Alejandro Mejia
Rebecca Leitman | Key Biscayne, FL
Rebecca Leitman
Rebecca is resilient, ambitious, and adaptable - always eager to explore the unknown. Being raised by a single mother, has strengthened her bond with her siblings and is keenly aware of the generational sacrifices that came before her. As an Ecuadorian-American from Miami, Rebecca takes pride in her culture and can be found checking out new Hispanic restaurants on the weekends. Rebecca's hobbies include wandering through Barnes and Noble as she searches for her next read, binge-watching her favorite movies, or running in the sun.
Her extroverted nature inspires Rebecca to be an involved member of her community. Within her school, she is an editor for her school's newspaper, a member of her school's mock trial team, and her school's travel Model United Nations team. Beyond that, she volunteers her time at her local Teen Court program as a juror and works a part-time job. Rebecca aspires to be a criminal defense attorney and an advocate for prison reform.
Yangzhen Chen ︳Brooklyn, NY
Yangzhen Chen
Yang is an ambitious, curious student who immigrated from China to the US when he was five. His parents didn’t speak English, so he had to apply to high school in the New York City public school system by himself. As a first-generation, low-income (FGLI) immigrant, Yang desires to give back to underserved communities through advocacy, mentorship, and empowerment.
In particular, Yang saw the need for more financial literacy and resources in his school and local community. Inspired by his desire for social justice, Yang mobilized a team of 17+ to provide financial education and opportunities to 400 members and over 4,000 students in Title 1 schools. He also partnered with startups recognized by Forbes and Yahoo Finance to offer members business internships, financial literacy workshops, and investment competitions. For his efforts, Yang was selected as a finalist for the Young Innovator Award by Jetson, the #1 entrepreneurship app on Apple and Android. Yang says, “I hope that one day, students will no longer be defined by their zip code or immigration status but by their motivation and aspirations.”
Yang knows that millions of hard-working students are capable of making an impact but need the chance to do so. Since Yang still remembers the difficulty of going through high school alone, he doesn’t want other students navigating school by themselves. In the future, Yang wants to mentor high school students in various community-based organizations and also help his younger siblings with applying to middle school.
Vy Nguyen ︳Huntington Beach, CA
Vy Nguyen
From the vibrant streets of Vietnam to the quiet suburbs of North Carolina and the surf cities of California, Vy’s diverse experiences across continents and cultures have shaped her global perspective. This road sparked Vy's curiosity about cultural differences and socio-political gaps, leading her to find her niche in racial activism and healthcare disparities.
Vy was shocked to find that her new home in Little Saigon, one of the few Vietnamese hubs in the U.S. was being gentrified, just one domino in the larger issues of diaspora and displacement for Asian youth. Vy was propelled to address such issues through writing and community activism.
Fueled by her passion for neuroscience and healthcare, Vy's initial efforts began with her research at Child Mind Institute. There, she conducted research and delivered presentations to over 1,000 clinicians and scholars, focusing on adapting therapy models for Asian youth, a significantly underrepresented group in healthcare.
On her 17th birthday, using her writing as a powerful advocacy tool, she published an article in the LA Times about the growing gaps between first-generation immigrant parents and their children, stemming from a culture of trauma and silence that compounds the loss of Asian lineage. As a model minority in the South,
Vy’s career dream is to merge the art of compassionate storytelling with the field of healthcare. In a world where medicine can feel transactional, Vy wants to use multimedia storytelling to reintroduce humanity, empathy, by sharing the stories behind every person's health. Vy has traveled a long way to become a strong advocate for Asian-Americans.
Veronica Mhanna ︳Sacramento, CA
Veronica Mhanna
Veronica is a very compassionate and highly motivated student. She was born and raised in Lebanon and has recently immigrated to the U.S.. Veronica finds joy by helping others and giving back to her community.
Veronica is most proud of her work as an AP Chemistry peer tutor during her Sophomore year of high school. As a peer tutor, Veronica helped her classmates succeed and retain complex chemistry lessons, while also creating practice problems for them. Determination and hardwork inspired Veronica to begin peer tutoring and help her classmates comprehend complex chemistry topics. Inspired by her supportive peers, Veronica dedicated her time and energy after school hours to preparing practice problems and lessons to tutor her peers because she always found pride in helping those in need, even if she had to learn the topic.
Veronica is inspired to help others by her dad. Growing up, she always used to watch her father help those in need, no matter the circumstance. Says Veronica, “My greatest hero taught me to always help others, and treat people the way I want to be treated. I gave all my time and effort to tutor my friends because I couldn’t get the help I needed, so I taught myself AP Chemistry and helped them. Giving acts of service is one of the best things I learned to do in my seventeen years on earth.”
Sophia Tkachenko ︳Jamaica, NY
Sophia Tkachenko
Traversing borders across the Atlantic Ocean, Sophia Tkachenko’s story isn’t exactly one that fits the conventional. As a Ukrainian-American, Sophia attended elementary school in Ukraine, and immigrated back to the States to begin sixth grade. Learning how to adjust to a brand new environment, while holding onto the defining pieces of her Ukrainian identity, Sophia has learned the true value of community, and has become determined to display excellence, leadership, and constant curiosity in any endeavor that she seeks to pursue.
Beyond her culture, Sophia is known for her creative spirit and passion for the sciences. Constantly creating with her hands, she states that one of her proudest achievements dates back to when she created a small business titled Hooked By Sophia, and sold over $800 worth of her crochet creations. Sophia is also incredibly dedicated to the sport of tennis and has recently been named her varsity team’s 2024 “Most Valuable Player”. Furthermore, Sophia is actively involved in her school's National Honor Society, serving as the organization Vice President, and founded her own club titled MedExplorers to increase student access to healthcare professions.
In the future, Sophia hopes to pursue the medical field. Inspired by her grandmas, who are both practicing physicians back in Ukraine, Sophia's passions lie in neurology, surgery, and patient care. Sophia also hopes to give back to her community by creating an organization titled UkrNEXT, that supports Ukrainian students’ access to a higher education and empowers them to celebrate their unique Ukrainian identities.
Sharleen Danielle Mananguit ︳Honolulu, HI
Sharleen Danielle Mananguit
Sharleen is highly ambitious and deeply empathetic, helping her loved ones with unwavering support. She stands by them through every challenge, and her persistence shines through difficult times as she pursues her academic goals, driven by a desire to give back to her family.
Sharleen has been the treasurer for the Class of 2025 Student Council since her freshman year, demonstrating a strong commitment to raising funds for school events. She has collaborated closely with the fundraising committee to support events such as Froshmore and Junior Prom, where her classmates can come together. Sharleen's passion for creativity is evident in her positions as the HOSA historian and the National Honor Society historian. Notably, she has accumulated over 100 community service hours. Her dedication extends to science as well. Concerned by the impact of invasive algae in Kaneohe Bay, Sharleen and her friend engineered a bioplastic using Gorilla Ogo algae and banana peels. This project earned them the Women Geoscientists Award at the district science fair where they represented their school with pride. Sharleen hopes to continue discovering new knowledge through her future endeavors.
Sharleen draws inspiration from her mother, who was a physician in the Philippines before their family moved to Hawaii where was unable to continue her practice. Sharleen's interest in medicine was influenced by her mother's battle with thyroid cancer. This experience has fueled her ambition to pursue a career as an obstetrician-gynecologist, where she hopes to support and empower women throughout their health journeys.
Satenik Ayrapetyan ︳Van Nuys, CA
Satenik Ayrapetyan
Satenik Ayrapetyan moved to the United States with her parents when she was just five, leaving behind everything and everyone she knew. She quickly had to adapt and learn a new language in a foreign country dissimilar to her homeland, Russia.
Now, Satenik is armed with a pen mightier than the sword and a keen eye for the local scoop. For the past two years, she has worked for her tiny but mighty school’s award-winning newspaper, The Pearl Post. In her first year on staff, she was immediately placed into an editorial position as the Opinion Editor. Currently, she serves as the Managing Editor and helps oversee the publication of the bimonthly magazine The Pearl Post produces. While on staff, she has competed and won multiple competitions, redesigned the magazine, produced ten magazines, and much more. Her passion for journalism does not end there, as she also works for the Los Angeles Times High School Insider Student Advisory Board, where she helps produce journalistic podcast episodes and publishes articles for broader outreach.
As an immigrant, Satenik hopes to mesh her past and present by double majoring in history and Russian studies during her bachelor’s degree. Ultimately, her goal is to become a lawyer and to, one day, see her Russian family again, in person.
Angel Pina ︳Freeport, TX
Angel Pina
Rafael (Angel) Pina is a highly motivated leader with a significant passion for serving others. He has overcome many adversities which have led him to fight for the things that affect marginalized individuals. Angel enjoys giving back to his community by dreaming and achieving big, but most importantly, by fostering positive moral values.
Angel is proud of his contributions as the State Associate Vice President of Business Professionals of America, Texas Association. He serves over 12,000 members in the state of Texas with interests in business competitions, leadership, and service. Angel has been honored to achieve his position of State Vice President for two consecutive years, and he is delighted to represent the members who qualify as mentally, physically, and socioeconomically disadvantaged. Additionally, Angel is the founder of his community organization which aims to help support marginalized populations through advocacy and service. He is the owner of a small photography business in which he enjoys capturing diverse memories for his clients. Angel has also created a foundation in honor of his late grandmother who battled stage four brain cancer.
Angel is inspired to serve others by his family, especially his mother and late grandmother. He says, “My mother and grandmother have been serving me since I was born, so I am forever grateful for their service to me. If I can serve anyone like they have served me, I know I have done my job as a servant leader.”
Lizbeth Ortiz︳ Buckeye, AZ
Lizbeth Ortiz
Lizbeth Ortiz is a Mexican-American from Buckeye, Arizona. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, her life has been filled with Mexican culture, and she has formed a true passion for representing her community. Lizbeth lives by the quote, “Feel the fear and do it anyway.” She is a Questbridge College Prep Scholar, part of the 2024 Hispanic Scholarship Fund Youth Leadership Institute, Solving Global Challenges Yale Young Global Scholars 2024 Cohort, and the 2023 Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute cohort.
Lizbeth is proud of her work at the local, state, and national level of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). As a 3x chapter president, 2x state officer, and the National Outreach Director, she serves over 250,000 student leaders nationally, 8,500+ statewide, and an entire school chapter. Lizbeth is the founder of The Equity Project, a non-profit working to drive progress at the heart of equity through donation drives, online education, and support for low-income families. She serves on her city’s youth council where she helps identify important issues for Buckeye youth. She is the executive director of Civic Activists, an Instagram educational account that provides resources for low-income students to better understand the civic process. She is also doing research on barriers to civic engagement in rural Latino communities.
Lizbeth’s family is her motivation. She recognizes their sacrifices and while she cannot go back and change her own family’s obstacles, she gives back by helping families like hers overcome adversity. Lizbeth’s family is her motivation. She recognizes their sacrifices and while she cannot go back and change her own family’s obstacles, she gives back by helping families like hers overcome adversity.
Kimberly Quintanilla ︳Chalmette, LA
Kimberly Quintanilla
Kimberly strives for excellence, both for herself and others. Her commitment to personal growth and involvement in various extracurricular activities reflects her dedication to making a positive impact in her school community. As the captain of her high school's cross country team, she ensures her teammates feel supported and valued. Kimberly is passionate about history, particularly American History, with a keen interest in U.S. presidents and historical museums.
Kimberly has had a long, rewarding journey with Academic Games, an educational competition dedicated to developing critical thinking skills in mathematics, language arts, and social studies. This year, her team finished in 2nd place at the national championship tournament. This experience has allowed her to connect with teachers, coaches, and teammates who have shaped her into a better player and a better individual. Beyond competitions, Kimberly finds joy in giving back to the organization as a volunteer mentor to younger players, allowing her to share her love for Academic Games and cultivate the love of learning in the next generation of players.
As a first-generation Hispanic-American, Kimberly deeply values the inspiration and love she garners from her own close-knit family, including those who still live in their home countries outside of the U.S. Following her father’s passing, Kimberly's mother became her ultimate role model, demonstrating dedication and passion in everything she does. Her example has shaped Kimberly's outlook on life, realizing that setbacks are redirections. Kimberly is grateful for the guidance and encouragement she has received from her mentors, who have helped her navigate challenges and expand her horizons.
Jessie Zheng ︳Woodbridge, CT
Jessie Zheng
Jessie lives torn between different worlds: Chinese & American, low-income living in a wealthy area, queer but closeted. However, they learned growing up entailed living in the middle of their colliding worlds—to become a unique whirl of contradictions, nuance, and complexity. With their experiences in hand, they hope to pursue policy and law to make an impact on their communities.
While Jessie has explored their passions through various outlets, they are most proud of their work in Connecticut’s state legislature. Working as an intern under Senators, Representatives, and legislative aides, Jessie has had the unique opportunity to advocate for bills to address real issues within their communities. They initially focused on preparing weekly newsletters and designing posters to working on legal cases, researching and testifying for bills, and even proposing their own legislation, seeing immense success. This, alongside their dedication to community service and local politics, demonstrates their devotion to social policy, democratic advocacy, and making a positive change in the world.
Jessie’s source of encouragement and support is their parents. Living in a local family restaurant, they have always looked up to their parents, both rural, low-income immigrants. From a young age, Jessie watched their mother fight against insulting customers, while their father taught them math and politics. They strive every day to be as hardworking, strong, and intelligent as their parents. Jessie feels extremely privileged and thankful to become the first person in their family to graduate high school, attend college, and begin a career in government, breaking a cycle of poverty that has plagued their family for generations.
James Obasiolu ︳Columbia, MD
James Obasiolu
James Obasiolu, a rising senior at Atholton High School in Howard County, MD, is a multifaceted leader and accomplished musician dedicated to driving pragmatic change in his community. Recently elected as the 37th Student Member of the Howard County Board of Education, James is known for his commitment to community service, social justice, and student wellness advocacy.
James served as First Vice President of his Countywide Student Council, where he ardently amplified student voices by connecting youth with policymakers. An Eagle Scout and Army JROTC Cadet, James is also passionate about racial and educational equity and climate justice. Appointed as the Environmental Sustainability Student Board Member by County Executive Calvin Ball in 2022, he has been instrumental in representing youth in local environmental legislation—efforts recognized by networks like National Public Radio (NPR).
James’s musical journey is equally impressive. As the Associate Principal Cellist in the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras and a Carnegie Hall National Youth Orchestras (NYO2) member, he’s played on stages internationally, including in Europe and the Dominican Republic. He made his Carnegie Hall debut at 16 when he joined NYO2 as the only Black cellist in the orchestra. He has also entertained audiences at Maryland Governor Wes Moore's Mansion. James plans to dovetail his environmental policy and social justice interests with his musical career to help drive equitable, community-centered change before matriculating into law school. His dedication to excellence in various spheres translates into leadership grounded in empathy, compassion, and empowerment.
Iffah Merchant ︳Columbus, GA
Iffah Merchant
Iffah’s resiliency and passion drives her to persevere through the obstacles she faces in her life while she balances the different cultures that converge to produce her unique perspectives and traditions. She radiates with positivity and always seeks the brighter sides of life. She enjoys being an active part of her community and striving to make an impact in her community.
Iffah is a distinguished member of her religious community from being the youngest person to ever be elected as a youth pastor/representative in her place of worship, to her work as a teacher for their religious education kindergarten class. Iffah is also an alumni of the prestigious Global Encounters Program where she worked alongside the Aga Khan Development Network to aid in a better quality of life for people living in developing countries.
Iffah’s passion for humanitarian work and science has influenced her passion in the environment. She hopes to work in a field such as climate tech as well as return the opportunity she was given by the Aga Khan Development Network and serve in their Environmental and Climate Change branch. Success for her is changing lives and leaving behind a mark on the world.
Hannah Yang ︳Flushing, NY
Hannah Yang
Hannah is a passionate, dedicated, and self-motivated student from New York City. Having grown up with immigrant parents, she has always been interested in uplifting her community and the voices of those historically underrepresented.
At school, Hannah serves as secretary-general for her school’s Model UN team, co-editor-in-chief of her school’s newspaper (the Joritan), co-president of the feminist club Women in Our World (W.O.W.), and co-president of Asian Affinity Group. She is a National Honors Society tutor, Peer Assistant Leader (PAL), and Student Ambassador. Hannah stays active by running for her school’s Cross Country team and competing on the Varsity Fencing team. Hannah interned at a community nonprofit where she led voter registration drives, organized rallies, led public campaigns, and supported the AANHPI Education Bill. She also worked as a Literary Apprentice for the BreakBread Literary Project, advocated and raised money for a re-entry program, and attended writing workshops. After participating in the Columbia High School Law Institute, she is diving deeper into her interest in the legal field by interning with a New York State Supreme Court Judge.
Hannah is a native Korean and English speaker and is learning Spanish at school. Experiencing firsthand the impact language barriers have had on her loved ones, Hannah strives to empower others within her community by helping with translation and other initiatives that ensure her community’s voices are heard. She loves to read, write, play the piano, go for a run, and listen to music. Hannah hopes to major in International Relations and Economics in college.
Hannah Card ︳Libson Falls, ME
Hannah Card
Hannah Card is a dedicated young woman who pursues her passions unapologetically. She's a kind, compassionate, and driven leader who is dedicated to helping the people around her while recognizing the importance of taking care of herself.
Hannah’s proudest accomplishment by far is creating a mental health club at her school under the umbrella of an organization called Work2BeWell, with whom she is also a National Student Advisory Council member. She helped found and implement the club during her sophomore year, served as the president in her junior year, and will continue to do so for her senior year. This club has allowed her to pursue her immense passion for mental health awareness and inspire others to do the same.
Hannah serves as the President of her school’s National Honor Society chapter and the Vice President of Key Club. She mentors a student at a local middle school, manages her school’s field hockey team, and volunteers with Cancer Kids First which creates cards and care packages for young cancer patients. She also volunteers with Hey Sam, a peer-to-peer youth helpline.
Hannah’s life mission is to help break the stigma surrounding mental illness and reinforce the importance of talking about mental health. Hannah is motivated by her amazing teachers, and says, “They have supported me through everything I have set out to accomplish…They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, which only pushed me to keep reaching for the stars. I wouldn’t be here without their amazing, unconditional support.”
Fariza Samadova ︳Lutherville-Timonium, MD
Fariza Samadova
Fariza is known for her diligence, kindness, and unwavering determination to make a difference. As a first-generation, low-income Muslim student in the United States, she has overcome numerous challenges with remarkable perseverance. Fariza's strong work ethic and dedication to helping others shine through in everything she does, making her an exemplary leader and role-model in her community.
Fariza is most proud of starting and leading the "Girl Up" club at her school. Under her leadership, the club grew to over 45 active members and became one of the most influential organizations at school. Through annual drives, "Girl Up" has raised significant resources to assist young women in need. Her leadership has not only empowered her peers but has also created a lasting positive impact on the lives of countless young women. Additionally, Fariza is involved in student council at her school and on the regional, and national levels, where she has helped other student leaders hone their leadership skills. She has also testified for local bills that support students' education which showcases her dedication to advocacy and her ability to drive change.
Fariza aspires to be a Mohs surgeon (a dermatologist specializing in removing skin cancer) or a public health policymaker, motivated by her experiences and the needs she sees in her community. Tutoring first-generation children in her community fuels her passion for education and equity, and she hopes to create a world where everyone has access to quality healthcare and education. Her resilience and compassion continue to guide her as she strives to make her family proud while also contributing to a brighter, more equitable future for all.
Evan Wang ︳King Of Prussia, PA
Evan Wang
Evan Wang is a community arts advocate and published writer. He received the 2024 National YoungArts Award and a 2024 Scholastic National Gold Medal for poetry. Evan is passionate about public health and accessibility to arts programming. He loves amplifying youth voices, and adores fashion, food, and friends. In 2022, Evan was named the first Youth Poet Laureate of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, where he organized open mics and writing workshops at over a dozen libraries, universities, and community centers, taught creative writing and publishing to aspiring writers across the country, and raised his county’s Pride Flag alongside government officials. He performed his poetry at the U.S. Department of Education, Love Park, the Miami Book Fair, and was invited to the White House for the first interagency Youth Policy Summit. He was included on the Expressions of Freedom Firework Soundtrack that accompanied a fireworks show at Philadelphia’s Ben Franklin Bridge. Evan is the editor-in-chief of Hominum Journal, an international creative arts magazine that publishes acclaimed writers who have earned recognition from the Academy of American Poets and the Pushcart Anthology. A junior board member of the Indian Valley Arts Foundation and the director of the Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate Program, Evan’s work to enact positive social change has been recognized by the CDC, NPR, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Governor Josh Shapiro, TEDx, etc..
He said in an NPR article, “Poetry found me — a first-generation American living in the quiet suburbs — in this vastness, took my hand, and helped me find myself.” He seeks to do the same for others.
Divyashri Pandey ︳South Richmond Hill, NY
Divyashri Pandey
Divyasri aims to spend every day satiating her gluttonous desire for learning. A conscientious and creative soul, she loves to explore subjects ranging from philosophy—which quite literally translates to love of wisdom—to literature, theater, and music.
Witnessing the chaoticism of the Queens, NY community and the frequent entanglements of local youth with crime, Divyasri is proud of her advocacy for provisions within the juvenile justice system, which she proposed to the NYC Family Court. Divyasri also serves as president of her school’s drama club, in which she writes and performs plays about community issues and prioritizing youth voices. Last year, she even had the chance to write a play later performed by professional Broadway actors. As the choreographer for her school’s South Asian dance team, Divyasri further explores her love for performance and spreads diverse cultures of the Indian subcontinent to her peers via dance. Divyasri also loves to sing. From classical, to jazz, to her own songs, Divyasri finds solemnity and reflection in music, which led her to being a winner in the 2024 National YoungArts jazz vocal competition. Next on Divyasri’s journey is career exploration at the nationwide renowned law firm, Wilson Elser.
Divyasri’s Nepali-American upbringing led her to find great comfort in community. She believes that community, education, and art should be key pillars of every adolescent’s life, and intends to further teenage wellness by pursuing a career in family/juvenile law.
Celine Qin ︳Elk Grove, CA
Celine Qin
Celine prevails as a trailblazer for this generation and the next. A rising senior at Franklin High School in Sacramento County, California, she is proud to be nationally-recognized by Princeton University’s Prize in Race Relations. At 13, she founded The Reclamation Project @ 916, a grassroots organization spearheading youth-led movements for systems-change, equity, and liberation for marginalized communities, and has since mobilized 60,000+ people across numerous youth-led campaigns, initiatives, and demonstrations. She currently directs a coalition of 200+ volunteers, 500+ youth learners, and 100+ nonprofit partners, youth organizers, community activists, public officials, and fellow leaders throughout California and nationwide. Celine has led the reinvestment of over $150,000 to community aid, social justice programming, youth leadership development and socio-political organizing. She is also the Student Board Trustee of the Elk Grove Unified School District, serving as the voice for 63,000+ students across 68 schools in Northern California’s largest school district, in one of the most diverse regions in the United States. At heart, Celine embodies fearlessness, resilience, and the breaking of paradigms, uniting people against hardship and enlivening community hopes and dreams. Although she is usually the youngest person in the room, defying expectations and boundaries, she hopes for this to change as she inspires youth to take charge of what matters to them—for years to come.
