Class of 2026 Ambassadors

The Ambassador Program aims to foster learning and civic engagement through community service, volunteerism, and leadership in highly motivated and mature Davidson Students. The following group represents the 2026 class of Davidson Ambassadors. Please take a moment to learn about their service projects in their own words.

Aashna P.
14
San Jose, CA
Stanford Online High School

“In my free time, I love to swim, bake brownies and chocolate chip cookies, sketch/paint, and make origami and cards for people I love!“

Project: Youth for Neurodiversity Inc., Breaking Barriers, Championing Strengths, & Mobilizing Allies

Hello! I welcome you to my project, Youth for Neurodiversity, a vibrant youth-led nonprofit that brings neurodivergent and neurotypical teens together—forging bonds and jointly championing strengths, youth stories, inclusive spaces, universal design, assistive tech, and policy!

Our mission is to break barriers for neurodivergent and differently abled youth and fight stigma. I’d love for you to join us! Neurodiversity is for everyone. Differences are not deficits. Every young person deserves to feel understood, valued, empowered, and celebrated for who they are! We are currently in CA, TX, AZ, KY, TN, and expanding!

Growing up, I admired my homeschooled brother’s many achievements. Little did I know of my undiagnosed mother’s struggles navigating schools while nurturing my brother’s hyperfocus, overcompensating so others wouldn’t label him, like she faced growing up.

Last summer, after an accident left me unable to write, code, or sketch without pain, I experienced firsthand the challenges of being differently abled. Mentored by my brother’s autistic best friend, inspired by his journey from toddlerhood therapies to top-level programming and neurodiversity advocacy, I founded my project. I can’t wait for you to join us! Let’s embrace each other’s differences, break barriers, and build stronger communities together!

Adler H.
15
Oak Brook, IL
Public School

Enjoys playing tennis, reading books, biking, and talking to family.

Project: Hearts Remember

My project Hearts Remember helps families who have loved ones with Alzheimer’s. My project can connect affected families to create a strong community that provides advice, opportunity, and hope. My vision is for this Alzheimer’s community to offer a memory journal program, an art workshop to stimulate thinking, a Youtube series to raise awareness through stories, a blog about Alzheimer’s research updates, a resource guide after diagnosis, and an “Adopt a Grandparent” program to match high school students with seniors in memory care homes for weekly visits. I was inspired to create this community because of my grandma. I have a large family that spreads out across many different places. My grandma has always been the glue that holds everybody together. Unfortunately, my grandma was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s back in 2016 and has progressively deteriorated in her memory. I hope that by working with the Ambassador Program, I can unite people with the hope of banishing the burden of Alzheimer’s.

Amelia F.
15
New York, NY
The Chapin School

“I’m very interested in science (specifically neuroscience). I am on my school’s debate team and newspaper staff. I also enjoy writing screenplays and poetry, as well as sewing and sketching.“

Project: EmpowHER

My Ambassador project, EmpowHER, aims to address the issue of violence and abuse against women. There are countless depictions in the media of brutality against, and oppression of, women and young girls. It is so terrifying to hear about and see representations of women suffering abuse and violence; as a young girl, I was scared, like many other women, of becoming a victim of one of these crimes. Now that I am in high school, I am required to take a self-defense class so that I can learn how to protect myself against this sort of violence. But not every woman is that lucky. Because this training can be expensive, many women have no knowledge at all of how to recognize or defend themselves against abuse or how to receive help if they have been the victim of a sexual or violent crime. My school-provided self-defense class inspired me to want to empower other women of all backgrounds through self-defense education and resources. My goal is to provide a free educational program surrounding self-defense and victim support in order to help women feel safer and more self-empowered.

Amey A.
14
Atherton, CA
Hillview Middle School

“I am a competitive year-round swimmer and open-water athlete with Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics, qualifying for Western Zone Championships and completing long-distance swims, including Alcatraz to San Francisco. I am also a cellist and pianist, performing with the Golden State Youth Orchestra at venues such as Carnegie Hall and earning ABRSM Grade 6 Piano. On the academics side, I conducted science research and participate in Future Problem Solving and Model UN.“

Project: RisingMinds Education

My program is focused on providing underprivileged students near me with free tutoring help. Many schools in my area have below-average state test scores, and families cannot afford paid tutoring programs to supplement their child’s education. My program will give many the opportunity to receive tutoring with no cost, which will help their learning and give them one-on-one instruction outside the classroom. I will also create instructional videos that cover many topics in reading, math, and science, which will be posted on my website. This ensures that kids who cannot meet with a tutor can still have access to education-boosting content. My program will also try to partner directly with schools and local libraries to maximize community outreach. My age range will be from Kindergarten through 7th grade. This is a big age range and will allow more kids to receive help with hard topics at diverse skill levels.

Anika M.
15
Los Angeles, CA
Public School

Enjoys photography, dancing, hiking, and traveling.

Project:

Hello, my name is Anika, and my project is a free online website aimed at building financial literacy from an early age. The website is designed for elementary through middle school students in grades 3–8 and teaches real-world money concepts such as saving, spending, earning, and investing through interactive math lessons. These ideas are integrated into core math skills including addition, subtraction, multiplication, basic algebra, and data interpretation. By connecting abstract math to everyday financial decisions, the platform helps students develop both mathematical confidence and a practical understanding of money, encouraging responsible habits and long-term thinking.

My inspiration for this project began in third grade, when a teacher introduced my class to the basics of stocks and investing. That experience stayed with me and sparked a lasting interest in financial education for younger students. I am excited about the Davidson Ambassador Program because it gives me the opportunity to turn this interest into meaningful action while learning how to plan, build, and sustain an impactful initiative. Through mentorship and collaboration, I hope to expand access to financial education and help students feel confident making smart money decisions that will support them throughout their lives!

Antonio L.
13
Irvine, CA
Online Private School

“I enjoy singing, playing tennis, doing math, playing piano, eating, sleeping, and spending time with my friends or family.”

Project: Arias Unlocked

My inspiration mainly came from watching other performances. I sometimes went to other performers. I easily get bored whenever they are speaking a different language, as I don’t know what they are saying. Thus, with Arias Unlocked, I plan to provide my audiences with an understanding of classical songs in a different language so that they can enjoy them as much as I do.

Brandon N.
14
San Francisco, CA
Proof School

“I like math, board games, cubing, and basketball.“

Project: Math in a Box — Hands-On Math Kits for Homeless and Housing-Insecure Kids

Math in a Box is an initiative to give math enrichment opportunities to underprivileged children (starting in San Francisco, ages ~7–12). I was inspired to start this project after moving to SF. On the first day of school, I drove through neighborhoods with countless unhoused people. And I began thinking about how different educational experiences can be for kids living in the same city. I’ve been fortunate enough to receive a strong math education, and knowing how it has shaped me, I wondered how we could give the same types of opportunities to unhoused kids. This is what started Math in a Box. It is a monthly (free!) subscription box delivered to underprivileged children, containing fun math puzzles and games to introduce advanced math concepts. The kits are designed to work anywhere: no internet, tutor, or classroom needed. The contents of a box are instructions, the game/puzzle, a “math behind it” card, and an optional QR code linking to a video. My goal is to expose these underprivileged kids to math in a way that is both educational and interesting.

Connor D.
16
Granite Bay, CA
Granite Bay High School

“I enjoy being outdoors, whether that’s a quick jog or a long hike. Card games with my friends, following current events, and playing piano are some of my favorite activities. I also love to travel since I like meeting new people and trying different foods, but I never leave home without a good book (and aren’t they all?).“

Project: acnEAT

When I started getting acne, I was embarrassed. However, even more so, I was curious. What was happening inside my body to make my face look like a Jackson Pollock painting? I learned there are triggers for acne I can’t control, like my age and genetics, but I found an area of my life that I could–what I eat. In randomized control trials, low-glycemic diets have been found to significantly reduce acne lesions, skin inflammation at the cellular level, and levels of the hormonal drivers of acne. Low-glycemic diets are those that substitute high-glycemic foods like sodas and processed carbohydrates with whole grains, vegetables, and lean protein. I wasn’t shocked that most of my peers weren’t aware of the acne-diet connection, but I was surprised to learn that many in the medical community weren’t either. I launched acnEAT to create simple tools that health care providers can use to educate patients about the role of diet in acne. Around 90% of people will have acne at some point, and I know how demoralizing it can be. I hope acnEAT will empower teens that there are healthy steps they can take to improve their skin and regain their confidence.

Ellie T.
16
Austin, TX
St. Stephen’s Episcopal School

Enjoys driving, reading, movies, sports, and hanging out with friends.

Project: Improving Awareness and Support for Ukrainian School ATX

A week before my fifteenth birthday, my family went up to Illinois for my great grandmother’s funeral, and, like all funerals, the conversation turned to stories about her. One that stuck with me was her struggles as the daughter of a Polish but ethnically Ukrainian immigrant in the Midwest. A few days after we returned, I got a magazine with an ad for the Ukrainian School, and I reached out to the director and asked if they needed my help. Unsurprisingly, any help was greatly appreciated, and I spent the next year volunteering on Sundays. Nevertheless, I felt like there was more I could be doing. I wanted to create a lasting impact, and that is what my project will do. It will help get the word out in my community through social media, and, hopefully, it will create a long-lasting partnership between my school and the Ukrainian School.

https://www.atxukrainians.com/

Joseph B.
11
Sharon, MA
Homeschool

Enjoys playing basketball, cooking, singing, and gardening.

Project: Bugs Have Feelings Too

I have always loved arthropods and believe that they are beautiful creatures that deserve more of a chance. I decided that the best way to teach the world to respect these creatures and what they do for us is to help children develop a sense of empathy for them. Bugs Have Feelings Too is an initiative to teach young children empathy so that when they are world leaders, they will make decisions that benefit the world, as learning empathy for the smaller things in nature will make it easier to have empathy for bigger things. I will make videos that teachers will be able to implement into curriculums to show kids whose senses of empathy haven’t formed yet that bugs are amazing creatures that help society and deserve respect. The topics will range from how bugs help with making products and doing things that the kids like so that they create a positive association with bugs and then treat the little creatures like they deserve to be treated, as the bugs are the foundation we depend on and we are the foundation they depend on.

Josh T.
12
California
Public School

“I like to run, lots of outdoor activities, spend time in nature, read, write, sketch, and most of all – spend time with my family -including my pet family!”

Project: Se-Journ Connect

They say that a deep family connection often skips a generation, and that was certainly true with me and my grandpa. We were “two peas in a pod,” sharing a bond that rooted itself in the earth. My favorite memories involve helping him plot crop sites or the joy of raising baby goats together. In my young mind, I believed he would live forever, but then, a tragic circumstance happened where I couldn’t see my grandpa anymore. His health soon deteriorated and he soon died.

They say times heal all wounds, but this deep hole inside of me wasn’t going away. To heal, I began volunteering at a senior living facility where I met seniors who were lonely. Currently, about 1 million people live in assisted living facilities and by 2030, 1 out of 5 people will be seniors. The isolation I saw with some seniors is becoming a national crisis.

Se-Journ Connect was born to bridge this gap. We pair lonely seniors with a younger generation of volunteers to foster the same meaningful, long-term interactions I cherished on the farm. We turn isolation into companionship, ensuring the spirit of my grandpa’s generation continues to flourish through the next.

Leo L.
16
Irvine, CA
Public School

“I enjoy playing tennis, singing, and playing Clash Royale.“

Project: Youth Engineers Initiative

Liam G.E.
8
Moreno Valley, CA
Public School

Enjoys origami, reading, and playing the piano.

Project: Little Labs

My project is called Little Labs. I was inspired to create it because I want all kids—even kids who don’t have many opportunities—to be able to do science. Some people might think it’s okay not to do science, but in my heart, I really believe science is important. It’s fun, it helps us learn, and it connects to STEAM.

I want to encourage kids to explore and discover new things, because you never know—some of them might become scientists one day! My goal is to make science experiments easy, exciting, and available to all the kids around me, so everyone can enjoy science and learn from it.

Logan H.
17
Irvine, CA

Enjoys reading and spending time with friends.

Project: Toxic Friendships in Childhood: Preventing Scars That Don’t Heal

I want to start a movement to help educate and protect kids from toxic friendships, which are relationships that look friendly on the outside but quietly cause emotional harm. I was inspired to begin this project because I have experienced toxicity myself and recently saw my younger sister returning to friends who made her feel worse every day. I realized how common this is, yet how rarely we talk about it. It often goes unnoticed and unaddressed, leaving many children to struggle in silence.

Toxic friendships can lead to anxiety, self-doubt, and long-term emotional scars. Schools address bullying, but subtle forms of manipulation, exclusion, and inconsistency in friendships are often ignored. Many kids do not recognize these warning signs until damage has already been done.

My project will empower elementary and middle school students to build healthy friendships by teaching them how to identify harmful behavior, set boundaries, and seek support. It will also provide guidance for parents, teachers, and counselors on how to listen, take concerns seriously, and intervene early.

Through youth-led presentations, real examples, and by speaking from personal experience, I want young people to know they are not alone and deserve friendships that lift them.

Maxwell Z.
14
Louisville, KY
Dupont Manual High School/Youth Performing Arts School

“I enjoy singing and performing in musical theater, playing piano, playing games, volunteering in healthcare, tennis, and archery.”

Project: Voices of Healing

Voices of Healing is a project that I am creating to bring live music to patients and families in hospitals and long-term care facilities. As a voice major student and a professional performer (voice and musical theater) who volunteers regularly in healthcare settings, I have seen how music can help people feel calmer, less anxious, and more supported during stressful or difficult moments.

This project works to organize musicians who are trained and prepared to perform in care environments. The project will begin with a pilot program at one of our local hospitals in Kentucky. Along with performing, we plan to collect feedback from patients, family, and staff to better understand how music can help people or affect people’s experience and to learn how this program can be improved and continued in the future.

Through Voices of Healing, I hope to show how everyone, including musical students, can use their talents to make a positive difference and help bring comfort and support to people who need it most.

Melody Z.
12
Encino, CA
Private School

Enjoys playing volleyball.

Project: See the Future

As a 12-year-old student, I am passionate about learning how people discover meaningful careers and how today’s jobs are evolving. For my Davidson Ambassador project, I will research and interview professionals across diverse fields such as STEM, medicine, entrepreneurship, arts, and public service. I will explore their career paths, daily responsibilities, challenges, personal stories, and the skills needed for success.

Using recent AI animation tools, I will transform my research and interviews into short animated videos designed for elementary and middle school students. These videos will make complex career information engaging, accessible, and inspiring for young learners.

I will publish the videos through school communities and youth-focused media platforms to reach a broad audience. My goal is to give younger students early exposure to a wide range of future career possibilities, helping them build curiosity, confidence, and a sense of purpose.

Mihir S.
16
Granite Bay, CA
Public School

“I like to run, read, play strategy games, hike, ride horses, spend time with family, and learn about the world: science, technology, geopolitics, finance, etc.”

Project: The Ember Initiative

The Ember Initiative is a youth-led wildfire prevention project focused on communities within or near the Wildland-Urban Interface in Northern California. My inspiration came from witnessing the effects of multiple wildfires, including the Pacific Palisades fire and another fire that started just 30 minutes from my home. These incidences inspired me to take action, but while I was developing an early wildfire detection sensor, I learned from my local fire marshal that true protection begins long before smoke appears – through brush clearing, defensible space creation, and community engagement.

The Ember Initiative shifts wildfire response from reactive to preventative by mobilizing local families, especially middle and high school students, to take coordinated action. Through partnerships with local organizations and fire departments, my project will organize brush-clearing events, community workshops, and data-informed risk mapping to reduce local fire hazards. Youth participants will lead outreach efforts, strengthening long-term community resilience while gaining leadership and civic engagement skills.

By combining technology, communication, and service, The Ember Initiative empowers communities to see wildfires not as uncontrollable disasters, but as risks that can be meaningfully reduced through collective action.

Mohini G.
14
Houston, TX
Public School

“I like to read books, play the cello, and do taekwondo.“

Project: The Next Step in Math

Often students can feel that math is overwhelming and really difficult. My project aims to change this perspective with a blog featuring new topics on the more fun side of math that kids would not usually learn about. I hope that this helps create more interest in the subject and make it more approachable.

Niev B.
15
Scarsdale, NY
Private School

“I enjoy discussions that help me learn, fencing and creating music.“

Project: Mass Graves

In countries such as Guatemala, Russia, Syria, Rwanda, Cambodia, Armenia, and Bosnia, mass graves remain as quiet reminders of times when many innocent people were harmed during acts of genocide. These sites hold important memories that should not be forgotten.

In a 2015 interview, Ambrosio Perez Morales, a Mayan man who stayed in Guatemala during the genocide, spoke about these mass graves. Many local communities hold quiet ceremonies to honor those who lost their lives. However, because the government does not officially recognize many of these sites, organizations often work alongside local people to help locate and protect them.

My project focuses on mass graves by exploring new and advanced ways to help identify them, learning from different experts, and raising global awareness to encourage people to help.

To me, being an Ambassador means caring about others and bringing people together to support meaningful causes. This project helps honor those whose stories have been hidden for too long.

By sharing knowledge and awareness, my hope is that this project can help to prevent similar tragedies in the future and promote understanding, respect, and compassion around the world.

Nirvana C.
15
Oakland, CA
Private School

Enjoys writing sci-fi stories, designing programming languages, googology, creating astronomical simulations, hiking, and gardening.

Project: IRIX.AI

IRIX.AI is a web-based, explainable medical imaging AI platform designed to make healthcare AI accessible to underserved clinicians and students worldwide. It provides clinicians with browser-based AI decision support for medical images – offering visual explanations and confidence scores where expert radiology access is limited while giving students and educators access to open datasets and sandboxed environments to learn and build medical AI without expensive hardware. By combining accessibility, explainability, and open science, IRIX.AI bridges the diagnostic divide and the data divide, turning medical AI into a tool for equity rather than privilege.

Nishank S.
13
Vienna, VA
Middle School

“I love playing chess, swimming, doing puzzles, and enjoying comedy.”

Project: Compete Smart: The Academic Competition Resource Hub

Compete Smart is an initiative created by Nishank, a Davidson Young Scholar and national-level academic competitor, to address inequitable access to academic competition preparation. Based on his experience in Quiz Bowl, Science Bowl, MATHCOUNTS, debate, and math contests, he recognized that success depends not only on talent, but on access to effective strategies, mentorship, and organized resources.

Compete Smart provides a free, centralized resource hub for middle school students ages 11 to 14. It offers competition-specific study guides, curated resources, practice materials, instructional videos, and live learning opportunities. A strong person-to-person component includes tutoring sessions, workshops, mentorship, and practice events that simulate real competitions. Together, these elements help students build skills, confidence, and access to advanced academic opportunities regardless of background.

Nivi A.
11
Brighton, MA
Private School

“I love fencing, doing math, playing piano, and practicing karate in my free time.“

Project: BRaVE Kids

Martial Arts has helped me feel more confident, aware, and brave. Learning how to defend myself, and speak up made me feel free in a way I never felt before. I want other kids to feel that same kind of power, to know that they are strong, and their voices matter. Additionally, access to self-defense education is uneven across the globe, and can’t always be something kids can do in their in person communities, so the asynchronous aspect of using video based learning, as well as workshops given locally, will really help to equalize the access, and make sure that no matter where the kids are, or what community they are in, that they are able to learn what they need to stay safe, with both their voices, bodies, and hearts.

Ojasvi “Oju” R.
14
Ashburn, VA
Public School (Magnet)

“I am interested in aerospace engineering, and am working towards getting my private pilot’s license. In my free time, I love to bake, play basketball, and play the drums.“

Project: Simple Eats: Nutrition and Healthy Living for All Brief

My goal is to expand cooking and healthy eating to appeal to people of all ages and communities. Many children, teens, and even adults are picky eaters and don’t eat enough foods that are good for their bodies. People often lack the time or resources to support a balanced diet. I have had high cholesterol from a young age, and learning how to cook for myself has expanded my diet. Healthy foods often seem less appealing and less convenient than prepackaged snacks. We should encourage good eating habits from a young age that last a lifetime. Through this initiative, I hope to combine my passions for science, culinary arts, and writing into something that leaves a lasting impact. I have already begun the first step of this project by making a recipe book with simple foods for kids. However, I want to broaden the recipes to appeal to people of all ages and communities. From students with no experience to astronauts living in space, I want to explore how meals can be both nutritious and enjoyable. Cooking can inspire curiosity about science and healthy living.

Omar R.
14
San Jose, CA
Homeschool

“In my free time, I enjoy playing board games with my friends and siblings, hiking with my family, and Rock Climbing with my sister.“

Project: School of AI: Building Skills for the Future

AI literacy is becoming more important as artificial intelligence affects many parts of our daily lives, including school, healthcare, business, creativity, and communication. Many students already use AI tools, like ChatGPT, for homework, but just knowing how to use them is not enough. It is just as important to understand how AI works, what its limits are, and the ethical issues it can raise. Learning AI literacy and prompt engineering helps students use AI responsibly rather than depending on it for work without thinking.

Because of this, I want to create a structured curriculum that teaches the basics of AI literacy and prompt engineering. The program would be offered through online classes and in partnership with local libraries, so many more people can access it. These lessons would introduce core AI ideas, give students hands-on experience with AI tools, and show real-world uses that encourage creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

This topic is important to me because I believe education should be accessible and flexible. As a homeschooler, I saw how personalized learning can help students succeed. I want to give back by helping students from different backgrounds gain useful skills and confidence through AI literacy.

Ria Z.
11
San Jose, CA
Homeschool

“I like to code, play games, read, and draw.“

Project: Medbridge

Medbridge is an app designed to help Asian families during doctors’ visits. Doctors have tools to aid them, but patients don’t have any resources to rely on. Chinese families often struggle to understand medical terminology due to language barriers. When my brother was born, the doctor mentioned that he had laryngomalacia, a condition that causes tissues in the throat to collapse during breathing. My mother didn’t understand the term and got confused. Medbridge can help people like my mom feel supported in the hospital. Medbridge is a patient-focused app that specializes in medical term translations, real-time speech-to-text, and a medication guide. In addition, it also provides a Traditional Chinese Medicine section. The combined perspectives of Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine will help people to live healthier lives overall.

Rihansh Y.
12
Cincinnati, OH
Private School

“I enjoy playing soccer, piano, reading, and singing.“

Project: EMBARK, and Kidney Corner

Kidney diseases are a significant cause of illness and death in the world affecting 15% of the US population. Kidney disease sometimes requires dialysis and kidney transplant. Life during dialysis and kidney transplant can be difficult. During the chaos of all the events the children of patients with kidney diseases cannot get enough attention and support. Kidney disease also affects a lot of pediatric patients. Throughout the past two years, I have been working closely with the National Kidney Foundation as part of their Your Kidney and YOUth program. I got inspired to join the Davidson Ambassador Program, so I can make a positive influence in the lives of kidney patients of all ages as well as their families. My current project has two main aspects, a program named EMBARK, (Empower Many by Access to Resources for Kidney health) and a website named ‘Kidney Corner’. EMBARK is an educational program that will be conducted at local meetings for kidney patients as well as in elementary schools. This program aims at increasing access to resources for kidney patients and their families and increasing awareness of kidney disease among youths. ‘Kidney Corner’ will be an informative website for patients and their families.

Saahas G.
8
Miami, FL
Public School

“I like studying Geography and learning about new countries and cultures. I also enjoy playing board games with my family. My favorites are Monopoly and The World Game.“

Project: Voices of Miami

My project, Voices of Miami, is a series of children’s picture books about the different cultures that make Miami special. Each book will share the story of a different community that settled Miami how they helped shape where I live today.

My first book is called “Goombay Beats on Grove Streets.” It is the story of the Bahamian people who were the first settlers in Coconut Grove, where I live. They came to Miami in the late 1800s looking for better opportunities. They came and worked as farmers, sailors, builders, and fisherman. With hard work and teamwork, they built homes, churches, schools and communities filled with culture and tradition. They also faced discrimination.

Over time, changes have come to Coconut Grove. New buildings were built and many Bahamian families were forced to leave their homes. Even though many neighborhoods look different today, their culture still lives on.

My book will share the history of the Bahamians, how they helped build Coconut Grove, and how gentrification has changed the neighborhood. I was inspired to do this project because I have seen my neighborhood changing over the last 6 years, and I want to understand why and hopefully help the Bahamian people.

Sawyer M.
15
Milton, GA
Public School

“I like to play trumpet, read, hang out with my friends, and play chess. You can also find me learning more about various math topics in many different ways: YouTube, teachers, online papers, etc.“

Project: Math Under the Surface

Disinterest in mathematics is a widespread issue in the United States, reinforced by a public education system that often reduces math to memorization and speed rather than thinking. This has created a culture where it is socially acceptable, even expected, for students to say “I’m bad at math” or “I don’t like math,” as if mathematical ability were an innate trait rather than a skill developed through exploration and learning.

My motivation for this project comes from a desire to change that idea. Math, when approached correctly, is creative, intuitive, and deeply satisfying. I know that it is possible to reverse this view of math since my school’s math team models this concept. This approach makes meetings engaging while improving how students think.

Through this project, I am to expose middle and high school students to the side of mathematics rarely seen in classrooms. Adolescence is a critical period for shaping long-term perspectives on learning. In addition, students at this stage start becoming capable of engaging with advanced ideas beyond rote memorization. By reaching them early, I hope to replace fear and apathy toward math with curiosity and genuine enjoyment.

Shaan D.
15
Southern California
Orange County School of the Arts

“I like to play Piano (Competitions and CM Level 10), Archery (JOAD and Club), and Dance (Competitive Ballroom and Bollywood Indian Dancing).“

Project: Senior Security

I started Senior Security to make senior citizens aware of how to detect and avoid financial scams. It all began when an elderly family member fell victim to a phone scam. Seeing a loved one experience fear and confusion made me realize how vulnerable senior citizens can be in this modern technological driven environment.

Senior Security focuses on in-person presentations at senior centers and retirement communities. This initiative teaches how to identify if something is a scam, how to protect personal information, and most importantly, what to do if they encounter one. These presentations come with handouts and cheat sheets that the seniors can take with them.

Through the integration of research, personal contact, and easy to understand information, seniors are given the tools to become knowledgeable, confident, and independent. Senior Security’s goal is simple: prevent and protect before fraud happens. With Elderly fraud complaints on the rise, it is more important than ever to empower this vulnerable population.

Sri V.
11
Grapevine, TX
Public School

“In my free time I like reading about world history, playing chess and building. I love building and testing ideas.“

Project: EcoServe – Solving Food Wastage with Science

I started thinking about food waste because of my lunchbox. Every day, I come home with leftover food because the lunch period is short and I talk too much. My mom won’t let me eat these leftovers because she worries it could make me sick. I didn’t understand why food that was fine earlier could suddenly be “unsafe,” so I started investigating.

At my favorite donut shop, I learned that they throw away 6000 donuts every single day because they’re worried about food spoilage, even when the food might still be okay. Texans waste 5.7 million tons of food each year even while 1.3 million people in the Dallas-Fort Worth region are experiencing hunger.

Through EcoServe, my goal is to reduce food waste by inventing an affordable portable device that can help detect food spoilage in a short amount of time and creating a simple way to connect food donors with local food pantries, so donating can feel safe and without trouble. I joined the Davidson Ambassador Program to learn how to build partnerships, educate my community and scale EcoServe.

Stella T.
16
Davis, CA
Woodland Christian High School

“I like to play the saxophone, piano, and ukulele, Minecraft, organize, and golf.“

Project: Project Blessing

During my childhood, my mother battled cancer. Project Blessing was inspired by my experience as a child of parental cancer, and it aims to uplift youth who are facing the same challenges as I faced.

Tai N.
16
Naperville, IL
Public School

Likes to listen to music, hang out with friends, make fruit salad, write flash fiction, and watch movies with his twin.

Project: Civic Youth Leadership Academy Brief

Through Northwestern’s Civic Youth Leadership Institute, I learned the skills it takes to lead a nonprofit and give back to one’s community as a youth.

En Español’s Civic Youth Leadership Academy (CYLA) is a 10-week program that builds confident, community-minded leaders through weekly leadership skill themes paired with hands-on learning. CYLA includes our younger students in STEAM classes, where each session teaches one leadership skill—such as teamwork, perseverance, generosity, communication, curiosity, or vision—through engaging projects that make leadership feel real and achievable.

For high school and older students, CYLA expands beyond the classroom through excursions and field trips that show how local nonprofits work, how to build partnerships, and how to turn ideas into sustainable service. Students learn practical skills like outreach, collaboration, event planning, and responsible leadership by connecting directly with nonprofit leaders and community spaces. The program ends with a capstone after week 10, where students apply what they learned to present a project or plan that reflects their growth and impact.

More information about our CYLA can be found on our website: https://www.enespanol24.org/civic-youth-leadership-academy.

Tien N.
16
Naperville, IL
Public School

Likes to play tennis, play the piano, and build with LEGOS.

Project: En Español Press

My project is an initiative that supports up and coming authors in my community. It targets authors whose books support the goals of unity, cultural inclusion, and is meant to support bilingual books.

En Espanol Press’s goal is to make the publishing process easy for any author who wants to publish their own books. We will help set up their book and publish them, then we will help spread and promote the book through our network of partnerships. This will all be free for the authors as we want to make the process accessible for everyone.

My main inspiration for this project was the lack of bilingual reading material that I saw within my own community. However, through the events that I attended, there were actually a lot of bilingual authors who wanted to make books, but who just couldn’t find publishers. As a result, I saw that the best way to solve the issue was to provide the resources necessary, not that there was a complete lack of the books.

If you want to learn more, please visit my website at enespanol24.org.