CLASS OF 2019

Harshal Agrawal - Jersey City, NJ

Harshal Agrawal is a member of the graduating Class of 2019 from Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School in Jersey City, NJ. In addition to his strong academics, Mr. Agrawal has a passion for environmental research and advocacy. For the past five years, Harshal has been developing a cost-effective and eco-friendly method to prevent Harmful Algae Blooms (HAB) using Stropharia Mushroom Mycelium. He was inspired to embark on this research by a HAB devastating a local nature reserve near him and you can find out more about his research on his website: HABPrevention.weebly.com. In addition, Harshal also successfully petitioned the Board of Education in his city to install lead filters on the water fountains in his school and solved a large problem with his school’s dependency on unreliable and plastic-consuming water coolers. Last summer, he attended the Research Science Institute at MIT and at school, he is an active member of the soccer team, Model UN, Student Council, and Project Ecovate. Harshal will be attending Stanford in the Fall of 2019.

In honor of Rajesh and Manju Agrawal (parents)

Anna Allport - Palo Alto, CA

Anna Allport is a member of the 2019 graduating class of Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto, CA. In addition to her exemplary academics, Anna’s interests include advocacy for student wellness and arts education, multimedia communications, and women’s entrepreneurship. A Varsity debater with honors from the National Speech and Debate Association, and a gold medalist in Le Grand Concours National French Contest, Anna has received a U.S. Congressional Certificate of Recognition for public speaking, through Rotary, on behalf of teen wellness initiatives. A Peer Leader for Sources of Strength and a member of the President’s Volunteer Service Award Program, Anna has served over 1,000 volunteer hours of rewarding community service: the highest number of service hours in the history of her high school. Anna is Executive Producer of her high school’s multimedia news station, holds senior leadership positions in national and local theater organizations, and was invited to host the 2019 TEDxGunnHighSchool conference. A theater industry blogger since the age of 14, Anna is currently working as Contributing Editor of the CampBroadway.com blog, and enjoys interviewing Broadway’s best and covering events like the 2018 Tony Awards. A passionate advocate for performing arts education, Anna is currently co-developing a K-12 arts education nonprofit company in partnership with Ronald McDonald House and Life Moves. Equally accomplished in S.T.E.M. as she is in the arts, Anna has won her school’s highest awards in biology, chemistry, geometry, and calculus, and is a Teacher’s Assistant for Calculus, as well as a highly-requested peer tutor. Anna is honored to be a counselor of chemistry and engineering at Tech Trek, an award-winning S.T.E.M. camp for middle school girls sponsored by the American Association of University Women. Combining her favorite pastimes of horseback riding and photography with service, Anna is a blue ribbon winner in English hunt seat equitation and has worked as a riding counselor for children’s summer horsemanship camps. Anna also teaches botanical photography to children and seniors, favoring locations at local historic gardens, organic farms, and the breathtaking bluff top coastline of Northern California.  Anna will be entering Princeton in the Fall of 2019.

In honor of her beloved family, for their wisdom, creativity, and boundless love.

Malcolm Asher - Portland, OR

Malcolm Asher is a member of the graduating Class of 2019 from Cleveland High School in Portland, OR. In addition to his strong academics, Malcolm has a passion for global health,  human rights, and social innovation. Malcolm’s interest in healthcare arose from his experience volunteering with the Child Life Department at his local children’s hospital. After exposure to various gaps in the hospital experience, Malcolm became the Founder and Executive Director of ArtPass International, a youth-led 501(c)(3) that has worked with over 120 communities across the globe to use art as a vehicle for increasing the number of children receiving medical treatment. Additionally, Malcolm created the youth sector of Healthcare for ALL Oregon, serves as the Operations Director for Kids First Project, and started his school’s HOSA chapter. Malcolm is an Ashoka Young Changemaker, T-Mobile Changemaker Challenge Top-Tier Winner, Three Dot Dash Global Teen Leader, Prudential Spirit of Community State Honoree. Malcolm will begin at Stanford University in the Fall of 2019.

In honor of Nancy Asher (mother)

Anjali Chadha - Louisville, KY

Anjali Chadha is a member of the graduating class of 2019 from DuPont Manual in Louisville, KY. Miss Chadha is the founder of 501(c)(3) nonprofit Empowered, Inc. The mission of Empowered is to teach minority, high school girls technical skills and connect these girls with minority women entrepreneurs in their community. Empowered has conducted training programs for the last two summers and partnered with several entrepreneurial organizations. She is also deeply passionate about science research, and has developed a novel automated, 3D-printed, IoT sensor for arsenic in drinking water sources. She has won awards at science fairs like the National Junior Sciences and Humanities Symposium, and Intel ISEF. She is also a Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar. Last summer, Miss Chadha attended the Research Science Institute (RSI), a program hosted at MIT. Miss Chadha is interested in innovation through social justice work. She was the Student Chair of a district-wide board for organizing the 600-person JCPS IdeaFestival, where student speakers present their ideas on technology, education, politics, and social change. Miss Chadha has been an Indian classical dancer for the past ten years and has had opportunities to dance in venues in Paris, Toronto, India, and others. She has also served on the KY Commissioner of Education’s Student Council for two years. Miss Chadha has been profiled in PopSugar magazine, and is a subject of the documentary film Science Fair.  Anjali will be attending MIT in the Fall of 2019.

In honor of Dr. V. Ravichandran and Mrs. Indira Ravichandran (grandparents)

Tea Freedman-Susskind - Redmond, WA

A lifelong resident of the greater Seattle area, Tea is always trying to give back to her community. To that end, she has been a regular volunteer at her local public library’s children’s educational programs since 2016, has taught citizenship classes at a local community center, and works as a peer tutor at her high school. She serves as co-concertmaster of her high school orchestra, Webmaster of the school newspaper, and a cross country captain. An aspiring engineer, Tea has worked for three summers at the University of Washington’s Advanced Propulsion Lab and the Husky Satellite Lab, helping design and create various aspects of the lab’s CubeSat (a kind of small satellite) mission to Low-Earth Orbit to test propulsion and other technology. Tea will graduate from Lakeside School in June 2019 and will begin at Califorrnia Institute of Technology in the Fall of 2019. 

In honor of Johanna Freedman and Silvio Susskind (parents)

Lawrence Jia - Midlothian, VA

Lawrence Jia is a member of the graduating Class of 2019 from the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School in Richmond, Virginia. In addition to his strong academics, Lawrence has a passion for economics, mathematics, and constitutional history. Since before his freshman year, Lawrence has led an initiative called Money Matters to Students that teaches basic concepts in economics and personal finance to children across four continents. He is also involved with analyzing ballot access strategy with the Serve America Movement and researching sovereign defaults at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. In school, Lawrence serves as the captain of the forensics team, competing in extemporaneous speech, editor of the school newspaper’s current events section, and co-captain of the varsity tennis team. Lawrence will be a first year at Harvard in the Fall of 2019. 

In honor of Guoya Li and Yankai Jia (parents)

Shraddha Joshi - Round Rock, TX

Shraddha Joshi is a member of the graduating Class of 2019 at Meridian World School, an International Baccalaureate charter school near Austin, Texas. As a first generation Indian-American, Shraddha is passionate about Indian classical dance and music, as well as foreign language study. She has dedicated her high school years towards endeavors that empower underprivileged immigrant youth in the Austin community. After staging a full-scale dance production as a fundraiser for GirlForward, an organization that empowers teenage refugee girls in Austin, she was selected to serve as their first and only high-school aged intern. Shraddha has also served as a foundational ESL tutor with the Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT). In school, Shraddha is the founder of Meridian’s chapter of Students Together Assisting Refugees (started by 2017 Cameron Impact Scholar Adam Sella) and is an active member of the Model United Nations club. Furthermore, Shraddha possesses a deep interest in language learning. She grew up as a bilingual speaker of Hindi and English, and is highly proficient in Spanish, French, and Arabic. Shraddha had the opportunity to study Arabic in Amman, Jordan on a NSLI-Y scholarship, an experience which increased her love for cultural exchange and citizen diplomacy. She is a second-year Alumni Representative for NSLI-Y, where she serves NSLI-Y alumni by organizing events that provide opportunities for networking and enrichment. In the future, Shraddha aspires to use her knowledge of foreign cultures and languages for a career in conflict resolution and diplomacy.  Shraddha will be spending the next year in Amman, Jordan with NSLI-Y and will begin at Harvard University in the Fall of 2020.  

In honor of Shikha Joshi (mother)

Malavika Kannan - Oviedo, FL

Malavika Kannan is a graduating senior, storyteller, and vocal activist for female empowerment. A 2018 HerLead Fellow, Malavika founded the Homegirl Project, a buzzworthy online media collective dedicated to empowering women of color. She's also dedicated to ending gun violence: therefore, she's interned on political campaigns, organized voter registration, and led protests through March for Our Lives and Women's March. Her first novel,The Bookweaver's Daughter, is a female-powered, high-stakes fantasy set in Ancient India: it was recognized as Scholastic National Winner, a YoungArts National Winner, and will release in 2020 through Tanglewood Publishing. Malavika has additionally written viral pieces for HuffPost, Teen Vogue, Washington Post’s The Lily, and Harper's Bazaar. At school, Malavika serves as editor of her school newspaper, president of the Model UN and History Clubs, and runs Varsity cross country.  Malavika will enter Stanford University as a first year in the Fall of 2019.

In honor of Subha and Kalyan Kannan (parents)

Austin Koehler - Redondo Beach, CA

Austin Koehler is a member of the graduating Class of 2019 from Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, CA. In addition to his strong academics, Mr. Koehler has a passion for entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and computer science. He currently manages the business G.O. Nuts, Genuinely Original Nuts, which sells a variety of flavors of candied and savory pecans. Mr. Koehler founded G.O. Nuts in 2016 while in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, where he received a grant from a Shark Tank like presentation to expand his efforts. He partnered G.O. Nuts with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) by donating 10% of profits, along with 100% of customer donations in honor of his Type 1 diabetic brother. Striving to be an advocate for Type 1 diabetics, Mr. Koehler hopes the donated funds go towards education, research, and finding a cure. Giving back to the community through his business at events such as high school fundraisers and local fairs is also important to him. Mr. Koehler has expanded his passion for computer science by being a student leader in Hack Club and RED Talks STEM Club. He is also an avid athlete, lettering on the Varsity swim team for the last four years.  Austin Koehler will attend Villanova in the Fall of 2019.  

In honor of James and Christina Koehler (parents)

Eric Li - Manvel, TX

Eric Li is a senior at Glenda Dawson High School from Pearland, Texas. He is passionate about community service, the environment, and technology. In May of 2008, after witnessing the devastating 8.0 earthquake in Sichuan, China on the TV, he and his sisters set out with a mission of raising funds for the disaster victims. More than a decade later, this neighborhood effort has turned into the 501(c)(3) non-profit We Care Act which has been involved in relief for numerous natural disasters. He has also founded LiFT, Life Initiative for Technology, a technology literacy initiative which addresses unequal access to opportunity as well as harmful waste in the environment. Through LiFT, he refurbishes and recycles electronics and donates them to communities in need. Moreover, he has conducted research into quantum computing through the Simons Summer Research Program, realizing a 3-qubit implementation of Grover’s algorithm on IBM Q, and is currently independently working to develop a quicker version of Quicksort. In his free time, Eric enjoys playing basketball in his driveway, getting lost in books, and hanging out with his friends.  Eric Li will enter Harvard University in the Fall of 2019. 

In honor of Shixia Huang (mother)

Sophia Manolis - Minneapolis, MN

Sophia Manolis is a freshman at Stanford University. She is incredibly passionate about social and environmental justice, community organizing, and local democratic economies. She was heavily involved in fighting the proposed Line 3 pipeline in Minnesota, working among youth organizations, indigenous communities, non-profits, neighborhood organizations, faith communities, and more. She was one of thirteen youth — called “Youth Climate Intervenors" to represent themselves in a legal fight against Enbridge Energy Company during the Line 3 pipeline review process. At Stanford, she has continued to organize for climate justice through the group Fossil Free Stanford. She helps plan direct action events, student outreach, and teach-ins; organizes faculty and alumni support; and meets regularly with the Stanford Board of Trustees and administration to pressure them to divest. Additionally, she is very passionate about coalition building between Stanford activist groups and works on initiating collaborative efforts and support within the activist community. Academically, she hopes to major in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity and Economics, because she believes that understanding economics from a sociological lens is key to creating large structural societal change in the future. In her free time you can probably catch her having deep and meaningful conversations with friends, journaling, going to club swim practice, checking her white privilege, and reading books about social and economic justice.

In honor of Akilah Sanders-Reed (organizer with Power Shift Network and Youth Climate Intervenor)

Jay Mehta - Overland Park, KS

Jay Mehta is privileged to be a member of the graduating Class of 2019 from The Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City, Missouri. Jay has a passion for history, performance, and service. Jay has participated in National History Day and is dedicated to the task of telling untold stories of sacrifice. In his sophomore year, Jay and his teacher Sam Knopik uncovered the story of E.O. Harris, a soldier who fought and died in the invasion of Normandy in 1944. Jay was lucky enough to able to be intern at the Indian Supreme Court, conducting historical and legal research on the case which overturned India’s anti-sodomy law, and he hopes to pursue a career fighting for justice on behalf of marginalized, oppressed, and silenced people who have not enjoyed the privileges he has. Jay has loved being a member of his school choir, an avid thespian, and a drummer in both rock and jazz bands. He also enjoys volunteering weekly at the Rose Estates Assisted Living Community, serving ice cream and helping out with odd jobs. After the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, Jay helped organize a rally for the #NationalSchoolWalkout and is committed to fighting for gun reform. He has held various leadership positions in his school and has helped organize several fundraisers for the American Himalayan Foundation’s STOP Girl Trafficking initiative. Jay attends Yale University. 

In honor of Joel Diffendaffer (Choir Director and Academic Advisor who recently passed at age 44)

Julian Rubinfien - New York, NY

Julian Rubinfien is a member of the Class of 2018 from Stuyvesant High School in New York City. While at Stuyvesant, Mr. Rubinfien combined advanced coursework in both science and the humanities, completed original biochemistry research, and volunteered as a tutor and writer.  As the winner of the national Genes In Space competition, Mr. Rubinfien was able to launch a series of genetics experiments to the International Space Station, where they were performed by astronauts, producing novel results. He also interned in several biotechnology, university, and hospital laboratories, attended the Research Science Institute at MIT, captained the Stuyvesant sailing team, and became a licensed EMT. Since graduating, he has worked on a US Senate election campaign and will intern at NASA in Houston this year, with plans to work on additional experiments for a future launch. He will attend Yale University in the fall of 2019, where he hopes to continue his focus on biochemistry with an emphasis on humanities.

In honor of Dr. Deniz Atabay (mentored him on space science project)

Alina Wilson - Edmond, OK

Alina Wilson is a member of the graduating Class of 2019 from Heritage Hall High School in Edmond, OK. In addition to her strong academics, Miss Wilson has a passion for service, photography, athletics, and leadership. Alina holds leadership positions in the Student Council, Senior Class Officers, varsity softball and soccer teams, the Service Learning Council, Art Club, and Diversity Club. As an Independent Study Program Scholar at her school, Alina conducted in-depth research on the influence of societal narratives on the formation of identity and hosted her own photo gallery to accompany her research. She also served as the Regional Teen Vice President and Regional Teen Co-Editor of Jack and Jill of America Inc. Alina co-founded the Peer Counseling Group (CHAT ROOM) to increase communication at her school. She also co-founded the Adopt a Grandparent Program, which pairs high school students with nursing home residents. Alina has served on the OKC Youth Council and is an ANN, Inc. and Vital Voices HERlead Fellow.  Alina will begin her first year at Stanford University in the Fall of 2019. 

In honor of Frances Fredericka Wilson Sears (Great-Aunt)

Zoe Weiss - Atlanta, GA

Zoe Weiss is a member of the graduating Class of 2019 from Lakeside High School in Atlanta, GA. In addition to her strong academics, Ms. Weiss has a passion for improving the lives of others, both in her community and globally. Ms. Weiss has spent more than a third of her life developing low-cost and effective approaches to preventing and detecting diseases in countries that cannot afford high-end laboratories or pervasive access to healthcare. As the founder of Urban Science Summit, a nonprofit, Ms. Weiss has spent six years empowering thousands of her urban community's inquisitive young thinkers to become tomorrow's innovators in STEM. Ms. Weiss has multiple peer-reviewed journal publications and holds a provisional patent. She attended the Research Science Institute at MIT and Intel International Science and Engineering Fairs. Ms. Weiss is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Proceedings of DeKalb Science and Engineering.  Zoe will begin at Harvard University in the Fall of 2019. 

In honor of Lora and Howie Weiss (parents)