Spotlight

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

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

Plans to attend: University of California, San Diego
Major: mechanical engineering

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

Plans to attend: California Institute of Technology
Major: computer science

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

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

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

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

Plans to attend: University of California, Los Angeles
Major: bioengineering

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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