Affan Leebe Chicago, IL

Affan Leebe is a high school junior at Northside College Prep, in Chicago, Illinois. As a first-generation, low-income student, Affan aims to leave a legacy that strengthens his community for future generations to grow and succeed. To bring awareness to new issues in public education, Affan started The Fight for Equity, a podcast that combats educational inequities in Chicago Public Schools. From volunteering with his local alderman, to interning with organizations such as Asian Americans Advancing Justice and Just the Beginning, Affan carries a passion for community service and education, which he brought to Harvard’s 2021 Pre College program and University of Notre Dame’s Global Scholars in 2020.

Affan’s proudest accomplishment was during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he interviewed students in various Chicago public high schools to discuss the educational disparities in funding, resources, and facilities across Chicago for his podcast. Affan was thrilled to be a representative of the Students Voice and Activism Fellowship, in which he worked as a Youth Advisor for Former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, at the Obama Foundation.

Affan’s inspiration stems from his identity. As his parents did not attend college, Affan had to learn at a young age to utilize his identity as a first-generation, Muslim-American child living in a low-income household to help overcome various financial and educational barriers. He is a strong believer that experience shapes one’s viewpoints in life; he wishes for others to keep an open mind and embrace growth in their lives. Affan’s biggest personal ambition, after graduating from a top-tier university, is to bring a voice to the various stories that were similar to his. Affan hopes to establish a successful nonprofit that secures resources for those committed to diverse intellectual pursuits. His ambitions are motivated by a love of learning and a strong desire to lead change in his community.

Leaving behind a legacy as someone who gives back to the community by ensuring that underrepresented students have access to the resources they need to achieve their goals is what success means to Affan.

Andrea Pebeahsy Anadarko, OK

Andrea is a proud member of the Apache, Comanche, and Yankton Sioux tribes; she likes to be involved with her culture and spread awareness about overlooked issues in her culture, such as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). Having overcome challenges that expanded her self-view, Andrea has seen immense growth and looks forward to pushing herself in the future.

As woodwind captain for her school's band, Andrea is most proud of her work in music, as she helps her director with social media as the acting historian. Andrea puts a lot of spirit into learning about instruments and those around her. As a new flutist, Andrea knows a thing or two about insecurity, but she thrives on improving her skills and loves helping others gain confidence in their own abilities by encouraging them to continue trying.

Andrea’s path to band wouldn’t have come if not for her 8th grade year playing basketball. That year, she collapsed during practice and fainted. After multiple visits to doctors and specialists, Andrea was diagnosed with complex migraines – with symptoms so bad they mirror the symptoms of a stroke. Now, with her migraines managed and basketball being too taxing with her condition, Andrea takes to the band room.

Andrea is also proud of her place in the biomedical program at the Caddo Kiowa Technology Center; as president of the leadership club for the program, Andrea takes classes at the tech center. Because the program connects with the University of Oklahoma, she was one of five students able to attend BE4NANO, a camp that utilizes nanoparticles as a drug delivery model for cancer research.

During this camp, Andrea met a woman who continues to inspire her: Emmy – a figure skater and engineer – this woman shared how she was able to do everything she loves and achieve everything she works hard for, and still have time to go to the lab and work towards biological advances. Her hard work and ambition inspires Andrea to try her best and reach for what she wants and it will be possible.

Deborah-Aaliyah Theophile Rockaway Beach, NY

Deborah is a junior at the High School for Community Leadership in Jamaica, NY. She is self-motivated, resilient, and highly observant. Being a first-generation Haitian-American, the oldest child, and the only girl in her family, Deborah is defined as a hidden gem, helping her community be heard and seen.

Deborah loves school to the extreme – it's practically her second home. Passionate about all subjects, ranging from Chemistry to Global Literature to French, it isn't surprising to see Deborah often in deep discussions with her teachers. Deborah is also huge on helping her community ensure they have the resources to succeed; together with three friends, Deborah co-founded a club that builds support systems for peers interested in the medical and health field.

Inside and outside school, Deborah loves to ever engage in learning. Deborah serves in leadership positions in several clubs, including as VP of the National Honor Society, Public Relations Director for the Student Government Association, and Co-founder of the Medical Club. Deborah's love for her music made her join a music club, where she now plays the cello. Deborah is in two sports: fencing and flag football. Deborah quickly became co-captain of her fencing team and a starter on her flag-football team.

Inspired by her family, who immigrated from Haiti, Deborah aspires to be a doctor in neurosurgery or pediatric neuroscience. Her goal is to get her MPH and PhD., utilizing her kindness, intelligence, and creativity to help people in disadvantaged communities. Additionally, Deborah plans to learn multiple languages, especially French. Deborah's heritage is significant to her, and she seeks ways to learn more about it. The phrase, "A jack of all trades is a master of none but often better than a master of one," fits Deborah – a versatile person who loves to try new things, hang around new people, and learn!

Damaris Magana Elk Grove, CA

As a daughter of Mexican immigrants, Damaris Magana-Alday is currently studying at Franklin High School with aspirations of helping people whose voices may not be heard in her community. Her passion for equity work has led her to co-chair the equity council at her school; she’s led the “Would You Do This To Me?” campaign to increase awareness of crimes of prejudice on her campus and in her community. She strives to empower voices who may have been affected by inequities on her campus in hopes of creating a fair and inclusive environment.

With a passion for computer science, Damaris dreams of becoming a computer programmer,using artificial intelligence to improve people’s day-to-day lives.She continues to address the lack of equity in the computer science field, motivating minorities underrepresented in the STEM field. As she works toward becoming a computer programmer she sees herself being a part of something larger than herself in the Latino community. Seeing how the Latino community is at great risk of losing their jobs due to the increase in the implementation of computer science she hopes to ignite change towards hopefully working in a computer science field with greater diversity.

Damaris is also part of the Latino Honor Society at school, executing community service projects that serve the Latino community. She challenges herself academically whilst balancing being a community advocate for change in systems that do not contain inclusivity or fairne

Ava McQuain Mundelein, IL

Vibrant and colorful are the best words to describe Ava’s personality. Whether it’s from her paint-stained overalls or her mismatched socks, Ava stands out in a crowd. Regardless of the difficult obstacles in her path, Ava remains positive through an unrelenting belief that a brighter future exists for her and the folks she’s met throughout her life. To express her utmost gratitude for opportunities given to her, Ava gives back directly to the programs she wished she had when she was younger. A prime example is her presidency of the Science Olympiad Team and participation in STEAM camp. During camp, Ava provided students the opportunity to explore topics that mirrored her Science Olympiad team’s competitive events, preparing students for the next step in their STEAM journey.

“I want to complete a couple big projects, specifically a mural highlighting diversity in science, an ornithology mural, and the completion of a butterfly habitat in a school courtyard,” Ava said. “I’d also love to make the STEAM outreach program a fully-fledged operation, gathering STEM opportunities for younger students.”

Additionally, Ava is involved in many other activities, including Student Leadership, planning school activities and advocating for inclusivity, and Common Ground, acting as president to bring together students from various backgrounds through performance, food, and informative booths. As an avid artist, Ava meets with members of her local government in celebration of her artistic ability. Finally, inspired by her animal-loving uncle – who tragically passed away in early 2022 – her rescue cat, Forrest, and love for animals and zoology, Ava hopes to start an animal activism club at her school. Ava aspires to a career in science. Inspired by her family – Whether it was helping plant vegetables alongside her mother and grandmother in her backyard, searching for creatures alongside her uncles on summer nights, or even her frequent trips to the doctor to remedy chronic ear-infections – Ava was exposed to science from a young age. Still holding science in high regard, Ava hopes to pursue a career in either biology, environmental science, or otolaryngology.

Benedict Ridore Ocoee, FL

Benedict Ridore is a first-generation Haitian-American from Ocoee Florida, a small town just west of Orlando. Ben attends Ocoee High School where he is part of the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) program; he is also a member of both his school's National Math and National Science Honors societies. Finally, Ben enjoys volunteering at his local hospital laboratory, assisting the technicians receive and organize specimen samples.

Ben is passionate and proud about raising awareness on climate change: He produced two short films, interviewing state representatives and scientists on the detrimental effects and possible solutions to this problem. One of his films earned him a $7,500 scholarship, further motivating him to continue raising awareness.

Ben is also a very passionate artist. During summers and fall, Ben attends the Community School of The Arts, an art program that offers instruction, materials, and a safe environment for students to create. Ben has grown through this program, attending for nearly a decade. This program has also allowed Ben to have his art exhibited at The Mennello Museum of American Art.

Following unpredictable obstacles thrown into his life during the 2022, Ben views them as opportunities to learn the crucial principles of perseverance, gratitude, and courage. These same obstacles have also revealed to him his interest in biopharmaceuticals; Ben aspires to become a pharmaceutical scientist, developing treatments for some of the rarest and worst diseases.

Camila Marmolejo San Diego, CA

Camila Marmolejo is an exemplary student from Southwest High School in San Diego, California. As a daughter of Mexican immigrant parents, she is an active leader and representative of the Chicano community, and will be the first in her family to receive higher education. As an intern for First Gen Scholars, Camila empowered underserved, first-generation youth through college access and career development resources. Due to the lack of college support in schools near the US Mexico Border, she also founded the first ever First Gen Scholars Club at her school to inform students about college opportunities and the college application process; schools throughout San Diego took inspiration from Camila and started their own, similar clubs. “There is talent in low-income communities, but it’s constantly overlooked,” Camilla said. “If only these students could acknowledge how meaningful their stories are, their opportunities would be endless.” Since seventh grade, Camila has devoted her time to volunteering at the Jose Montano Foundation, assisting hospitalized childhood cancer patients. Here she developed a passion for cancer research and currently volunteers at two of her local hospitals, delivering medical supplies and collecting specimens. As such, her community involvement has been recognized by the Carson Scholarship Fund. During the summer, she also participated in medical and cancer research programs such as the Scripps HCOP Program and the HOPP Summer Program; next, Camila will participate in the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Youth Leadership Institute hosted at the University of Chicago. Camila values her family and supports them in every possible way. She works all-day, every weekend at their small family-business at the swap meet to help pay the bills. Being bilingual allows Camila to serve as a translator for her parents. She aspires to become a hematology oncologist and to improve access to cancer screening and education in her local community and communities across the border in Tijuana, Mexico.

Chloe Walker Hampton, VA

Music, science, and leadership are the three core passions that have gotten Chloe Walker through the most difficult times in her life; a resilient, optimistic woman, she learned to see the bright side in every situation, and that when she puts passion into everything she does, she’s bound to succeed. Chloe is most proud of her work in the Hampton Youth Commission. Her two years in the organization has allowed her to be an active member in her local government, giving a voice to the youth of her community. On the commission, she has provided thousands of dollars to student-led organizations on the Grants Committee, and is conducting a Human Trafficking Awareness Forum on the Community Participation Committee. Her experience overall in the commission has allowed her to grow as a leader and person. “It’s amazing,” Chole said. “I’m able to give the opportunities I yearned for to passionate youth, just like myself.” Chloe is also a crowned music nerd: she is first chair in her marching and symphonic band, a member of the Tri-M Music honor society, and a member in her drama club. Aside from music, Chloe also dabbles in the animal sciences, volunteering at her local farm, the Virginia Living Museum, and is a member of her school’s National Science Honor Society. At a young age, Chloe was always told she can do anything. And while she took that as being able to fly (at the age of 5), she now has drawn many of her passions from it. In the future, Chloe hopes to attend a university (first gen!) and major in animal science and/or biology; the start to her dream career of veterinary surgeon. Along the way, however, she will continue to better her community.

Christina Do Houston, TX

Christina is an over-achiever from Houston, Texas, driven towards her ambitions. Coming from a family of Vietnamese immigrants, Christina reaches for the stars because of the opportunity her parents provided in exchange for their sacrifice. In gratitude, she understands the gift of education. She seeks to create change in the world as a first-generation student, bridging the gaps that underserved communities face in healthcare and education. Christina is most proud of her commitment towards her community. She is a swimmer on her school’s varsity team, and a leader in the Interact Club, Anime Club, and National Art Honor Society (NAHS). She loves to help others explore their passions whether it is in community service, culture, and art: With Interact Club, Christina helped organize the Purple Pinkie Project to fundraise and spread awareness for the eradication of polio; with Anime Club, Christina brought Japanese culture to her school through the festival, “Taste of Japan;” with NAHS, Christina embraces her inner artist through a collaboration project with her school’s Fine Arts Department to paint a mural. She expresses her voice and passion through her actions. In Christina’s eyes, a leader is someone who lights a fire within others to become leaders. Always looking to expand her passions, Christina is the founder of the UNICEF Club at her school, whose mission is to advocate and enforce positive change upon children in need. As a young leader, the UNICEF Club gives her the opportunity to transform her values into action. Christina is also a part of the Medicell Foundation, a non-profit educating and inspiring youth to pursue medical careers. Finally, she has been selected as an EMERGE Fellow, Questbridge Prep Scholar, and Horatio Alger Scholar. Inspired by her family’s perseverance and support, Christina aspires to become a neurosurgeon as the first doctor in their generations. Ever since she was a child, Christina lived by the saying “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Her vision, now and for the future, is to make a difference in the lives of her family, children, and the communities she sets foot in along her journey.

Christina Nguyen Palm Coast, FL

Christina Nguyen is motivated by ideas and opportunities to help others – to give back to her community in ways that benefit all. She works hard to achieve her goals and make her family proud. One of her proudest achievements includes the startup of Village Bridges, a social organization giving back to the people of her rural Vietnamese diaspora. Village Bridges helps students understand the path to college with resources such as financial aid assistance and virtual college tours. Coming from a background with parents who did not receive a secondary education, Christina wants others in similar situations to know about opportunities available to them. Additionally, Christina is involved in a variety of extracurriculars at her school. She currently serves as Vice President of DECA club, immersing students in knowledge of entrepreneurial opportunities and ideas; she’ll serve as President in her senior year. She won second place pitching an improvement to telehealth alongside her 4-person team of peers at the University of North Florida medical-entrepreneurial. Finally, she is involved in National Honor Society, Student Government Association, and is Vice President Elect for HOSA for the upcoming year. Christina aspires to be a part of the medical field and help those in need;she wants to make a difference in the world as a Physician’s Assistant, working alongside wonderful people in the healthcare system. As her parents have sacrificed so much for her, she wants a stable career in order to give back to them for all they have done for her. Alongside this, the opportunity to work in healthcare also allows her to give back to her community, volunteering and donating to local charities. She hopes to achieve these goals through the hard work and effort she puts in.

Derek Sadorra Santa Rosa, CA

Derek Sadorra is a determined and creative student. He is driven by his goal to be the best version of himself. Derek chooses to express himself without worrying what others think of him.

Derek is most proud of being both a varsity track and field athlete and varsity cross-country runner; since seventh grade, he has since improved his running ability drastically through working hard everyday and not letting failures discourage him. After joining high school cross-country, Derek truly found his passion for running and has since run many long-distance races by himself. During his sophomore year, he joined track and field and quickly found a passion running hurdles and trying new events. Derek may not be the fastest runner, but is the best athlete he can be by always trying his hardest and never giving up until he achieves his goals.

Derek is also proud of his position as president of his school’s Key Club. He joined Key Club his freshman year and has since been vice president, acting president, before then being elected president for his junior year. Derek continues his role as president next year and will focus on serving his community through service projects for the greater good. Through all this, Derek has maintained a 5.0 GPA and is currently ranked #1 in his class; Derek also enrolls in college level classes at his local junior college to get ahead in college.

Ever since he was a child, Derek aspired to become an English after the positive impact his teachers have had shaping him – he wishes to do the same,positively impacting the lives of his own students. Derek understands that some of these teachers have helped at least one kid live a better life, which is why he wants to help as many as he can.

Huian Yang Sacramento, CA

Immigrating to the United States from an impoverished household in China, Huian Yang was clueless about the adventures he was about to take on. Since living in Sacramento, Huian has gained an interest in the STEM field and become a leader in his local community.

Throughout his high school journey, Huian has achieved a plethora of triumphs. However, his Key Club service stands out the most as having truly shaped him into the genial person he is today. His dedication to community service through Key Club – an international, student-led organization, bettering the community through volunteering – and the Pediatric Trauma Program started when Huian became a project head in his freshman year and put on numerous service events for the club. Soon, Huian rose to the president position – intent to further provide for his local community – and has accumulated over 200 service hours since, continuing to serve as a role model for his fellow members.

Another notable contribution he’s made towards aiding his community is his support of the District 7 Parks Commission. Together with his team, they beautified over 20 public parks in the region through planting trees and cleaning trash, creating a healthy environment for everyone. Additionally, Huian has served as his class ASB secretary for 2 consecutive years. Through ASB he has gained many leadership skills that allowed him to better connect with the student body and institute many fun events for Valley High School, which he proudly attends.

Growing up, learning English was the biggest challenge Huian and his family faced. In school he felt like an alien amongst fluent speakers, and outside of school he felt hopeless. Simple tasks like buying groceries and seeing the doctor become nearly impossible due to his inability to understand remedial English. Huian continues to strive for success, hence allowing him to not only provide aid to his parents but also to other minority groups – who experienced the same struggles as he did.

Ibne Tamim Queens, NY

Since she was a child, Ibne's life motto has been, "If There is a Will, there is a Way." Ibne Tamim, a strong-willed, optimistic, and ambitious student, attends the Manhattan Center For Science and Mathematics High School in New York. As an immigrant and first-generation student, she emphasizes leadership, honesty, and hard work. She is motivated to take advantage of the opportunities presented to her, and plans to defy stereotypes by flourishing in college and beyond. Ibne has made it her purpose to educate and inspire people to dream big, as well as to be a role model for her family, friends, and community. Ibne is most proud of her non-profit organization, Dream Equal, where she is a founding member and the curriculum development associate. Having witnessed personally the damaging effects of gender discrimination and stereotypes, Dream Equal creates curriculums for elementary, middle, and high school students that teach them about enjoyable and effective strategies to address gender disparity. She aspires to help children grow into capable young leaders who are confident in their dreams and goals. She and her team are dedicated to educating their communities about the harmful impacts of gender stereotypes and how to effectively fight them. Ibne is proud to say that Dream Equal has reached eighteen nations and influenced thousands of individuals around the globe. Ibne also participates in a wide range of extracurricular activities. As a strong supporter of children’s rights and protection, Ibne serves as President of the UNICEF club at her school. She is also the copy editor for her school’s newspaper. Outside of school, she collaborates with Dr. Emily Balcetis, an Associate Professor of Psychology at NYU, on research on collective action and the behaviors that individuals might utilize to effect social change. Ibne was inspired to use her voice to raise awareness about gender discrimination after experiencing it as a child as a result of her gender and race. She also wants to raise mental health awareness, something she noticed was lacking in her community when she was young.

“Individuals who contact Congress to raise awareness about gender discrimination inspire young people like me to fight for change,” Ibne said. “I plan to continue to do gender bias and gender disparity research to spread gender equality awareness and help people realize their full potential regardless of gender. I’ll continue to work to eradicate prejudice for equal rights and respect for everyone and redefine feminine and masculine to humans.”

Jian Tan Portland, OR

Jian (Andy) Tan is an ambitious and dedicated scholar from David Douglas High School in Portland, Oregon. In his education, Andy has chosen to pursue a path in molecular biology and is finishing his research proposal on trafficking mutations in potassium channels at the Oregon Health and Science University. But, Andy’s keystone desire to help others extend beyond the sciences. As a first-generation immigrant, Andy has faced numerous challenges. Rather than letting those experiences negatively impact him, Andy uses them to identify others who are struggling. Because of his huge heart for vulnerable communities, he goes out of his way to support them with compassion and empathy. As his high school’s varsity swim team captain, Andy has led his team to two conference championships, in addition to claiming multiple individual conference awards. Outside the high school season, Andy is a committed, year-round sectional-qualifying club swimmer on the David Douglas Aquatics Club – but Andy’s impressive run does not stop in the water. As principal cellist on his school’s nationally recognized string orchestra and symphony programs, Andy has led both groups to conference titles. To further explore his love for music, Andy performs with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony and Young Musicians & Artists program. In the community, Andy is a student representative in multiple organizations, including CommuniCare Oregon, Scot’s Angel, and Global Works Community Fund (GWCF). Through CommuniCare Oregon, Andy has helped grant over $15,000 to financial literacy and rehabilitation programs in Multnomah County. His work with Scot’s Angel has raised over $30,000 for youth facing critical medical conditions. As a GWCF representative, Andy gives back to the community by promoting unity through art, forest restoration, and international studies. Beyond his local community, Andy has worked with Our Futures, a program fighting for climate awareness, and was an athlete representative on the Oregon Swimming Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Youth Committee. Finally, Andy was named a Horatio Alger State Scholar and won a $10,000 scholarship. Andy credits his success to his parents. From bouncing between houses and part-time jobs, Andy’s parents were never shy to extend their support to others. Their limitless kindness and sacrifices have inspired Andy to pursue his interest with the utmost passion.

Lookman Mustapha Hempstead, NY

In the bustling streets of Queens, NY, Lookman has grown his passion for helping others and learning more. Consecrating his time in many leadership positions and community-based organizations, Lookman inspires other young students to pursue their dreams. Through his hard work and tenacity, he overcame obstacles and flourished with a greater and better future. Lookman is most proud of his work on the Outward Bound Student Advisory Council; intended to discuss how to best meet students' changing needs, Lookman serves as a voice for students who attend the over seventy Outward Bound Schools in New York City—standing hand in hand with his peers to better the education system. He organized and participated in discussions on education policy whilst collaborating with city council members. As well as advocating for advancements in student well-being at schools through thoughtful discussions on the importance of collaboration and restorative justice practices. Additionally, Lookman is the President of the Junior State of America, a Nationwide organization created by and for young people interested in what happens around them. He leads engaging thought-talks, debates, and mock trials to cultivate new ideas and perspectives. He is an ambassador for the Emmanuel for Hope Orphanage, an orphanage that provides children with an environment where they can thrive and secure a future. Lookmans mother inspires him. Witnessing her determination and grit when overcoming obstacles motivates him in his day-to-day life. He still recalls the words that his mother always tells him and uses them as fuel to keep going “Do better than what I have done.”

Madylin McCommons Ellwood City, PA

Maddy is an extremely motivated and diligent student who’s unafraid to advocate for others and uphold her own beliefs and goals without hesitation. She’s outgoing, compassionate, and courageous –and her sense of humor is witty and engaging with just a hint of sass. Maddy is a natural leader who is always ready to take on challenges and solve problems. Maddy’s proudest achievement is the creation of her school club, KidsToo. As a child abuse survivor, she is determined to raise awareness for fellow child abuse survivors to bring a sense of unity and empowerment to the community. Her club has a school district-wide “Wear Blue” Day to align with the color of child abuse prevention month. In addition, they conduct funraisers to help support the local women’s shelter, raising over $1,000, and place child abuse prevention pinwheels and signs in the school lawns to show support outside of the school walls. Additionally, Maddy is a dual varsity athlete in tennis and golf. She’s the only female golfer on the boys’ team, and a talented tennis player. Maddy is part of the Unified Bocce Club, and is National Honor Society Treasurer, Class of 2023 Treasurer, International Club Vice President, and Ellwood City Culture Club Treasurer. She has been in school musicals, a member of choral capers, and appears on the school’s morning announcements everyday. In her spare time, she loves to bake cookies and read. Looking forward, Maddy is an aspiring family law attorney. She is determined to help children who feel unheard or unhelped by the court system because of what happened to her after being diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after a family member tried to take her life. As a survivor, she has a life goal of helping other domestic child abuse victims to prevent them from enduring what she went through. Maddy has an unbreakable bond with her mom, sisters, grandma, and puppy, and cannot imagine her future without them in it.

Maurquez Thompson Chattanooga, TN

Maurquez, a junior at Brainerd High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is hardworking, kind, charismatic, and resilient. Maurquez’s favorite quote is by Malcom X: “There is no better than adversity, every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.” In 2011, Maurquez was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Fortunately, while treatable and curable, the cure has its challenges –such as causing blindness, seizures, hypertension, and memory loss. Maurquez is most proud of being an eight-year cancer-survivor.

“In life, I have encountered many trials and tribulations,” Maurquez said, reflecting on his journey thus far. “BUT by the grace of God, I have a 4.0 GPA and rank third in my class.”

Maurquez serves as Vice President of the National Honor Society Chapter and as an Ambassador for the Institute of Law, First Responders, and Forensic Science at his school. In his role as an ambassador, he conducts campus tours, serves as a host for open house events, workshops, college fairs, and in other leadership capacities as needed. Maurquez is involved in a variety of extracurriculars: He is a member of Chattanooga’s Mayor Youth Council, youth member of the NAACP Chattanooga/Hamilton Branch, YMCA Youth Trust Leader, participates in UTC’s Upward Bound Math-Science PRISM and STEP-UP Chattanooga. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Educational Society of Chattanooga, where he is a dog adoption ambassador, walks dogs, and makes treats in bulk. He lives by the credo of Muhummand Ali: “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” Maurquez is a community servant who wholeheartedly works for the betterment of his community. After watching the 13th documentary by Ava DuVernay in 2016, he felt compelled to pursue a career in law. Maurquez looks up to prominent figures such as: Malcolm X, Thurgood Marshall, and Bryan Stevenson. Maurquez is thankful for his amazing support system.

Michelle Ho San Jose, CA

Michelle is an extremely ambitious student from San Jose, California. She is most known for her passion and dedication to others, and love for history and community service. Michelle hopes to be a trailblazer for future first-generation students while giving back to the city and community she loves. Michelle is most proud of her commitment to her family and three younger siblings, aiding her parents and tutoring her siblings. She’s also the founder of a book reviews blog – her personal favorite author being Agatha Christie – that features reviews and the occasional history article –her proudest one on the White Rose, an anti-Nazism student rebellion in Germany. As a recent acceptee into the High School Diplomats Program, Michelle is excited to learn more about Japanese culture and history to become a global citizen. Michelle also received a $500 grant from Griptape to research Murder Mysteries in Translation: Theather, Film, and Literature; her hope is this advances her goal of publishing a murder mystery short story. Michelle is involved in many school-based extracurricular activities. She is the upcoming president of the Stress Relief Club, bringing awareness to mental health and co-founded her school’s first Spanish language Honor Society and Vietnamese Club, spreading awareness about cultural diversity. Michelle anticipates starting a first-generation support club at her school the following year, hopefully taking inspiration from her experiences with Hamilton Scholars. Michelle is also a dedicated student and recipient of the Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award for excellence in humanities, social sciences, and social justice. While undecided on her future career, Michelle wants to spend her life pursuing public service – whether working for the United States Department of Foreign Affairs, a museum curator at the Smithsonian, a History professor, or working in a non-profit that advocates for international aid. Michelle anticipates pursuing a History degree with a double major in Political Science or International Relations, undergoing research abroad. When she's not busy, Michelle loves to read historical fiction or murder mystery novels, and loves spending time with her family or friends, cooking random online recipes, practicing cursive and calligraphy, or watching cheesy romantic comedies.

Nhaomi Lartey Lansdowne, PA

Nhaomi Lartey is an ambitious and dynamic student. Through life’s setbacks, she is continuously growing into a strong-willed individual that aspires to leave a positive impact on the world. Her diverse background of Ghanaian and African American heritage motivates her to become the best version of herself possible. Nhaomi actively serves in leadership positions to strengthen as many communities as she can. She is currently a Junior Council Member on Lansdowne Borough Council and aids in organizing community events, being a voice for her community’s youth, and learning the importance of interacting with local government. Nhaomi is also a 2022 Bezos Scholar, a year-long leadership program where she hopes to transform the college and career initiatives at her school through her community change project – in addition to interacting with fellow gifted scholars.

Knowing the value of exploration, Nhaomi is involved in many extracurricular activities. She serves as the 2023 Class Committee President, representing her graduating class and planning activities to strengthen the group’s bond. Additionally, to further connect and assist others, she holds officer positions in Future Business Leaders of America, Mock Trial, and Mu Alpha Theta. As a 2-time District Champion in Informative Speech, Nhaomi discovered her zeal for public speaking in her school’s Speech and Debate Team. From writing for her school newspaper, to being a member of Google Code Next, Nhaomi enjoys gaining experience in various fields.

Nhaomi is driven by her passion for education and future goals. Coming from an underfunded school district, she’s experienced the impact of inequitable education and hopes to foster change to resolve this, ending the cycle of unutilized potential. She plans to explore the intersections of computer science, sociology, and business with the goal of creating a brighter future for the generations to come.

Nourelhoda Alashlem Spring, TX

Nourelhoda is exactly what her name means: an Arabic-originated name meaning the path of light. Nourelhoda is a leading beacon for hope for herself and her family that there is beauty in the world – despite the difficulties of immigrating to the United States after surviving the civil war and additional constraints. She has taken the meaning of her name and implemented it in other aspects of her life, motivating others to be their best, authentic-self, and encouraging her community to achieve unity and prosperity. Nourelhoda is most proud of her work as a Fairfax Food Council Youth Representative, where she utilizes her voice to help food-insecure families access healthy food. Her nutrition was influenced by her upbringing in a low-income household where her family struggled to put healthy food on the table; being unable to eat in a healthy manner has a variety of consequences for a family, including financial and mental stress. This prompted Nourelhoda to research and merge food accessibility with community food drives – also working with youth to increase awareness of places where families can acquire free veggies and fruits. "A community that eats junk will feel like junk," Nourelhoda said. Beyond the Fairfax Food Council, Nourelhoda is a dedicated volunteer at Capital Area Food Bank and a member of the National Art Society, where she expresses her battle with her artistic ability on canvas. In reflecting on her life, Nourelhoda won first place in the Rotary four-way test essay for her writing on self-development and innovative methods for resolving conflicts, solving difficulties, and making decisions to accomplish desired objectives Nourelhoda aspires to incorporate her light into everything she does. Her constant struggle throughout her life did not deter her from accomplishing her ultimate objective of being at ease. Her definition of peace is no longer allowing herself to be disrespected; She forgives judgment and replaces it with words of praise, self-acceptance, and love whenever she has a self-critical thought. During her lifetime, she wants to share that gift to others

Omar Abdellall East Stroudsburg, PA

Omar has always had a burning passion for computers - whether it be programming, designing, or other digital media. Despite being colorblind, Omar competes and excels in his academics and extracurriculars – promising to change the world and share his knowledge. A junior from a small town in Pennsylvania, Omar founded a computer club at his school, where students learn and expand their knowledge in programming, web design, movie creation, and other types of digital media. Omar competes annually in the Pennsylvania State Media and Design Competition, winning first place in Programming and first place in graphic & logo design. Omar spends his efforts building community with his friends, and in his school and town. As the President of the National Honor Society, Omar supports his school and community through service projects, fundraising, and other events. Being a captain of his school’s Minithon for-the-kids fundraiser, he helped raise over $11,000 in support of childhood cancer through business, schools, and other donors. Additionally, Omar is involved in a variety of competitive extracurriculars. As the Vice President of DECA Omar placed first in Principles of Marketing, teaching and preparing other students on how to compete. Omar is also the captain of the chess club and organizes meetings and competitions. Omar is inspired and motivated by his Egyptian family and heritage. Being thousands of miles away, practically across the world, from his family was not easy; his parents spent their lives working diligently in Egypt to move to America for the opportunity to have the freedom and chance at a successful life and career. Omar is motivated daily to not only make his parents and family back at home proud, but to change the world and share his knowledge with others.

Richael Saka Columbus, OH

Richael is an ambitious and driven student from St. Francis Desales Highschool in Columbus, Ohio. She aspires to a career in STEM when she can be a role model and leader for other underrepresented groups who don’t often receive the support and encouragement they need to continue in the field. Richael works constantly to make the most of the opportunities granted to her, and takes pride in the diverse extracurriculars she participates in. Richael is extremely proud of her research at the University of Pittsburgh's Computer Science and Bioinformatics Center. Throughout her internship, she was mentored by professors and graduate students in the creation of a machine learning model to predict the clinical outcome of chronic pain patients. Her research was recognized nationally by the National Center for Women in Technology and won a gold medal in the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics. Richael also has a passion for foreign languages, specifically Mandarin Chinese – her interest to learn blossoming from a childhood friendship. Since then, she was recognized by the State of Ohio to earn a seal of biliteracy with distinction. Richael has taken the initiative to show her language skills in various competitions as well. She participated in this year's National Chinese Speech Competition in which she placed 2nd nationally. More recently, she earned a first-place finish at the Chinese Bridge Competition hosted by the Chicago Consulate-General of China. She earned a spot to represent the US in the international Chinese Bridge Competition happening in the fall of 2022. Richael is inspired by her mother. She constantly encourages Richael to push herself to reach her full potential and is always supporting her in her many endeavors. Richael aspires to be a part of the next generation of leaders and changemakers that will make a lasting impact on the world. In college, she hopes to double major in data science and Chinese Language.