GPA. She plans to study nursing at Towson University this fall.
Bronze - Carla Becerra Sabrera
Hometown: Arlington, VA
GPA: 4.00
High School: Washington Liberty High-School
Heritage: Peruvian
When she was younger, Carla would accompany her mother to Culpepper Apartments where she worked as a caregiver for elderly patients. “Joyce was my mother’s very first patient and thus she grew fond of her,” recalls Carla. Her mother did more than schedule her doctor’s appointments and give her medication. She would walk her around the neighborhood, recount old stories, and even celebrated her birthday at their house, so she wouldn’t spend it alone. This experience was one of the most transformative for Carla in her childhood and sparked her interest in service and healthcare. In middle school, Carla came across a book about human anatomy and was drawn in by the complexities and intricacies of the interactions between biology and medicine.
In high school, she realized healthcare was how she wanted to make a difference in the world and her passion for using medicine and biology to support others in need, so she decided to explore this field. Her high school IB Biology class gave her the perfect opportunity to have a more thorough understanding of human health through the study of genetics and molecular biology. She also learned more about the medical field as an intern at the Quest Student Research Institute, a non-profit that provides underrepresented students with biomedical and cancer biology research opportunities. She can still picture Joyce’s face from time to time; she remembers how much of an impact her mom had on Joyce and she hopes to one day pay it forward to others who need quality healthcare.
She actively engages in community service and is involved in various clubs and leadership roles at her high school in addition to a very rigorous academic calendar. Carla maintains a perfect 4.00 GPA and plans to be pre-med at either the University of Virginia, Georgetown University, or the University of Chicago.
GPA: 4.00
High School: Washington Liberty High-School
Heritage: Peruvian
When she was younger, Carla would accompany her mother to Culpepper Apartments where she worked as a caregiver for elderly patients. “Joyce was my mother’s very first patient and thus she grew fond of her,” recalls Carla. Her mother did more than schedule her doctor’s appointments and give her medication. She would walk her around the neighborhood, recount old stories, and even celebrated her birthday at their house, so she wouldn’t spend it alone. This experience was one of the most transformative for Carla in her childhood and sparked her interest in service and healthcare. In middle school, Carla came across a book about human anatomy and was drawn in by the complexities and intricacies of the interactions between biology and medicine.
In high school, she realized healthcare was how she wanted to make a difference in the world and her passion for using medicine and biology to support others in need, so she decided to explore this field. Her high school IB Biology class gave her the perfect opportunity to have a more thorough understanding of human health through the study of genetics and molecular biology. She also learned more about the medical field as an intern at the Quest Student Research Institute, a non-profit that provides underrepresented students with biomedical and cancer biology research opportunities. She can still picture Joyce’s face from time to time; she remembers how much of an impact her mom had on Joyce and she hopes to one day pay it forward to others who need quality healthcare.
She actively engages in community service and is involved in various clubs and leadership roles at her high school in addition to a very rigorous academic calendar. Carla maintains a perfect 4.00 GPA and plans to be pre-med at either the University of Virginia, Georgetown University, or the University of Chicago.
Media & Entertainment
GOLD - Marissa Michel
Hometown: Bowie, MD
GPA: 3.82
High School: Sidwell Friends School
Heritage: Puerto Rican & Haitian
For over 11 years, Marissa explored storytelling in many forms from visual to written to performing art. Her inspirations as a storyteller come from her heritage and life experiences and a Puerto Rican and Haitian poet. She is always finding innovative ways to weave her perspective on the world into all her works. For example, Marissa was the principal artist of the 2021 ‘Raising Las Voces’ exhibit, which is a collection of artworks that combine poetry and digital art to highlight Latino heritage.
Recently, Marissa served as the Youth Poet Laureate for Prince George’s County, where she performed alongside and received mentorship from acclaimed poets and led workshops. Her clout does not end there. Marissa has made numerous short films, which have been recognized by the Prague International Indie Film Festival and the All-American High School Film Festival.
Her teachers describe Marissa as someone who finds joy in sharing knowledge with others. Indeed, Marissa runs “Turning the Page,” a nationwide, teen-led journal and social justice committee, as Editor-in-Chief. Her passion and leadership cultivated a community of incredible writers and artists across the United States, where the journal published anthologies and graphics each month. She has also worked to increase equitable access to arts programs and opportunities for disadvantaged students. She performed at events for her County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, where she emphasized the importance of arts education. Marissa has hosted and led workshops to teach teens and adults about the craft of poetry. She has worked dozens of hours narrating books for Learning Ally, an organization that provides audio books for visually impaired students.
Marissa is on an intellectual and emotional journey towards understanding and knowing the importance of telling stories that have gone unheard. As such, she hopes to pursue a degree in film and television production at New York University’s Tisch School, Columbia University, or the University of Southern California.
GPA: 3.82
High School: Sidwell Friends School
Heritage: Puerto Rican & Haitian
For over 11 years, Marissa explored storytelling in many forms from visual to written to performing art. Her inspirations as a storyteller come from her heritage and life experiences and a Puerto Rican and Haitian poet. She is always finding innovative ways to weave her perspective on the world into all her works. For example, Marissa was the principal artist of the 2021 ‘Raising Las Voces’ exhibit, which is a collection of artworks that combine poetry and digital art to highlight Latino heritage.
Recently, Marissa served as the Youth Poet Laureate for Prince George’s County, where she performed alongside and received mentorship from acclaimed poets and led workshops. Her clout does not end there. Marissa has made numerous short films, which have been recognized by the Prague International Indie Film Festival and the All-American High School Film Festival.
Her teachers describe Marissa as someone who finds joy in sharing knowledge with others. Indeed, Marissa runs “Turning the Page,” a nationwide, teen-led journal and social justice committee, as Editor-in-Chief. Her passion and leadership cultivated a community of incredible writers and artists across the United States, where the journal published anthologies and graphics each month. She has also worked to increase equitable access to arts programs and opportunities for disadvantaged students. She performed at events for her County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, where she emphasized the importance of arts education. Marissa has hosted and led workshops to teach teens and adults about the craft of poetry. She has worked dozens of hours narrating books for Learning Ally, an organization that provides audio books for visually impaired students.
Marissa is on an intellectual and emotional journey towards understanding and knowing the importance of telling stories that have gone unheard. As such, she hopes to pursue a degree in film and television production at New York University’s Tisch School, Columbia University, or the University of Southern California.
Silver - Daniela Velásquez
Hometown: Chery Hill , NJ
GPA: 4.00
High School: Phillips Academy Andover
Heritage: Panamanian
Daniela cannot imagine her life without art. It is her emotional outlet, her form of meditation and a powerful vehicle for storytelling. As a child, she dreamt of joining the ranks of writers like Dr. Suess and Roald Dahl, to craft worlds and characters to show other people her inner world. Her skills and love for the arts have been awarded the Gold Key prize at the Scholastic Arts & Writing competition.
Arts occupy much of Daniela’s extracurricular involvements. She serves as the Illustrations Editor for her school’s student-run, award-winning, uncensored weekly newspaper, The Phillipian. She also works as the Arts Editor and Managing Director of The Courant, the longest-running arts and literary journal at Andover. It’s only natural for Daniela to have a choral pursuit as a way to voice stories. She is a member of her school’s most selective, faculty-run ensemble, Fidelio Society.
An astute and incisive thinker, Daniela approaches her scholarship head-on with curiosity and passion. She hopes to bridge creativity with biology and human nature. In her religion and philosophy class, Views of Human Nature, she developed the vocabulary to voice the amorphous ideas that has occupied her mind for a while. She believes that learning from other animals is not just valuable, but necessary in order to understand our relationship to this Earth. Service is a non-negotiable responsibility of life on this planet. Daniela spent last summer volunteering at a wildlife refuge center, caring for a range of animals, including fawns, songbirds, opossums, and squirrels.
In a pursuit to explore truth through writing and illustration, Daniela hopes to attend Brown University, the University of Michigan, or Tufts University to receive a BFA in Studio Arts or Communication Arts.
GPA: 4.00
High School: Phillips Academy Andover
Heritage: Panamanian
Daniela cannot imagine her life without art. It is her emotional outlet, her form of meditation and a powerful vehicle for storytelling. As a child, she dreamt of joining the ranks of writers like Dr. Suess and Roald Dahl, to craft worlds and characters to show other people her inner world. Her skills and love for the arts have been awarded the Gold Key prize at the Scholastic Arts & Writing competition.
Arts occupy much of Daniela’s extracurricular involvements. She serves as the Illustrations Editor for her school’s student-run, award-winning, uncensored weekly newspaper, The Phillipian. She also works as the Arts Editor and Managing Director of The Courant, the longest-running arts and literary journal at Andover. It’s only natural for Daniela to have a choral pursuit as a way to voice stories. She is a member of her school’s most selective, faculty-run ensemble, Fidelio Society.
An astute and incisive thinker, Daniela approaches her scholarship head-on with curiosity and passion. She hopes to bridge creativity with biology and human nature. In her religion and philosophy class, Views of Human Nature, she developed the vocabulary to voice the amorphous ideas that has occupied her mind for a while. She believes that learning from other animals is not just valuable, but necessary in order to understand our relationship to this Earth. Service is a non-negotiable responsibility of life on this planet. Daniela spent last summer volunteering at a wildlife refuge center, caring for a range of animals, including fawns, songbirds, opossums, and squirrels.
In a pursuit to explore truth through writing and illustration, Daniela hopes to attend Brown University, the University of Michigan, or Tufts University to receive a BFA in Studio Arts or Communication Arts.
Bronze - Alexander Díaz
Hometown: East Rutherford , NJ
GPA: 3.90
High School: Bergen County Academies
Heritage: Peruvian
Social media is prevalent in our every day lives now. Many users are simply consumers of social media but the other side of it is the content creators. This is an area that Alexander has enjoyed for a long time and one in which he has seen success in as he runs his own YouTube channel. On this channel, he creates educational and entertaining content that revolves around different video games. He records himself playing a certain game, edit the video using applications such as DaVinci Resolve or Adobe Premiere Pro, enhance the settings and publish it to YouTube. He also runs an Instagram page where he posts content related to his videos and occasionally makes memes for them as well. He has been able to grow his user base exponentially over the years and has created a large following audience in just a short timeframe.
In addition to the various social media channels he manages, he has also taken courses in school relating to Media and Entertainment such as Video Production and Digital Photography. With these courses he has been able to strengthen his knowledge in applications such as Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop as well as applied these skills to his YouTube channel and Instagram page.
What started as an interest and something to do for fun then turned into a passion project and has since turned into something bigger which has led to Alexander considering new ways to edit his content, how to retain and increase the number of followers, and even how to best market his channels.
Alexander maintains a 3.90 GPA and plans to major in quantitative finance/business analytics at one of the three colleges he has applied to which include: Stevens Institute of Technology, Georgetown University, and George Washington University.
GPA: 3.90
High School: Bergen County Academies
Heritage: Peruvian
Social media is prevalent in our every day lives now. Many users are simply consumers of social media but the other side of it is the content creators. This is an area that Alexander has enjoyed for a long time and one in which he has seen success in as he runs his own YouTube channel. On this channel, he creates educational and entertaining content that revolves around different video games. He records himself playing a certain game, edit the video using applications such as DaVinci Resolve or Adobe Premiere Pro, enhance the settings and publish it to YouTube. He also runs an Instagram page where he posts content related to his videos and occasionally makes memes for them as well. He has been able to grow his user base exponentially over the years and has created a large following audience in just a short timeframe.
In addition to the various social media channels he manages, he has also taken courses in school relating to Media and Entertainment such as Video Production and Digital Photography. With these courses he has been able to strengthen his knowledge in applications such as Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop as well as applied these skills to his YouTube channel and Instagram page.
What started as an interest and something to do for fun then turned into a passion project and has since turned into something bigger which has led to Alexander considering new ways to edit his content, how to retain and increase the number of followers, and even how to best market his channels.
Alexander maintains a 3.90 GPA and plans to major in quantitative finance/business analytics at one of the three colleges he has applied to which include: Stevens Institute of Technology, Georgetown University, and George Washington University.
Public Service & Social Justice
GOLD - Isabela Santos
Hometown: Rockville, MD
GPA: 3.79
High School: Richard Montgomery High School
Heritage: Mexican
Isabela’s passion for public service and social justice centers around her commitment to support communities of color. Inspired by her parents and grandparents, who were Mexican immigrants who all worked in the fields of the San Joaquin Valley in Northern California. With no formal education, her grandparents worked hard to create opportunities for their families. From this, Isabela recognizes the power of social justice for marginalized and disadvantaged communities. She has participated in many leadership programs focused on activism for Black, Latinx, and students of color across Maryland.
Isabela was a student at The American Civil Liberties Union Summer Advocacy Institute, which shaped her outlook on activism. She was also a participant at the Peace Ambassador Leadership Summit, which a chapter of Nation Voices for Equality, Education, and Enlightenment, where she learned the importance of understanding people and their outlook to better express her arguments to support others.
From these programs, she built up the power and leadership skills to create the Jaguar Scholars Leadership Program, which teaches minority students leadership skills. The tutoring program allowed her to make an intentional impact with the youth of today. She wanted to close the opportunity gap for young Black and Latinx students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. As the founding president of Jaguar Scholars, she oversaw dozens of mentors and mentees. With her resourcefulness, she used all of the programming platforms to reach and educate people as about the history of Black and Latinx people.
When teachers think about Isabela, one quality stands out: her enthusiasm. Her teachers write that she stands out from other students because of her love and passion to build and work collaboratively with others. She has fostered thoughtful discourse within the classroom, working to promote an anti-racist culture.
Isabela hopes to continue her educational pursuits around race and politics and history in college, where she hopes to attend George Washington University, American University, or the University of Maryland to pursue a degree in sociology.
GPA: 3.79
High School: Richard Montgomery High School
Heritage: Mexican
Isabela’s passion for public service and social justice centers around her commitment to support communities of color. Inspired by her parents and grandparents, who were Mexican immigrants who all worked in the fields of the San Joaquin Valley in Northern California. With no formal education, her grandparents worked hard to create opportunities for their families. From this, Isabela recognizes the power of social justice for marginalized and disadvantaged communities. She has participated in many leadership programs focused on activism for Black, Latinx, and students of color across Maryland.
Isabela was a student at The American Civil Liberties Union Summer Advocacy Institute, which shaped her outlook on activism. She was also a participant at the Peace Ambassador Leadership Summit, which a chapter of Nation Voices for Equality, Education, and Enlightenment, where she learned the importance of understanding people and their outlook to better express her arguments to support others.
From these programs, she built up the power and leadership skills to create the Jaguar Scholars Leadership Program, which teaches minority students leadership skills. The tutoring program allowed her to make an intentional impact with the youth of today. She wanted to close the opportunity gap for young Black and Latinx students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. As the founding president of Jaguar Scholars, she oversaw dozens of mentors and mentees. With her resourcefulness, she used all of the programming platforms to reach and educate people as about the history of Black and Latinx people.
When teachers think about Isabela, one quality stands out: her enthusiasm. Her teachers write that she stands out from other students because of her love and passion to build and work collaboratively with others. She has fostered thoughtful discourse within the classroom, working to promote an anti-racist culture.
Isabela hopes to continue her educational pursuits around race and politics and history in college, where she hopes to attend George Washington University, American University, or the University of Maryland to pursue a degree in sociology.
Silver - Lauren Campano
Hometown: Rockville, MD
GPA: 4.00
High School: Richard Montgomery High School
Heritage: Peruvian
Creating opportunities for underserved members of her community has been a goal of Lauren since she can remember. One club that has been particularly enriching is her work with the Jaguar Scholars Leadership Program. This program gathers minority high school scholars and teaches them leadership skills. They then are connected with minority students from local elementary schools where they not only tutor them but act as positive role models in their lives. Another example is her leadership in creating a College Readiness Club, where she worked with historically marginalized students to apply to colleges. She was able to aid almost 100 students through the college admissions process.
Lauren is always finding ways to give back to the community. Serving on the executive board of Kicks for Kindness, she organizes monthly shoe drives to donate used shoes to Soles4Souls. She has helped to collect almost 2,000 pairs of shoes thus far and plans to collect more in the future. Lauren has also used her academic prowess to tutor elementary students of color each week on different subjects including math and English.
But her commitment to public service does not end there. Lauren has extensive leadership training beyond what is offered at her school and inside the classroom. She attended the National Hispanic Bar Foundation Law Institute and the National Hispanic Institute Great Debate Conference. These programs have shaped Laurent to be a premier advocate for communities in need.
Lauren plans to attend the University of Maryland College Park, University of Miami, or the University of Florida to study political science.
GPA: 4.00
High School: Richard Montgomery High School
Heritage: Peruvian
Creating opportunities for underserved members of her community has been a goal of Lauren since she can remember. One club that has been particularly enriching is her work with the Jaguar Scholars Leadership Program. This program gathers minority high school scholars and teaches them leadership skills. They then are connected with minority students from local elementary schools where they not only tutor them but act as positive role models in their lives. Another example is her leadership in creating a College Readiness Club, where she worked with historically marginalized students to apply to colleges. She was able to aid almost 100 students through the college admissions process.
Lauren is always finding ways to give back to the community. Serving on the executive board of Kicks for Kindness, she organizes monthly shoe drives to donate used shoes to Soles4Souls. She has helped to collect almost 2,000 pairs of shoes thus far and plans to collect more in the future. Lauren has also used her academic prowess to tutor elementary students of color each week on different subjects including math and English.
But her commitment to public service does not end there. Lauren has extensive leadership training beyond what is offered at her school and inside the classroom. She attended the National Hispanic Bar Foundation Law Institute and the National Hispanic Institute Great Debate Conference. These programs have shaped Laurent to be a premier advocate for communities in need.
Lauren plans to attend the University of Maryland College Park, University of Miami, or the University of Florida to study political science.
Bronze - Katherine Gillen
Hometown: Arlington, VA
GPA: 4.00
High School: Wakefield High School
Heritage: Filipino
“Visionary.” That’s a word many of Katherine’s friends and family members have used to describe her. When Katherine has a vision, she’s on a mission to achieve it. For example, she hoped to create a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment at her school, so she joined her school’s Wakefield Equity Team, where she was one of a handful of students working with faculty and parents over the summer to identify inequities at the school and craft solutions.
Katherine is an elite athlete who rows competitively and recently won the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association Women’s First Eight State Championship in 2021. Due to her commitment and passion, she helped to double the team’s size. Her coach details how Katherine completely took over and revamped the team’s social media and website, organized their booth for activity fairs at the school, and has worked with younger rowers to make sure they feel welcome on the team. Despite no official practice due to the pandemic, Katherine found ways to train by herself and checked in constantly with her teammates.
Katherine believes that giving back and paying forward service are critical ways for a community to thrive. Her inspiration for public service is her grandfather who served over 30 years in the US Navy, so she has found ways to work within her community to give back. She has organized food drives and clothing drives through her community church and performed holiday concerts at local retirement homes. Her love for rowing is something Katherine has incorporated into her community service efforts. She volunteers with Athletes Without Limits. As a volunteer with that organization, she has worked with athletes who have an intellectually disability (ID), veterans, and middle school students. Her commitment to public service has been recognized by the Philippine Embassy for the 2019 Jose P. Rizal Youth Award.
Balancing a rigorous athletic schedule with a heavy AP course load, Katherine is a dedicated scholar athlete. She hopes to attend University of Virginia, Brown University, or University of Richmond to study History, Policy, and Law.
GPA: 4.00
High School: Wakefield High School
Heritage: Filipino
“Visionary.” That’s a word many of Katherine’s friends and family members have used to describe her. When Katherine has a vision, she’s on a mission to achieve it. For example, she hoped to create a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment at her school, so she joined her school’s Wakefield Equity Team, where she was one of a handful of students working with faculty and parents over the summer to identify inequities at the school and craft solutions.
Katherine is an elite athlete who rows competitively and recently won the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association Women’s First Eight State Championship in 2021. Due to her commitment and passion, she helped to double the team’s size. Her coach details how Katherine completely took over and revamped the team’s social media and website, organized their booth for activity fairs at the school, and has worked with younger rowers to make sure they feel welcome on the team. Despite no official practice due to the pandemic, Katherine found ways to train by herself and checked in constantly with her teammates.
Katherine believes that giving back and paying forward service are critical ways for a community to thrive. Her inspiration for public service is her grandfather who served over 30 years in the US Navy, so she has found ways to work within her community to give back. She has organized food drives and clothing drives through her community church and performed holiday concerts at local retirement homes. Her love for rowing is something Katherine has incorporated into her community service efforts. She volunteers with Athletes Without Limits. As a volunteer with that organization, she has worked with athletes who have an intellectually disability (ID), veterans, and middle school students. Her commitment to public service has been recognized by the Philippine Embassy for the 2019 Jose P. Rizal Youth Award.
Balancing a rigorous athletic schedule with a heavy AP course load, Katherine is a dedicated scholar athlete. She hopes to attend University of Virginia, Brown University, or University of Richmond to study History, Policy, and Law.
Sports & Fitness
GOLD - Gabriella Henson-Vendrell
Hometown: Haymarket, VA
GPA: 3.95
High School: Saint Paul VI Catholic High School
Heritage: Puerto Rican & Dominican
Gabriella Henson-Vendrell is a young woman of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent, who is the definition of a role model. She has been a pioneer for other women of color in a predominantly White sport: lacrosse.
In the summer of 2019, a part of the first Under 19 Puerto Rico Women’s National Lacrosse Team and armed with new sticks and equipment for each kid, she ventured to Cabo Rojo to lead a lacrosse clinic at a co-ed sports camp with more than one hundred participants. Being able to teach children about her passion changed her life, especially because she could be an example to follow to children that look like her. Her time on the team was a phenomenal experience that created bonds, not only with other Puerto Rican women, but also with other women around the world. Her athletic abilities led her to make the Senior Women’s National Team last summer, going on to compete at the World Championships.
Gabriella was also selected as an ambassador for Nation’s United, which serves to spread diversity in lacrosse and give athletes of color a space to share their challenges.
In addition to her athletics, Gabriella was inspired to become an international human rights attorney, becoming heavily involved in service initiatives after visiting Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic as a child and seeing the disparities between the two countries. For her end of year research project, Gabriella looked at the need for more affordable housing through the lens of 1970s downtown Los Angeles and the factors and possible solutions for individuals living on Skid Row. In response to society’s call for more conversations about social justice, Gabriella was asked to be one of the students in a focus group that addressed social and racial inequalities. In her “quiet but effective demeanor,” Gabriella spoke about her own personal experiences. Gabriella and her sister also created Panthers United, an organization looking at issues impacting students of color, particularly mental health.
Despite all these accolades, and according to her counselor, she is “a humble and gracious young woman with strong commitment to her family.” With an impressive 3.95 GPA, and ranked as fourth in her entire class, Gabriella plants to major in Economics and International Business at Villanova University, where she has committed to playing Division 1 Lacrosse this fall.
GPA: 3.95
High School: Saint Paul VI Catholic High School
Heritage: Puerto Rican & Dominican
Gabriella Henson-Vendrell is a young woman of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent, who is the definition of a role model. She has been a pioneer for other women of color in a predominantly White sport: lacrosse.
In the summer of 2019, a part of the first Under 19 Puerto Rico Women’s National Lacrosse Team and armed with new sticks and equipment for each kid, she ventured to Cabo Rojo to lead a lacrosse clinic at a co-ed sports camp with more than one hundred participants. Being able to teach children about her passion changed her life, especially because she could be an example to follow to children that look like her. Her time on the team was a phenomenal experience that created bonds, not only with other Puerto Rican women, but also with other women around the world. Her athletic abilities led her to make the Senior Women’s National Team last summer, going on to compete at the World Championships.
Gabriella was also selected as an ambassador for Nation’s United, which serves to spread diversity in lacrosse and give athletes of color a space to share their challenges.
In addition to her athletics, Gabriella was inspired to become an international human rights attorney, becoming heavily involved in service initiatives after visiting Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic as a child and seeing the disparities between the two countries. For her end of year research project, Gabriella looked at the need for more affordable housing through the lens of 1970s downtown Los Angeles and the factors and possible solutions for individuals living on Skid Row. In response to society’s call for more conversations about social justice, Gabriella was asked to be one of the students in a focus group that addressed social and racial inequalities. In her “quiet but effective demeanor,” Gabriella spoke about her own personal experiences. Gabriella and her sister also created Panthers United, an organization looking at issues impacting students of color, particularly mental health.
Despite all these accolades, and according to her counselor, she is “a humble and gracious young woman with strong commitment to her family.” With an impressive 3.95 GPA, and ranked as fourth in her entire class, Gabriella plants to major in Economics and International Business at Villanova University, where she has committed to playing Division 1 Lacrosse this fall.
Silver - Aaron Williams
Hometown: Williamstown, NJ
GPA: 4.00
High School: Williamstown High School
Heritage: Puerto Rican
As the top 5% of his school, Aaron does it all. He is a four-year member of the student council, member of the Spanish National Honors Society, a two-year member of the prestigious National Honors Society, a four-year member of the Varsity Football Team, a four-year member of the Varsity Swimming Team of which he has been the captain for three seasons. It is extremely rare for a student to be a captain of a varsity program as a sophomore, but Aaron is a perfect fit for leadership roles.
It is rare to find a young adult that can balance an Honors/AP heavy High School schedule, competitive sports, a job, and a social life effectively. Aaron accomplishes this without any downside. His teachers describe Aaron as someone exudes confidence in the classroom and stands by what he believes.
Aaron has worked to create an inclusive environment in the sports world, specifically swimming. Swimming has historically been a sport dominated by white athletes. Aaron is African American and Puerto Rican, so growing up, he rarely saw anyone around the pool deck that looked like him. Through his achievements, which include qualifying for national meets, being named MVP of his swim team twice, holding over 15 swimming records, Aaron is challenging who can occupy the waters.
According to Aaron, community service is an essential deed that is needed to keep the world heading in a good direction. Inspired by his dad, Aaron finds ways to build community through service projects. He regularly volunteers at his local swim club, teaching young children how to swim. Aaron also participates in food drives and clothing drives.
With the balanced skillset, it’s no brainer that Aaron will excel in his major in Supply Chain Management. He hopes to attend Lehigh University, Howard University, or Rider University.
GPA: 4.00
High School: Williamstown High School
Heritage: Puerto Rican
As the top 5% of his school, Aaron does it all. He is a four-year member of the student council, member of the Spanish National Honors Society, a two-year member of the prestigious National Honors Society, a four-year member of the Varsity Football Team, a four-year member of the Varsity Swimming Team of which he has been the captain for three seasons. It is extremely rare for a student to be a captain of a varsity program as a sophomore, but Aaron is a perfect fit for leadership roles.
It is rare to find a young adult that can balance an Honors/AP heavy High School schedule, competitive sports, a job, and a social life effectively. Aaron accomplishes this without any downside. His teachers describe Aaron as someone exudes confidence in the classroom and stands by what he believes.
Aaron has worked to create an inclusive environment in the sports world, specifically swimming. Swimming has historically been a sport dominated by white athletes. Aaron is African American and Puerto Rican, so growing up, he rarely saw anyone around the pool deck that looked like him. Through his achievements, which include qualifying for national meets, being named MVP of his swim team twice, holding over 15 swimming records, Aaron is challenging who can occupy the waters.
According to Aaron, community service is an essential deed that is needed to keep the world heading in a good direction. Inspired by his dad, Aaron finds ways to build community through service projects. He regularly volunteers at his local swim club, teaching young children how to swim. Aaron also participates in food drives and clothing drives.
With the balanced skillset, it’s no brainer that Aaron will excel in his major in Supply Chain Management. He hopes to attend Lehigh University, Howard University, or Rider University.
Bronze - Isabella Henson-Vendrell
Hometown: Haymarket, VA
GPA: 3.77
High School: Saint Paul VI Catholic High School
Heritage: Puerto Rican & Dominican
Since the moment Isabella began walking on her two feet, sports have been a large part of her life. Before finding her love for lacrosse, Isabella ran track and played basketball and soccer. The discovery of lacrosse as a passion changed her trajectory forever. Since, she has competed on international teams, all-star teams, club teams, and high-level travel teams in the sport. In fact, Isabella currently competes for the Puerto Rico Women’s National Lacrosse Team.
Isabella does not hesitate to offer her athletics skills to help other young girls. She coaches every summer at her school’s lacrosse camp, teaching girls aged 8-12 how to play lacrosse. As a member of the Puerto Rico Women’s National Lacrosse Team, she also volunteers in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico to teach lacrosse to a young generation of future lacrosse players.
Lacrosse is a sport dominated by white and affluent players. As an ambassador of the Nation United Lacrosse Foundation, Isabella is champion for diversity in lacrosse. She hopes to provide opportunities for exposure and connection for other players who are often accustomed to being the only person of color on their teams. Through her advocacy work and scholarship, she was awarded the Citizen Scholar Award from the University of Vermont.
Isabella hopes to add to her communications and leadership experience by pursuing a degree in communications, specializing in public relations and advertising, at Villanova University.
GPA: 3.77
High School: Saint Paul VI Catholic High School
Heritage: Puerto Rican & Dominican
Since the moment Isabella began walking on her two feet, sports have been a large part of her life. Before finding her love for lacrosse, Isabella ran track and played basketball and soccer. The discovery of lacrosse as a passion changed her trajectory forever. Since, she has competed on international teams, all-star teams, club teams, and high-level travel teams in the sport. In fact, Isabella currently competes for the Puerto Rico Women’s National Lacrosse Team.
Isabella does not hesitate to offer her athletics skills to help other young girls. She coaches every summer at her school’s lacrosse camp, teaching girls aged 8-12 how to play lacrosse. As a member of the Puerto Rico Women’s National Lacrosse Team, she also volunteers in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico to teach lacrosse to a young generation of future lacrosse players.
Lacrosse is a sport dominated by white and affluent players. As an ambassador of the Nation United Lacrosse Foundation, Isabella is champion for diversity in lacrosse. She hopes to provide opportunities for exposure and connection for other players who are often accustomed to being the only person of color on their teams. Through her advocacy work and scholarship, she was awarded the Citizen Scholar Award from the University of Vermont.
Isabella hopes to add to her communications and leadership experience by pursuing a degree in communications, specializing in public relations and advertising, at Villanova University.
Sustainability (Green)
GOLD - Ilyas Khan
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
GPA: 4.00
High School: Winchester Thurston High School
Heritage: Argentine
“My mother has always been very focused on the environment. She teaches classes about sustainable and equitable architecture to her students and, naturally, has influenced me to take action in my own way,” says Ilyas. “Once I started fighting for climate justice I couldn't stop. I did workshops, led actions, and met with politicians,” he continues. But perhaps the most important thing that led him to where he is today is his green-sustainability effort that led him to create his own organization: the Western New York Youth Climate Council.
Ilyas’ passion drove him to grow the organization and reach out to students across the country. He began working on a climate justice theater project with students from across the country called “The House on Fire Show,” which will be continuing this coming year.
He recalls a particularly touching moment at his last youth climate strike in Buffalo. It was 81 degrees on September 20th and there were over 1000 people there that day. He remembers the two Seneca elders who came up to him and thanked him for the work he was doing. They gave him a shirt that said, "Water is Life." But to him the shirt represents more than that. It's a reminder that tells him he has a responsibility not only to himself but to others as well. He felt a sense of empowerment, of a community behind him, and embraced every bit of it. It's a moment he often reflects on and makes him wonder what more he can be doing.
All of these experiences have fueled Ilyas and have led him to want to major in environmental science as well as linguistics. He maintains a 4.00 GPA and has applied to Columbia University, New York University, and Oberlin College.
GPA: 4.00
High School: Winchester Thurston High School
Heritage: Argentine
“My mother has always been very focused on the environment. She teaches classes about sustainable and equitable architecture to her students and, naturally, has influenced me to take action in my own way,” says Ilyas. “Once I started fighting for climate justice I couldn't stop. I did workshops, led actions, and met with politicians,” he continues. But perhaps the most important thing that led him to where he is today is his green-sustainability effort that led him to create his own organization: the Western New York Youth Climate Council.
Ilyas’ passion drove him to grow the organization and reach out to students across the country. He began working on a climate justice theater project with students from across the country called “The House on Fire Show,” which will be continuing this coming year.
He recalls a particularly touching moment at his last youth climate strike in Buffalo. It was 81 degrees on September 20th and there were over 1000 people there that day. He remembers the two Seneca elders who came up to him and thanked him for the work he was doing. They gave him a shirt that said, "Water is Life." But to him the shirt represents more than that. It's a reminder that tells him he has a responsibility not only to himself but to others as well. He felt a sense of empowerment, of a community behind him, and embraced every bit of it. It's a moment he often reflects on and makes him wonder what more he can be doing.
All of these experiences have fueled Ilyas and have led him to want to major in environmental science as well as linguistics. He maintains a 4.00 GPA and has applied to Columbia University, New York University, and Oberlin College.
Silver - Ariana Welch
Hometown: Olney , MD
GPA: 4.00
High School: Sherwood High School
Heritage: Panamanian
Ariana still remembers when she was in sixth grade and participated in an overnight trip named Outdoor Ed, spending three days immersed in nature surrounded by chirping White-throated sparrows, bubbling streams, and waving white oak leaves. During this trip, she grew very interested in environmental science as it opened her eyes to her environment.
Over the past few years, she has incorporated her passion for protecting the environment into my studies, extracurricular activities, and free time. In school, she opted to take double period biology and chemistry classes her sophomore year. Her biology teacher, an experienced environmental activist, infused her lessons with lessons on sustainability and advocacy, and she incorporated what she learned into her participation in her school’s Nature Conservation Club as well as a county-wide student environmental advocacy group.
In her school club, she led the initiative to certify her high school as a Maryland Green School. Even during the pandemic, she worked diligently to compile research on recycling habits, energy usage, and other evidence to support our application.
Outside of school, she was accepted as a member of a student-led group, Student Advocates Protecting the Planet, or SAPPlings, and quickly became a part of the advisory group. Working with students around the county, she researches current events and issues dominating the environmental field and present information to students through forums and webinars. She also organizes opportunities for students to meet and learn from real environmental activists, scientists, researchers, and policymakers to allow them the chance to discover how they can continue to pursue environmental science as a career. She manages all of this while maintaining a perfect 4.00 GPA.
Ariana has applied to Lafayette College, Williams College, and Swarthmore College where she plans to major in environmental science.
GPA: 4.00
High School: Sherwood High School
Heritage: Panamanian
Ariana still remembers when she was in sixth grade and participated in an overnight trip named Outdoor Ed, spending three days immersed in nature surrounded by chirping White-throated sparrows, bubbling streams, and waving white oak leaves. During this trip, she grew very interested in environmental science as it opened her eyes to her environment.
Over the past few years, she has incorporated her passion for protecting the environment into my studies, extracurricular activities, and free time. In school, she opted to take double period biology and chemistry classes her sophomore year. Her biology teacher, an experienced environmental activist, infused her lessons with lessons on sustainability and advocacy, and she incorporated what she learned into her participation in her school’s Nature Conservation Club as well as a county-wide student environmental advocacy group.
In her school club, she led the initiative to certify her high school as a Maryland Green School. Even during the pandemic, she worked diligently to compile research on recycling habits, energy usage, and other evidence to support our application.
Outside of school, she was accepted as a member of a student-led group, Student Advocates Protecting the Planet, or SAPPlings, and quickly became a part of the advisory group. Working with students around the county, she researches current events and issues dominating the environmental field and present information to students through forums and webinars. She also organizes opportunities for students to meet and learn from real environmental activists, scientists, researchers, and policymakers to allow them the chance to discover how they can continue to pursue environmental science as a career. She manages all of this while maintaining a perfect 4.00 GPA.
Ariana has applied to Lafayette College, Williams College, and Swarthmore College where she plans to major in environmental science.
Bronze - Jeremy Escobar
Hometown: North Bergen, NJ
GPA: 4.00
High School: North Bergen High School
Heritage: Venezuelan
Coming from very humble beginnings has not stopped Jeremy from dreaming big, especially when it comes to ways he can help build a greener, more sustainable world. He keenly remembers being raised by a single mom and how she always instilled in him a sense of purpose and self-worth based on strong ethical values and morals. One of the best ways to help our world is by working to solve the problems that are most impacting to our planet.
Since elementary school, he has been exposed to all types of pollution and the effect it has on the environment. For example, he recalls taking field trips to the beach and learning about the environment's functions and why it's important to keep our planet as clean as possible. These early experiences have inspired him to want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. In the summer of 2019, he took a pre-college architecture program at NJIT, which is where he heard about sustainable architecture. From there, he continued to do more research on the field. He learned how architects find sustainable ways to design buildings to have net-zero energy and have a positive-neutral effect on the surrounding environment. This fascinated him and drew him in more and more every day.
His ultimate goal is to become a sustainable architecture and find innovative and creative ways to design net-zero buildings that help diminish pollution and to help the environment recuperate, all while providing living space and workspace for growing communities.
Jeremy is also captain of his marching band, continues to volunteer many hours in his community, and maintains a perfect 4.00 GPA. He plans to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, or the University of Pittsburgh to study sustainability and architecture.
GPA: 4.00
High School: North Bergen High School
Heritage: Venezuelan
Coming from very humble beginnings has not stopped Jeremy from dreaming big, especially when it comes to ways he can help build a greener, more sustainable world. He keenly remembers being raised by a single mom and how she always instilled in him a sense of purpose and self-worth based on strong ethical values and morals. One of the best ways to help our world is by working to solve the problems that are most impacting to our planet.
Since elementary school, he has been exposed to all types of pollution and the effect it has on the environment. For example, he recalls taking field trips to the beach and learning about the environment's functions and why it's important to keep our planet as clean as possible. These early experiences have inspired him to want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. In the summer of 2019, he took a pre-college architecture program at NJIT, which is where he heard about sustainable architecture. From there, he continued to do more research on the field. He learned how architects find sustainable ways to design buildings to have net-zero energy and have a positive-neutral effect on the surrounding environment. This fascinated him and drew him in more and more every day.
His ultimate goal is to become a sustainable architecture and find innovative and creative ways to design net-zero buildings that help diminish pollution and to help the environment recuperate, all while providing living space and workspace for growing communities.
Jeremy is also captain of his marching band, continues to volunteer many hours in his community, and maintains a perfect 4.00 GPA. He plans to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, or the University of Pittsburgh to study sustainability and architecture.
Technology
GOLD - Milena Sánchez
Hometown: Bloomfield, NJ
GPA: 4.00
High School: Bloomfield High School
Heritage: Peruvian
Through Girls Who Code, Milena was introduced to a new language — programming. She developed a passion for computer science and engineering by building a fully functioning robot and writing programs through Scratch. At Girls Who Code, she was mentored by inspiring women in STEM, but back in the classroom, she was one of few female students in her STEM classes.
The lack of representation of women in STEM encouraged her to find new ways to empower a future generation of female engineers. She serves as a role model for many young girls in her participation on her school’s robotics team. Milena volunteers at her local STEM center, Montclair Learning Center, which has offered her the opportunity to instruct classes like the ones she took at Girls Who Code.
Beyond the work around female empowerment in STEM, Milena has worked to create financial empowerment within the Hispanic community. As president, she organized her Spanish Club’s first Easter Basket Sale in the middle of the pandemic. The fundraiser was for the national Hispanic charity, HACES, where the economic contributions they received were designated for the improvement of resources and opportunities for disadvantaged Hispanic community members.
Through her incredible accomplishments, Milena is a LEDA Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction. Ultimately, she hopes to attend Lehigh University, Case Western Reserve University, or Boston College to study computer Science.
GPA: 4.00
High School: Bloomfield High School
Heritage: Peruvian
Through Girls Who Code, Milena was introduced to a new language — programming. She developed a passion for computer science and engineering by building a fully functioning robot and writing programs through Scratch. At Girls Who Code, she was mentored by inspiring women in STEM, but back in the classroom, she was one of few female students in her STEM classes.
The lack of representation of women in STEM encouraged her to find new ways to empower a future generation of female engineers. She serves as a role model for many young girls in her participation on her school’s robotics team. Milena volunteers at her local STEM center, Montclair Learning Center, which has offered her the opportunity to instruct classes like the ones she took at Girls Who Code.
Beyond the work around female empowerment in STEM, Milena has worked to create financial empowerment within the Hispanic community. As president, she organized her Spanish Club’s first Easter Basket Sale in the middle of the pandemic. The fundraiser was for the national Hispanic charity, HACES, where the economic contributions they received were designated for the improvement of resources and opportunities for disadvantaged Hispanic community members.
Through her incredible accomplishments, Milena is a LEDA Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction. Ultimately, she hopes to attend Lehigh University, Case Western Reserve University, or Boston College to study computer Science.
Silver - Jared Ramírez
Hometown: Burtonsville, MD
GPA: 3.91
High School: Montgomery Blair High School
Heritage: Mexican
Jared is a problem solver with a vision for storytelling. He views gaming as a tool for telling stories. Each video game has a complex storyline with graphics and music that all need some deeper foundational structure to bind everything into a cohesive narrative. Video games are like a puzzle for him to figure out, so he has pursued classes and extracurriculars to expand his vision. Jared has taken classes in multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and discrete math. Recently, he worked as a artificial intelligence intern at the University of Maryland and an epidemiology research intern at and National Institutes of Health to broaden his skills as a computer scientist.
Jared takes to heart a “not yet” attitude. According to his teachers, they have never known him to give up on a concept or novel idea. He is always open to constructive suggestions and has a proven willingness to dive back into complex topics. This is reinforced in his wide breadth of extracurriculars. He founded Montgomery Blair High School’s board game club, and over the course of a year, through extensive marketing, the club reached over 30 consistent members. Lucas worked for Students for DC Statehood. He also is on his high school’s football and lacrosse teams. As a Boy Scout, Jared is committed to public service in his community. Every year, he volunteers at a winter homeless shelter, working as a cook for the soup kitchen.
As a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist and National History Day State Finalist, Jared is an incredibly gifted academic. His impressive resume sets him up for success as he plans to pursue a double major in computer science and business administration at the University of Southern California, Stanford University, or Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
GPA: 3.91
High School: Montgomery Blair High School
Heritage: Mexican
Jared is a problem solver with a vision for storytelling. He views gaming as a tool for telling stories. Each video game has a complex storyline with graphics and music that all need some deeper foundational structure to bind everything into a cohesive narrative. Video games are like a puzzle for him to figure out, so he has pursued classes and extracurriculars to expand his vision. Jared has taken classes in multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and discrete math. Recently, he worked as a artificial intelligence intern at the University of Maryland and an epidemiology research intern at and National Institutes of Health to broaden his skills as a computer scientist.
Jared takes to heart a “not yet” attitude. According to his teachers, they have never known him to give up on a concept or novel idea. He is always open to constructive suggestions and has a proven willingness to dive back into complex topics. This is reinforced in his wide breadth of extracurriculars. He founded Montgomery Blair High School’s board game club, and over the course of a year, through extensive marketing, the club reached over 30 consistent members. Lucas worked for Students for DC Statehood. He also is on his high school’s football and lacrosse teams. As a Boy Scout, Jared is committed to public service in his community. Every year, he volunteers at a winter homeless shelter, working as a cook for the soup kitchen.
As a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist and National History Day State Finalist, Jared is an incredibly gifted academic. His impressive resume sets him up for success as he plans to pursue a double major in computer science and business administration at the University of Southern California, Stanford University, or Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Bronze - Lucas Umberger
Hometown: King George, VA
GPA: 4.00
High School: King George High School
Heritage: Colombian
Raised with parents who work in the technology industry and around a military base, where new technology was constantly developed and tested, you can Lucas is no stranger to technological innovations. This environment has shaped his love for technology. Over the past two years, Lucas has been researching machine learning in depth and working with machine learning experts to develop a project to display my research.
Lucas is the type of student that a teacher asks to go above and beyond his academics because of his dependability and motivation. Indeed, Lucas has challenged himself with a rigourous academic course load. He has taken classes at local community colleges such as Introductions to Network Concepts. Outside of the classroom, Lucas has jumped at every opportunity to expand his knowledge in computer science. He has participated in several programming language programs with Python and Java, robotics programs, and week-long summer programs through local universities. It comes to no surprise that Lucas is at the top 1% of his class. He has been awarded numerous accolades including the National Hispanic Recognition Program Winner and an admittance into the Commonwealth Governors School.
During his tenure at King George High, Lucas is the captain of his Varsity Tennis Team, a member of the National Honor Society, Commonwealth Governor’s School Research Team, and Commonwealth Governor’s School Robotics Team.
Lucas has been active in the community by volunteering at a number of local organizations including animal shelters, libraries, and food pantries. The importance he places on community service stems from his journey through the Boy Scouts program, where he has received the highest award of Eagle Scout.
With incredible achievements, Lucas hopes to attend Georgia Tech, University of Virginia, or Virginia Tech to study computer science.
GPA: 4.00
High School: King George High School
Heritage: Colombian
Raised with parents who work in the technology industry and around a military base, where new technology was constantly developed and tested, you can Lucas is no stranger to technological innovations. This environment has shaped his love for technology. Over the past two years, Lucas has been researching machine learning in depth and working with machine learning experts to develop a project to display my research.
Lucas is the type of student that a teacher asks to go above and beyond his academics because of his dependability and motivation. Indeed, Lucas has challenged himself with a rigourous academic course load. He has taken classes at local community colleges such as Introductions to Network Concepts. Outside of the classroom, Lucas has jumped at every opportunity to expand his knowledge in computer science. He has participated in several programming language programs with Python and Java, robotics programs, and week-long summer programs through local universities. It comes to no surprise that Lucas is at the top 1% of his class. He has been awarded numerous accolades including the National Hispanic Recognition Program Winner and an admittance into the Commonwealth Governors School.
During his tenure at King George High, Lucas is the captain of his Varsity Tennis Team, a member of the National Honor Society, Commonwealth Governor’s School Research Team, and Commonwealth Governor’s School Robotics Team.
Lucas has been active in the community by volunteering at a number of local organizations including animal shelters, libraries, and food pantries. The importance he places on community service stems from his journey through the Boy Scouts program, where he has received the highest award of Eagle Scout.
With incredible achievements, Lucas hopes to attend Georgia Tech, University of Virginia, or Virginia Tech to study computer science.
