A senior at South El Monte High School, Vanessa is the track and field co-captain and a Harvey Mudd Upward Bound scholar. She has interned at both the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and the Library of Congress and has dreams of creating change that will profoundly improve the environment surrounding under-resourced communities.

Plans to major in: environmental science

As a UC Berkeley Engineering and USC Annenberg distinguished awardee, Omar knows firsthand the importance of returning to his community. Omar has dreams of coming back to Desert Hot Springs and teaching the importance of STEM.

Plans to major in: electrical engineering technology

When Kamea is not leading the ACES Card Club, she is joining Greenpeace in its fight to end climate change. With a passion for ecosystems and improving the quality of life for the people and animals that live here, Kamea hopes to improve our planet and create a better environment for future generations.

Plans to major in: forestry

As a varsity water polo and swim co-captain, Celine has found a love for coding. Winning first place in the Kode with Klossy Web Development Hackathon and placing third in the UCLA Academia Hackathon, she has taken her skills and developed an app to track epilepsy symptoms. The app not only tracks mood, calorie intake and seizures but also sends notifications to a medical professional during a crisis.

Plans to major in: computer science

A varsity basketball and tennis player as well as a four-year, honor-roll student, Isaiah hopes to become a civil engineer. Isaiah believes civil engineering will allow him to create safe cities and communities to allow kids, like himself, to reach their full potential.

Plans to major in: civil engineering

Seeing the devastating effects of wildfires, Junior understands that they key to improving this issue is through climate change reform. By studying physics, he plans to create technology and tools to slow down and ultimately stop the impacts of climate change. Junior is also a four-year basketball player and a member of the National Honor Society.

Plans to major in: physics

Pedro has always had a passion for cars and the way they operate. He realized through engineering he can help create a clean energy future and alleviate the burdens of climate change. Pedro is also the founder of the League of United Latin American Citizens and his school’s California Scholarship Federation representative.

Plans to major in: mechanical engineering

Living in the Central Valley, Jacqueline has seen the importance of the agricultural industry and its impacts on the environment. She has goals of designing and implementing new models of regenerative agriculture that can feed the world, support economies and mitigate climate change. Jacqueline is also the founder and head of graphic design for Students 4 Climate Change Action and a Services, Immigrants’ Rights, Education Network (SIREN) youth fellow.

Plans to major in: environmental science

President of the National Math Honor Society and Clarinet Section Leader for Ayala High School, Stanley has also been paying close attention to California’s wildfire crisis. He believes a major way to help mediate climate change is to recycle carbon emissions. Stanley has goals of creating systems to filter CO2 by breaking its double bonds and only emitting oxygen into the atmosphere.

Plans to major in: chemical engineering

As long as Aidan can remember, he has loved cars. However, he knows the key to a clean energy future is the implementation of electric vehicles. Aidan plans to study mechanical engineering to make electric cars more accessible and feasible for every citizen. He is also captain and MVP of Don Bosco’s tennis team and co-founder of the car club.

Plans to major in: mechanical engineering

After noticing his classmates struggle with basic math concepts, Brayant made it his mission to help close the gap. He began a tutoring program that has helped more than 50 students, but he has dreams of doing more. In college, Brayant wants to learn how to optimize the efficiency of his tutoring services and find better ways to teach his mentees. He is also South East High’s football defensive captain and president of the calculus club.

Plans to major in: applied mathematics

A decorated swimmer and soccer player, Markina, has developed a fascination for aquaponics. She has successfully designed, planned and built a garden version in her backyard that combines hydroponics and aquaculture to resemble a balanced ecosystem. Markina is also president of the environmental club and vice president of Yucca Valley’s National Honor Society.

Plans to major in: civil engineering

As the presidential service awardee at Camp James and the secretary for the Sea Scouts, Jared dreams of being the first person in his family to attend college. In college, he wants to pursue electric car technology and natural gas options for vehicles. Jared has dreams of developing and building tools to protect and serve his community.

Plans to major in: mechanical engineering

If the pandemic has taught Nicole anything, it is how impactful the digital divide can be. By studying computer science, she has goals to promote free internet access around the world. Nicole is not only the co-founder and president of Students for Unbound Justice, but also the youth advocate for Rancho Cucamonga’s Healthy RC program.

Plans to major in: computer science

During the Black Lives Matter movement and a tragic gun violence incident at his school, Joshua realized he wanted to do all he can to make his community a safer place. By majoring in management information systems, he plans on using his knowledge to build a more secure and equitable community. Joshua is also captain of the boys’ varsity volleyball team and an Air Force junior reserve officer.

Plans to major in: management information systems

As a two-time national finalist Cyber Patriot officer, Chaeeun learned how human error is the cause of most cyberattacks. By pursuing computer science, she wants to develop software that implements basic cyberspace practices, like user management and password policies, to keep our communities safe. Chaeeun is also a flight commander for Civil Air Patrol (USAF Auxiliary) and president of the Young Leaders of Orange County.

Plans to major in: computer science

Being Latinx, Jazmine knows the feeling of looking around and not seeing people that look like her in the STEM field. To combat these racial disparities, she launched the STEM Minority Outreach Project, a student-led organization that empowers future minority scholars to thrive in the STEM space. Jazmine is also president of the AP society and an ambassador of UCLA’s Summer Math and Science Honors Academy. Summer Math and Science Honors (SMASH) Academy.

Plans to major in: chemical engineering

Noemi is the captain of Gabrielino High School’s wrestling team and founder and president of its Society of Women Engineers. As an aspiring civil engineer with an emphasis on process and water quality, she wants to innovate access to clean water on a global scale. Noemi is also on the speech and debate team and a member Superintendent Jim Symonds’ Student Advisory Council.

Plans to major in: civil engineering

As the president of the environmental club, SCS Noonan Scholar and Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project scholar, Nestor is motivated to encourage his community through STEM. Nestor is a member of both the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society.

Plans to major in: mechanical engineering

From a young age, Sophya has always been fascinated by physics. After being honored by the Society of Women Engineers as one of the top 24 under 24 leaders in STEM and space around the world, she realized that she wanted to pursue aerospace and help spearhead inhabitation on Mars. She is also a decorated mixed martial artist and violinist.

Plans to major in: mechanical engineering

As president of Palisades’ Black Student Union and a Summer Math and Science Honors Academy alumni, Malia knows firsthand the racial disparities within the STEM field. By pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, she hopes to bridge the academic achievement gap by partnering with various foundations to teach science, technology, engineering and math to students of color who would not be exposed otherwise.

Plans to major in: mechanical engineering

Sumaya has been involved with various volunteer opportunities, like the Santa Monica Youth Orchestra and the local library, but her true passion lies in helping people understand and accept each other’s differences. She has goals of creating an app that not only provides information about different communities and people of color, but also teaches about unconscious bias and ways to remedy it.

Plans to major in: computer science

Serving in various leadership roles at Hanford West High School, Vanessa wants to help create scholarships for students like herself who are put into positions to work while pursuing their high school diplomas. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and has served as treasurer for the California Scholarship Federation.

Plans to major in: applied mathematics

Ariana aspires to study civil engineering and environmental science in hopes of one day designing affordable zero-net-energy homes. She is also an assistant dance teacher at a local studio and a first-place winner of the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) escape room.

Plans to major in: civil engineering

Passionate about climate change, Jonah has made it his life’s mission to work with an organization that strives to innovate through systems that have the least possible carbon footprint. He knows that it is going to take a conscious collective to make improvements to our planet. Jonah is also a decorated basketball, baseball and football player and an avid guitarist.

Plans to major in: mechanical engineering

As an Eagle Scout and decorated member of Model UN, Naman has dreams of creating the first space-based mining operation. He is also the director of communications for the Maza club and an avid coder who has participated in Google Hash Code and Cyber Patriots.

Plans to major in: mechanical engineering

Gideon has not only participated in Boeing’s internship program, but also serves as the director of activities for the Little Ethiopia Culture and Resource Center. By pursuing an engineering career, he plans to help bridge the race, religion and income gap that impacts the STEM field. He also is the El Segundo High basketball team captain and co-president of the Black Student Union.

Plans to major in: industrial engineering

Raul has dreams of coming back to his community and hosting STEM workshops to motivate children to pursue higher education. He is a four-year soccer and tennis player, a student tutor and placed second in LAUSD’s Academic Decathlon.

Plans to major in: mechanical engineering

Reo has won various awards from the Los Altos Academy of Engineering, including the Perfect Electrical Technical report and the Solar Cup 2.0. By pursuing computer science, he has dreams of building systems to make mentorship more accessible to teens trying to understand their passion. Reo is also vice president for the National Honor Society and member of the tennis team.

Plans to major in: computer science

As the son of farm laborers, Gustavo knows firsthand the impacts of our current agriculture system. By pursuing a degree in chemistry, he wants to develop a pesticide that protects crops, but does not harm people. Gustavo is also co-captain of the baseball and basketball teams and a member of the California Scholarship Federation.

Plans to major in: chemistry