Spotlight
2019 Edison scholars
2019 Edison Scholars

A standout track and field and cross country athlete, Jorge plans to dedicate his studies to building technology that helps people maintain and achieve their fitness-related goals. Jorge also serves as a mentor in Big Brothers Big Sisters and was awarded the most outstanding student award by Upward Bound Math and Science.
Plans to attend: University of California, San Diego
Major: cognitive science

Learn more about Jorge in the video above

Concerned with finding a way to eliminate his grandmother’s chronic back pain from spinal surgery, Christian has made it his mission to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. Realizing patients can suffer even after surgery, he would like to use his STEM studies to develop dynamic bone and marrow treatments to allow people with similar conditions to not only gain more mobility, but also have more cost-effective alternatives. Christian is the editor-in-chief of his high school newspaper and is the ASB secretary.
Plans to attend: Washington University
Major: biomedical engineering

Learn more about Christian in the video above

Nnaemeka is the founder of the Knowledge and Education Nigerian Development Union, which helps Nigerian high school students gain access to updated educational materials and technology. Through his STEM education, he plans to teach in Nigeria and implement programs and systems to ensure academic success in the region. Nnaemeka is the student body president and vice president of the National Honor Society.
Plans to attend: Harvard University
Major: bioengineering

Learn more about Nnaemeka in the video above

Carissa understands how important access to clean water will be in the near future, especially for low-income and impoverished communities. As a prospective engineer, she wants to develop efficient machines for desalination and water recycling. Carissa is also co-founder and president of The Motivation Project and the co-founder and vice president of the Board Game Club.
Plans to attend: University of California, San Diego
Major: mechanical engineering

Learn more about Carissa in the video above

Benjamin is the student body president and founder and president of the Physics Olympiad Club. Since his junior year, Benjamin has been doing cancer research at the University of California, Irvine, and has already found biomarkers for earlier cancer diagnosis.
Plans to attend: Harvard University
Major: bioengineering

Learn more about Benjamin in the video above

Hannah is a World Math Team USA champion and the president of her high school chess club. Seeing the effects of wildfires in California, Hannah hopes to one day design a system that can predict and prevent future forest fires. As an incoming computer science major, she is interested in analyzing real-time data collected and harnessing the power of machine learning to pinpoint whether or not, and when, a wildfire threat may potentially arise and spread.
Plans to attend: California Institute of Technology
Major: computer science

Learn more about Hannah in the video above

Simran created the 100words organization for underdeveloped nations to gain access to clean water and is using her self-taught computer science skills to build a direct donation processing tool for the organization. She also plays on the varsity badminton and tennis teams and is president of her local American Red Cross chapter.
Plans to attend: Princeton University
Major: mathematics

Learn more about Simran in the video above

Captain and MVP of the varsity tennis and track and field teams, Ana plans to pursue a degree in bioengineering where she can develop affordable technology for those in need of organ transplants. She is a mentor at her local Boys & Girls Club and is the treasurer of Club Literario.
Plans to attend: University of California, Berkeley
Major: bioengineering

Learn more about Ana in the video above

Andy is the president of the Key Club, co-founder of the robotics team and president of the Sierra Club. He has seen how cancer has effected so many people around him and would like to further his STEM education by designing and building tools to help mitigate the financial burden this disease plays in people’s lives. Andy also serves as an assistant coach on the policy debate team and was the MVP of the varsity volleyball team.
Plans to attend: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Major: aerospace engineering

Learn more about Andy in the video above

Captain of the soccer and track team, student body president and an international baccalaureate, Aylin plans on using her passion for computer science to bring new technology back to her community in the Coachella Valley. She sees firsthand how expensive adopting new technology can be and wants local businesses and schools to be able to reap the rewards of up-to-date tools.
Plans to attend: University of California, Berkeley
Major: civil engineering
Learn more about Ana in the video above

A varsity soccer player and team captain of the robotics club, Samantha is the flute section leader of her school’s marching band. She plans to study the biological processes of science that are used when learning math principles and ultimately create curriculum for educators.
Plans to attend: University of California, Los Angeles
Major: mathematics

Learn more about Samantha in the video above

Andy plans to dedicate his studies to cancer research and developing biomedical machinery to help eradicate the disease. He serves as president of the Rotary Interact Club and the California Scholarship Federation. He is also the captain and varsity quarterback for his high school football team and was awarded offensive player of the year.
Plans to attend: University of California, Los Angeles
Major: bioengineering

Learn more about Andy in the video above

Emely is passionate about bridging the gap in low-income communities through infrastructure, educational opportunity and technology. In college, she plans on majoring in civil engineering to create affordable housing for families who fall below the poverty line. Emely is the president of her school’s Latinx Affinity Group and an on-campus first responder.
Plans to attend: Duke University
Major: civil engineering

Learn more about Emely in the video above

Marley is currently the president for Growing Up STEM, a program that goes to inner city schools to do interactive science experiments with elementary students. Seeing the disparity between the lack of access to hands-on experiments and schools in low-income neighborhoods, Marley is passionate about giving children access to these experiences. He also serves as president of Mu Alpha Theta and is captain of the math team.
Plans to attend: Yale University
Major: mathematics and finance

Learn more about Marley in the video above

President and founder of the Middle Eastern Club and captain of the varsity track and field team at his high school, Ramzy is interested in the connection between head trauma and mental health. In his collegiate career, he plans to build a program that mimics human brain characteristics so neurologists and psychologists can work together to study and diagnose patients with brain injuries.
Plans to attend: Northwestern University
Major: chemistry

Learn more about Ramzy in the video above

Huma placed third in biotechnology design and fourth place in coding with the Technology Student Association. She serves as vice president and librarian of her school band and plans to major in mechanical engineering to create new technology with renewable resources to help alleviate the global warming crisis.
Plans to attend: Northwestern University
Major: mechanical engineering

Learn more about Huma in the video above

As the president and lead programmer of the First Robotics team, Youngeun plans on pursuing an education in physics where he can use green alternatives to tackle the global warming crisis. He is also on the track and field team and enjoys the fingerstyle guitar.
Plans to attend: Cornell University
Major: physics

Learn more about Youngeun in the video above

Manufacturing and machinist lead for his high school’s robotics team, Jesse would like to tackle the global warming crisis by creating new technologies to improve the way automobiles are created. He is also on the board of the Hispanic Student Alliance club and a member of the track and field team and Eagle Claw Kung Fu team.
Plans to attend: Cornell University
Major: mechanical engineering

Learn more about Jesse in the video above

Jimin plans on majoring in physics and using her passion for science, political activism and civic awareness to improve the environment. She serves as president of the Key Club and is vice president and treasurer of the VEX Robotics Team.
Plans to attend: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMajor: physics

Learn more about Jimin in the video above

A first-generation college student, Tina is the team captain and the president of the robotics club. She enjoys theater and film and has produced, written and directed her own screenplays and school productions. Knowing the importance of modernizing useful technology, she plans on building an app to help modernize voicemail functionality.
Plans to attend: University of California, Berkeley
Major: electrical engineering and computer science

Learn more about Tina in the video above

Carlie is the founder and president of her high school math club. With hopes of closing the gender gap in STEM (science, technology, engineering or math), she tutors middle schoolers and shows them how math creates fun ways to problem solve. When she is not leading the varsity tennis team, she is playing the clarinet with the Bravura Youth Symphonic Band.
Plans to attend: University of California, Los Angeles
Major: applied mathematics

Learn more about Carlie in the video above

As the president and Division Spirit Team leader for the Key Club, Jashandeep plans to study neuroscience and bring high-quality medical care to developing countries. He is also the vice president of the National Honors Society and enjoys cross country and tennis.
Plans to attend: Johns Hopkins University
Major: neuroscience and bioengineering

Learn more about Jashandeep in the video above

When Alan isn’t serving as the president of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, he is mentoring and building robots with SkillsUSA Mobile Robotics. Alan has realized that with the advancement of technology, we are seeing a rise in psychiatric and learning challenges for adolescents. His goal is to build computer systems that will address these issues and help promote positive social and mental change.
Plans to attend: Rice
University
Major: computer engineering

Learn more about Alan in the video above

As the president of the Future Medical Leaders club, Karen plans to eradicate health disparities in low-income communities. By pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering, she plans to create affordable healthcare devices that help patients while reducing their financial worries. Karen also volunteers at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and the Boys & Girls Club.
Plans to attend: University of Southern California
Major: biomedical engineering

Learn more about Karen in the video above

When Daniel isn’t leading his high school’s cross country team or conducting the marching band, he is thinking about ways he could bring his passion for aerospace engineering to the U.S. military. Daniel enjoys mentoring and tutoring his peers and hopes to one day teach at the collegiate level.
Plans to attend: University of California, Los Angeles
Major: mechanical engineering

Learn more about Daniel in the video above

With a passion and fascination for virtual reality, Lauren plans to bridge the gap between science, medicine and VR technology. Lauren is the lead software engineer for the robotics team and the cybersecurity analyst for the Cyber Patriots Team. She has interned with Boeing and is a part of the National Honor Society, where she serves as a calculus and chemistry tutor.
Plans to attend: University of California, Berkeley
Major: electrical engineering and computer science

Learn more about Lauren in the video above

David is captain of the water polo team, as well as vice president of FRC Robotics and the physics club. He’s passionate about science and engineering and plans to use his studies to improve electrical infrastructure in impoverished communities around the world.
Plans to attend: University
of Michigan
Major: electrical engineering

Learn more about David in the video above

Seeing the way wildfires have devastated California, Katie has already begun building technology to measure the relationship between power lines and humidity. When not pursuing STEM, Katie is editor-in-chief of the Santa Monica High School year book and president of the Harry Potter Club.
Plans to attend: Stevens
Institute of Technology
Major: computer engineering

Learn more about Katie in the video above

When Samantha isn’t leading the water polo or basketball team, she’s pursuing her environmental science passion with the Future Farmers of America or studying California’s drought resistance plan. She plans on focusing her studies on environmental science to help drought-stricken communities implement systems to predict drought and water conservation methods.
Plans to attend: University of MichiganMajor: environmental science

Learn more about Samantha in the video above

With dreams of being the next CEO of SpaceX or NASA, Jacqueline is fascinated by space exploration. She is the executive vice president of her student body and a member of the National Honor Society. Jacqueline also enjoys art and is a recipient of the student master artist certification.
Plans to attend: University of California, Berkeley
Major: physics

Learn more about Jacqueline in the video above