Business - Presented by BBVA
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Sylvia Garcia Hometown: San Antonio, TX College: University of Notre Dame, Trinity University, University of the Incarnate Word Major: Accounting Minor: Music GPA: 3.85 High School: Douglas MacArthur High School Heritage: Mexican |
“Accounting, is more than just numbers,” says Sylvia, who considers accounting to be integral to all forms and aspects of business. She wants to become a Certified Public Accountant because she recognizes a need for more CPAs in the Latino community. “I believe that being bilingual, and being a CPA, I could make an impact,” she says.
To prepare for her future, Sylvia has enrolled in numerous business related courses, such as Business Information Management, Principles of Business, Marketing and Finance, as well as Accounting.
She is also a member of her school’s Future Business Leaders of America and has competed in the Accounting category, advancing to both State and National competitions, where she has had the opportunity to attend workshops to strengthen her leadership and networking skills. She has also represented her school in Accounting at the Texas - University Interscholastic League where she placed second and moved on to compete at Regionals.
“In the end, my goal is to empower the Hispanic community by educating myself and being of benefit to them,” say Sylvia. Her humanity and spirit to help her community and those around her is what her teachers admire most about her. She contributes considerably to numerous causes and extracurricular activities, among which is volunteering at her school’s MacTEACH Tutoring and Outreach Program, where she participates at the highest and most challenging of levels with the intent of contributing toward unprecedented positive changes in people’s lives.
Sylvia holds an impeccable 4.0 GPA and will be studying Accounting and minoring in Music at the University of Notre Dame, Trinity University, or at the University of the Incarnate Word.
To prepare for her future, Sylvia has enrolled in numerous business related courses, such as Business Information Management, Principles of Business, Marketing and Finance, as well as Accounting.
She is also a member of her school’s Future Business Leaders of America and has competed in the Accounting category, advancing to both State and National competitions, where she has had the opportunity to attend workshops to strengthen her leadership and networking skills. She has also represented her school in Accounting at the Texas - University Interscholastic League where she placed second and moved on to compete at Regionals.
“In the end, my goal is to empower the Hispanic community by educating myself and being of benefit to them,” say Sylvia. Her humanity and spirit to help her community and those around her is what her teachers admire most about her. She contributes considerably to numerous causes and extracurricular activities, among which is volunteering at her school’s MacTEACH Tutoring and Outreach Program, where she participates at the highest and most challenging of levels with the intent of contributing toward unprecedented positive changes in people’s lives.
Sylvia holds an impeccable 4.0 GPA and will be studying Accounting and minoring in Music at the University of Notre Dame, Trinity University, or at the University of the Incarnate Word.
Community Service - Presented by Colgate-Palmolive
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Aldo Daniel Medina Hometown: Indianapolis, IN College: Harvard University Major: Government or Social Studies GPA: 3.98 High School: Arsenal Technical High School Heritage: Mexican |
Six months after his sixteenth birthday, Aldo was elected as the youngest chairman of Indiana’s legislative youth council in its ten-year history. To say that his commitment to public service is an interest is an understatement. As the chairman, Aldo prepares legislative reports, testifies at legislative committees and organizes Statehouse events, but his post also allows him to advocate for his own rights and those of his peers – no small task, but one that he takes on with pride. Aldo's interest in public service extends into his academics, as well, and he has taken two AP Government courses, receiving perfect scores on his exams. In addition, he serves as his school’s representative to the superintendent's student advisory council, where he raises concerns from teachers and peers related to district policy issues. At the federal level, he has represented his local TRIO Upward Bound program at conferences and events, including one on Capitol Hill this summer, where he was the sole Indiana delegate.
Aldo’s AP US Government and AP Macroeconomics teacher says that Aldo’s vocabulary and articulation of content and concepts far exceeds any student he has had in his 11 years of teaching. Aldo has also participated in personal enrichment programs and was accepted to competitive summer institutes at Amherst, Yale, and Princeton, though he chose to spend his summer at the LEDA Scholars Program at Princeton University.
With an impressive 3.98 GPA, Aldo hopes to attend Harvard University, Indiana University or Georgetown University where he plans to study topics related to Government and Civic Service. It will be no surprise to see Aldo at the forefront of legislation and civic service movements in his future endeavors.
Aldo’s AP US Government and AP Macroeconomics teacher says that Aldo’s vocabulary and articulation of content and concepts far exceeds any student he has had in his 11 years of teaching. Aldo has also participated in personal enrichment programs and was accepted to competitive summer institutes at Amherst, Yale, and Princeton, though he chose to spend his summer at the LEDA Scholars Program at Princeton University.
With an impressive 3.98 GPA, Aldo hopes to attend Harvard University, Indiana University or Georgetown University where he plans to study topics related to Government and Civic Service. It will be no surprise to see Aldo at the forefront of legislation and civic service movements in his future endeavors.
Education - Presented by Southwest Airlines
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Jonathan Mora Hometown: Worcester, MA College: Boston College, University of California, Los Angeles, and New York University Major: Education and Policy Making GPA: 3.78 High School: University Park Campus School Heritage: Mexican |
Jonathan has been involved with the Youth Civics Union, an afterschool program under the Latino Education Institute of Worcester State University, since 2018. Along with six Worcester Public School students in the program, he designed and executed his city's first youth-led research study on teacher diversity in Worcester, Massachusetts. Their quantitative data, collected through online surveys completed by Worcester Public School students, demonstrated that a lack of teachers of color impacts the academic performance and the likelihood of pursuing careers in education of students of color. In presenting the results of his research, Jonathan has faced opposition and criticism from representatives of his school district. “I want to become a teacher of color in the American schooling system,” he says. “I want to challenge the educational system with my presence and help future generations of students who look like me.”
This school year, he was called by the Latino Education Institute to become an "Enrichment Leader" for the youth attending high school programs in the Youth Civics Union. As an "Enrichment Leader" Jonathan gets to make sure that the academic achievements of students and post-graduation readiness are met, through education and enrollment in post-secondary education.
Jonathan has found a passion for activism and addressing matters of injustice in society since the beginning of his high school career. He sees that the educational system is often fraught with inequality, and he is working hard to change that. He has spoken on the topic at many conferences, including the annual Alumni of Color Conference at Harvard, as well as the Conference on Education and Social Justice in Hawaii.
Jonathan will be studying Education and Policy Making at Boston College, the University of California, Los Angeles, or at New York University.
This school year, he was called by the Latino Education Institute to become an "Enrichment Leader" for the youth attending high school programs in the Youth Civics Union. As an "Enrichment Leader" Jonathan gets to make sure that the academic achievements of students and post-graduation readiness are met, through education and enrollment in post-secondary education.
Jonathan has found a passion for activism and addressing matters of injustice in society since the beginning of his high school career. He sees that the educational system is often fraught with inequality, and he is working hard to change that. He has spoken on the topic at many conferences, including the annual Alumni of Color Conference at Harvard, as well as the Conference on Education and Social Justice in Hawaii.
Jonathan will be studying Education and Policy Making at Boston College, the University of California, Los Angeles, or at New York University.
Entrepreneurship - Presented by T-Mobile
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Isabella Abreu Hometown: Toa Baja, PR College: University of Michigan, University of Dayton, University of Miami Major: International Business GPA: 3.7 High School: Wesleyan Academy Heritage: Puerto Rican |
Last year, Isabella was invited to compete in The Masters: An Insight into Management, a challenging two-week residential business course and competition for ambitious and accomplished high school students from around the globe, hosted in London. In order to attend, Isabella raised more than five thousand dollars within a four-month period all on her own by putting her business knowledge to use. She sold jewelry and cakes, worked as a make-up artist, and hosted raffle competitions as part of her fundraising strategies. Her outstanding performance and display of leadership in the competition earned Isabella the Global Citizen Award, an honor reserved only for the top participants.
She is looking forward to attending the University of Michigan, the University of Dayton, or the University of Miami where she will major in International Business.
She is looking forward to attending the University of Michigan, the University of Dayton, or the University of Miami where she will major in International Business.
Healthcare & Science - Presented by CVS Health
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Sophia Colmenares Hometown: Houston, TX Colleges: University of Texas at Austin, Rice University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Major: Chemical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering GPA: 4.0 High School: J. Frank Dobie High School Heritage: Colombian |
Sophia distinctly remembers the day when her freshman biology class extracted DNA from a strawberry as part of a lab experiment: “Seeing the rosy mush of the nucleic compounds made me realize that somehow that mush miraculously created the life of the one-in-a-million strawberry my teacher held in her hand, and my heart glowed seeing the building blocks of life exist as something tangible,” she recalls. This was the beginning of her love for understanding how chemistry can create life, a love that grew exponentially once she enrolled in AP Chemistry and learned about the nanoscopic relationships between atoms and how they dominate interactions on a much larger scale.
This past summer, Sophia was accepted into the University of Texas Medical Branch High School Biomedical Research program, where she conducted research on RSV, or Respiratory Syncytial Virus, one of the leading contributors to lower respiratory tract infections. Sophia’s research consisted of analyzing the changes of RSV reproduction when demethylation, the chemical process resulting in the removal of a methyl group from a molecule, occurs in certain target proteins. “I loved tinkering with and analyzing RNA proteins in their simplest form,” she says.
As member, programmer, and builder of her school district’s Robotics Team, Sophia has experienced first-hand, what it is like to collaborate as part of a team, as well as the process of continuous testing and perfecting mechanisms for the task at hand. “Through these experiences, I became passionate about science and its interlocking mechanisms with not only with humans but with the world itself,” she says.
This exceptional Latina has a 4.0 GPA and is currently ranked 4th out of 968 students in her class. She plans on studying Chemical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, Rice University, or at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
This past summer, Sophia was accepted into the University of Texas Medical Branch High School Biomedical Research program, where she conducted research on RSV, or Respiratory Syncytial Virus, one of the leading contributors to lower respiratory tract infections. Sophia’s research consisted of analyzing the changes of RSV reproduction when demethylation, the chemical process resulting in the removal of a methyl group from a molecule, occurs in certain target proteins. “I loved tinkering with and analyzing RNA proteins in their simplest form,” she says.
As member, programmer, and builder of her school district’s Robotics Team, Sophia has experienced first-hand, what it is like to collaborate as part of a team, as well as the process of continuous testing and perfecting mechanisms for the task at hand. “Through these experiences, I became passionate about science and its interlocking mechanisms with not only with humans but with the world itself,” she says.
This exceptional Latina has a 4.0 GPA and is currently ranked 4th out of 968 students in her class. She plans on studying Chemical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, Rice University, or at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Innovation - Presented by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation
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Benjamin Lorence Hometown: Bethesda, MD College: Stanford University, Brown University, Carnegie Mellon University Major: Computer Science Minor: Physics GPA: 4.0 High School: Walt Whitman High School Heritage: Guatemalan |
Whether he is developing a video game or creating a custom application, Benjamin is at his best when he is knee-deep in technology. His experience is extensive: he participated in a summer Intro to Engineering course at Johns Hopkins University, he maintains a heavy STEM course load with classes such as AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C, AP Chemistry, and AP Computer Science, and he is currently interning at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Computer Science has allowed Benjamin the autonomy to explore his passions, such as chemistry and biology, and connect them with his knowledge of programming. As part of his internship, he developed and optimized a national standard C++ program for improved differentiation of glycan isomers from mass spectral derivatives for accurately identifying compounds central to cancer drug development. In other words, Benjamin is on track for changing the world for the better. “Computer science is a powerful modem,” he says, and one that has “allowed me to develop novel applications to aid in scientific research and standards.”
STEM is obviously Benjamin’s passion, but interlaced with his experience is a heaping dose of empathy and a desire to give back to his community. He regularly volunteers at the St. Camillus Church food pantry and Casa De Maryland in Montgomery County, where he has distributed and stocked donated food, offered translating assistance, and passed out books to children. “Community service gives me a sense of empowerment” says Benjamin, “in the fact that I am able to not only learn about problems in my local community but to make a substantial difference for those affected.” Benjamin plans to continue his academic and career prospects at Stanford University, Brown University or Carnegie Mellon University, where he intends to study Computer Science with a minor in Physics.
STEM is obviously Benjamin’s passion, but interlaced with his experience is a heaping dose of empathy and a desire to give back to his community. He regularly volunteers at the St. Camillus Church food pantry and Casa De Maryland in Montgomery County, where he has distributed and stocked donated food, offered translating assistance, and passed out books to children. “Community service gives me a sense of empowerment” says Benjamin, “in the fact that I am able to not only learn about problems in my local community but to make a substantial difference for those affected.” Benjamin plans to continue his academic and career prospects at Stanford University, Brown University or Carnegie Mellon University, where he intends to study Computer Science with a minor in Physics.
Media & Entertainment - Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal/Telemundo
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Mariah Grace Barrera Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI Colleges: New York University, University of Southern California, DePaul University Major: Film & TV Production Minor: Business or History GPA: 4.0 High School: City High Middle School |
One could say that Mariah’s art career started at the age of four, when she created a filmed talk show: The Mariah Show. Since then, her interest and talents, have grown, and she has made countless films and YouTube videos, and worked on a variety of community projects. Though she may not be able to pinpoint the exact moment that she knew she wanted to create for a living, her role working on a collaborative ArtPrize film entry about gentrification, and her attendance at New York University’s Tisch Summer Filmmakers Workshop, helped her confirm a true passion for media and entertainment. Media, according to Mariah, gives her the power and voice to inspire people to have conversations about subjects that may be difficult to discuss. She is also an active member of her community and has worked as a volunteer on the creative marketing team and event experience team at her church. She has helped organize back-to-school drives, and though difficult, she says the planning, coordinating and logistics meant nothing compared to the smiles on the children’s faces.
According to the director of an afterschool program in which Mariah takes part, she is someone who not only makes the most of opportunities available to her but also takes initiative to find new doors to open for herself. With an outstanding 4.0 GPA and a schedule filled to the brim with IB courses, Mariah’s artistic side is matched by her academic one. She hopes to study Film and TV Production with a minor in Business or History at New York University, University of Southern California, or DePaul University.
According to the director of an afterschool program in which Mariah takes part, she is someone who not only makes the most of opportunities available to her but also takes initiative to find new doors to open for herself. With an outstanding 4.0 GPA and a schedule filled to the brim with IB courses, Mariah’s artistic side is matched by her academic one. She hopes to study Film and TV Production with a minor in Business or History at New York University, University of Southern California, or DePaul University.
Technology & Engineering - Presented by BP
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Abigale Haluska Hometown: Hobart, IN Colleges: Stanford University, University of California – Berkeley, Purdue University Major: Engineering GPA: 4.0 High School: Hobart High School |
Engineering is an amalgam of science, mathematics, technology, and creativity – four of Abigale’s favorite subjects. So, it’s no surprise that after taking various advanced level courses and participating in extracurricular experiences involving technology that she plans to pursue a career in engineering. As a participant in her school’s Grand Prix Kart Club, she and her peers designed, built, and programmed their own electric go-kart to later be raced at the Indianapolis Motor Speed Way. She also shared her love of technology in a local TEDx event, where she spoke about the future of artificial intelligence in a speech titled “Technology is Redefining What it Means to be Human”. When Abigale isn’t asking big questions about the future of technology and its role in human identity, she can be found tutoring students’ in STEM, volunteering with Top Soccer – a program that offers soccer lessons to children with disabilities – babysitting or honing her photography skills.
According to her reference, Abigale’s commitment to excellence is what stands out in the way that she approaches life. Ranked first in her class of 330 students, Abigale has taken a host of advanced and honors-level classes and finishes high school with a pristine 4.0 GPA. She has also been the recipient of various social and academic awards, including Most Outstanding PLTWE Engineering Student and School City of Hobart National Kindness Award. A proud member of the Hispanic/Latino community, Abigale believes that today’s generation is full of potential and that in order to employ that potential, we must encourage our community to work together in ways to protect one another. There’s no doubt that Abigale will do just that. She plans to study engineering at Stanford University, University of California – Berkeley, or Purdue University.
According to her reference, Abigale’s commitment to excellence is what stands out in the way that she approaches life. Ranked first in her class of 330 students, Abigale has taken a host of advanced and honors-level classes and finishes high school with a pristine 4.0 GPA. She has also been the recipient of various social and academic awards, including Most Outstanding PLTWE Engineering Student and School City of Hobart National Kindness Award. A proud member of the Hispanic/Latino community, Abigale believes that today’s generation is full of potential and that in order to employ that potential, we must encourage our community to work together in ways to protect one another. There’s no doubt that Abigale will do just that. She plans to study engineering at Stanford University, University of California – Berkeley, or Purdue University.
