2025 Edison Scholars

Matthew is planning to study electrical engineering to develop sustainable energy technologies and renewable energy sources. He aims to create energy sources that could be considered more valuable for consumers than current industrial standards.

Planned Major: Electrical Engineering

Bobby plans to major in computer science and applied mathematics with a minor in public policy. He wants to use scientific advancements to create global policies that combat misinformation and responsibly harness artificial intelligence. Bobby aims to unite the private and public sectors to advance AI technology ethically for societal benefit.

Planned Major: Computer Science

During Andra’s internship at Scripps Research, she created SunScan, an app to monitor UV exposure for outdoor workers, which won the Congressional App Challenge for California’s 42nd district. She also designed a website, which currently has 50,000 active users, to help students at large schools connect for project collaboration.

Planned Major: Computer Science

Esmeralda plans to combine her passion for space, math, physics and robotics to make a difference in aerospace engineering. The technological and scientific advancements that stem from space science have led to many societal benefits, including in health and medicine. Esmeralda plans to expand space exploration and astronomical discoveries further, benefiting the world.

Planned Major: Aerospace Engineering and Astrophysics

Leonardo helped his father repair landscaping equipment from an early age, which sparked his interest in mechanical engineering. He recognized that innovation in this field could address issues like air pollution. Leonardo's interest in engineering grew as he researched hydrogen power as a clean alternative to gas and diesel. He was inspired by hydrogen cars, such as fuel-cell vehicles, for their emission-reducing potential in transportation. Leonardo plans to combine creativity with technical expertise in mechanical engineering to design solutions that mitigate carbon emissions.

Planned Major: Mechanical Engineering

Public understanding of scientific data can impact government decisions, and low trust in the media influences how environmental issues are addressed. In response to this, Malava plans to integrate engineering with journalism. As a member of her school’s engineering academy, she will continue developing skills learned in the lab, participating in research focused on sustainable fuels and eco-friendly materials that address climate change. With communication skills gained as editor-in-chief of her school’s news site, she plans to engage in science communication to effectively disseminate her findings to the media.

Planned Major: Chemical Engineering

Matthew first learned about climate change in middle school and decided to address the issue through science. Over the past five years, Matthew has immersed himself in environmental research at the University of California, Irvine to contribute to the fight against climate change. From identifying biomarkers in plants affected by increasing global temperatures to engineering fungi to harness their untapped carbon capture potential, he has come to appreciate science not only to unearth biology's deepest mysteries but also as a powerful tool to make change.

Planned Major: Environmental Science

David aims to enhance electrical infrastructure to benefit all communities. Power is essential, but often taken for granted and not everyone has equal access, leaving some homes cold and dark. He aspires to develop and improve systems to support those without the same access.

Planned Major: Electrical Engineering

Madison plans to major in civil engineering to tackle gentrification and displacement in Black communities. In South LA, a new large sporting arena has increased housing and rent, displacing families and erasing Black-owned businesses and cultural contributions. Madison’s experiences inspire her to design affordable, sustainable developments that enhance residents' lives and preserve cultural heritage.

Planned Major: Civil Engineering

Judith hopes to innovate renewable energy sources to mitigate environmental impact. She watched as communities across the world faced climate change effects, including the California drought in 2014 and recent wildfires. By majoring in environmental engineering, she plans to improve solar cell efficiency. The best-engineered cell currently converts 44.4% of solar energy into electricity, and she believes optimizing silicon doping levels can further increase this efficiency.

Planned Major: Environmental Science

Recent studies show an alarming rise in "forever chemicals" like PFAS in water, food and even human bodily fluids. Avianna believes these chemicals harm health and the food chain, leaving lasting effects. She emphasizes the urgency of finding alternatives to PFAS, which persist in the environment and accumulate in our bodies. Achieving this will require collaboration across various STEM fields, from chemistry and biochemistry to mechanical engineering.

Planned Major: Mechanical Engineering

Alex started taking high school math and science classes in sixth grade and is graduating with an associate degree and multiple gold biliteracy seals. He has completed three Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathways, earned a Harvard Express computer certification and won multiple state and national science fairs. He uses his education to solve problems, such as creating platforms for math tutoring and rebuilding computers for war refugees. Alex aims to study computer science to design software to help low-income and foster children connect with beneficial services. He also plans to apply his expertise in artificial intelligence to improve productivity and detect issues in power, water or gas distribution and client management databases.

Planned Major: Computer Science

During Jonathan’s internship in his school district’s IT department, he witnessed a Russian ransomware attack that disrupted thousands of students' education and highlighted digital vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity threats are a growing global issue, costing billions annually and threatening essential services. This incident fueled his passion for cybersecurity. He aims to develop innovative cyber defense solutions to protect against emerging risks. By furthering his education in computer science, he seeks to secure our digital world and support his community.

Planned Major: Computer Science

Olivia grew up watching her sister with autism struggle in under-resourced schools. Volunteering in special education classrooms, she saw many families face similar challenges. These experiences inspired her to envision how technology could help students in special education, particularly in underfunded schools. Olivia plans to study mechanical engineering to focus on socially assistive robotics, designing affordable tools for personalized learning in special education classes. Her sister’s struggles taught her that no child’s potential should be limited by their circumstances. Olivia is determined to use engineering to ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive.

Planned Major: Mechanical Engineering

As a community health worker in San Bernardino County, David observed that access to health care is a common issue in underserved counties. Helping individuals understand their health options and resources has inspired him to integrate engineering and healthcare. David aims to create an affordable, solar-powered device that links electronic health records with appointments and medication schedules to help patients manage their health and connect them with resources. By focusing on engineering and customer experiences, the system will help underserved communities access essential information through a patient-friendly interface.

Planned Major: Electrical and Communications Engineering

Skyler and a friend developed an app that helps students who qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches receive exclusive discounts redeemable at local restaurants. To support peers facing food insecurity, Skyler contacted his school district and partnered with local businesses through the chamber of commerce. Skyler hopes to continue his mission of combatting food insecurity through the use of digital platforms.

Planned Major: Management Information Systems

Louisa believes that physics is an ever-evolving discipline. Her interest in research stems from the potential for further development. Modern physics is constantly progressing, and while the current principles are grounded in the best available evidence and research, future discoveries may necessitate revisions to widely accepted theories.

Planned Major: Physics

Pursuing electrical engineering and computer science will provide Alex with the knowledge and financial resources necessary to serve as a role model for students. Alex is eager to integrate his work in semiconductor engineering with efforts to educate the younger generation. He aims to offer crucial guidance often lacking in low-income communities and plans to expand workshops to cover computer engineering basics.

Planned Major: Electrical Engineering

Growing up in a financially struggling community in Orange County, Lynne observed how limited resources can affect opportunities, particularly in education. For example, the repurposing of shipping containers into classrooms in Costa Mesa served as a creative solution to overcrowded schools. This experience piqued her interest in engineering, highlighting how limitations can lead to innovative solutions through creativity, science and technology. She aims to study mechanical engineering to contribute to practical, affordable and sustainable solutions for communities.

Planned Major: Mechanical Engineering

Growing up in a Title 1 school, Aiden saw firsthand how limited STEM education hinders potential. Many in his community are unaware of available opportunities, especially within the beauty industry, leading to products that don't meet everyone's needs. To address this, he aims to study materials science or chemical engineering to develop sustainable, inclusive cosmetics for all skin tones, fostering both educational and industrial equity. Aiden believes combining STEM with creativity can empower communities and drive lasting change.

Planned Major: Chemical Engineering

Carlos is considering a career in business or healthcare. If he pursues a business administration degree, he intends to study how AI can reduce startup failures by analyzing past business issues. If Carlos pursues a career in healthcare, his focus will be on developing algorithms that assist with cancer detection. Machine learning advancements in pattern recognition have potential applications in detecting advanced diseases. Having lost family members to cancer, he seeks to prevent similar experiences for other families. Carlos expects a computer science degree will open new opportunities in unexplored fields.

Planned Major: Computer Science

Growing up in Santa Ana, Jaime noticed the lack of STEM education in underserved communities. The absence of robotics teams, STEM programs or mentors left him feeling isolated in his passion for engineering. These experiences inspired his mission to make STEM education more accessible. By mentoring middle school robotics students, he saw how hands-on STEM learning can be transformative. Pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering will give him the skills to design affordable robotics kits and sustainable transportation systems, helping underserved communities. Jaime aims to create pathways for the next generation, ensuring they have the resources, mentorship and opportunities he once lacked.

Planned Major: Mechanical Engineering

Maia’s generation faces a strong addiction: social media. This digital dependency has made learning harder. To address this, Maia created Doing Done, a productivity tool that organizes and motivates students through gamification. The mobile and web app is used in her high school’s learning center. Maia aims to study computer programming to expand its reach. She initially learned coding through YouTube and online courses but seeks formal education to enhance the program.

Planned Major: Computer Programming

Luis plans to study mechanical engineering and participate in the Air Forces Reserve Officer Training Corps. He hopes to contribute to advancements in aerospace innovation. As an aspiring Air Force officer, he seeks to demonstrate that individuals can create pathways for future engineers and leaders.

Planned Major: Mechanical Engineering

Mariah plans to study mathematics to create tools that help people make better financial decisions. Financial illiteracy often leads to poverty, debt and limited economic mobility, especially in underserved communities. Many people struggle with budgeting, saving, investing and managing debt. Using mathematical modeling, machine learning and statistics, she aims to analyze financial trends and develop simulations to show the impacts of choices like compound interest and debt repayment. She plans to build interactive platforms to help individuals visualize long-term financial outcomes.

Planned Major: Applied Mathematics

Carmen is passionate about technology and aims to pursue a career in computer engineering or artificial intelligence to become a software or machine learning engineer. She plans to use her degree to innovate in the medical field by developing image classification models to detect diseases like retinal and skin conditions. Using code from a previous retinal image classifier project, she hopes to enhance this concept to improve access to medical exams in underdeveloped countries using affordable lenses and convolutional neural networks.

Planned Major: Computer Science

Ava plans to study environmental science and eventually obtain a law degree. By combining knowledge of science with law, she aims to participate in addressing climate change through conservation and policies that balance environmental preservation with human needs for income, housing and food. She intends to become an environmental attorney focused on representing those affected by climate change.

Planned Major: Environmental Science

Matthew aims to improve earthquake safety using his computer science degree. His background in geology research from Caltech and Stony Brook University provides him with an understanding of the potential for modeling ground motion during seismic events. This technology can help design safer buildings and prevent retrofitted structures from collapsing. He plans to combine his STEM education with his research and engineering background to improve building plans.

Planned Major: Geophysics

Winnie sees significant environmental concerns and benefits with solar panels. Older panels degrade quickly and disposal poses challenges due to toxic materials. She plans to study mathematics to analyze data and create models that balance sustainability, efficiency and economic viability in solar panel use.

Planned Major: Applied Mathematics

Michael's interest in STEM began after a statistics course where he analyzed public health and voting data, revealing the power of mathematical modeling in solving real problems. He also studied S&P 500 trends on his website, using statistical tools to find patterns. Fascinated by data science, Michael aims to redesign social media algorithms to highlight nurturing content over sensationalism by identifying harmful patterns with statistical techniques.

Planned Major: Applied Mathematics