Recipients

New York University

Major: Business Administration

Aakash is currently pursuing a business degree at New York University's Stern School of Business, where he is developing the skills and values needed to build a successful career in finance. His interest in business and entrepreneurship began with marketing courses in high school and grew through a passion for investing inspired by his father.

During high school, Aakash completed nine AP courses, earned recognition as a National Merit Finalist, and completed dual-enrollment coursework through his local community college. He was actively involved in his school's DECA chapter and investment club while also demonstrating an entrepreneurial spirit by founding both a pool management business and a tutoring business. In addition, he worked at a local Safeway, where he trained new employees.

Looking ahead, Aakash aspires to pursue a career in investing and eventually launch a business focused on promoting personal financial literacy. Through his studies at NYU, he is committed to continued personal and professional growth as he works toward achieving his long-term career goals.

Palm Beach Atlantic University

Major: Nursing

Anabel Ellison is a senior nursing student at Palm Beach Atlantic University and will graduate with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in December 2026. Throughout nursing school, she has maintained a 3.89 GPA while balancing academics, athletics, leadership, community service, and clinical experiences.

She is a six-year collegiate athlete and served as captain of the Palm Beach Atlantic University women’s basketball team. Being a student-athlete has played a large role in developing her leadership skills and has taught her the importance of teamwork, hard work, and supporting others. She has also served as historian for the Student Nurses Association and as a student representative on the Nursing Curriculum Committee. In addition, she is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Outside of school, she has completed more than 175 hours of community service and gained hands-on experience as a nurse extern at St. Mary’s Medical Center. Throughout nursing school, she developed a strong passion for mental and behavioral health, especially working with children and adolescents.

After graduating and passing the NCLEX-RN, Anabel will begin her nursing career at UNC Health’s Youth Behavioral Health Facility. She plans to attend Florida State University for graduate school beginning in fall 2027 to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Her long-term goal is to continue working in mental health and advocating for children, adolescents, and families who need support.

Clemson University

Major: Civil Engineering

Carter Middleton is a second-year student at Clemson University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a minor in Engineering Leadership. Originally from Simpsonville, South Carolina, he is actively involved in Clemson Men's Club Soccer and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Outside the classroom, Carter enjoys running, mountain biking, rock climbing, and watching movies.

A dedicated student and leader, Carter has earned a place on the President's List every semester of his college career to date. He also helped lead his high school soccer team to a National Championship in 2025. Each summer, he volunteers as a counselor at a children's church camp in South Carolina, where he enjoys mentoring and serving others.

After graduation, Carter hopes to pursue a career in structural engineering, designing the bridges and buildings that keep communities connected and moving forward. Guided by the values of hard work, persistence, discipline, creativity, and problem-solving, he is eager to continue his education at Clemson and make a meaningful impact through his future career.

University of Ottawa

Major: Health Sciences

Hadassa is a fourth-year Health Sciences student at the University of Ottawa with a strong commitment to community service, research, and leadership. Drawing on her background in music, she volunteers with the Heart of the City Piano Program (HCPP), a charitable organization that provides free piano lessons to elementary school students who may not otherwise have access to music education. She first served as event coordinator, organizing student recitals and educational workshops, and now serves as one of the program’s co-directors.

Inspired by her personal experiences with health challenges, Hadassa founded UOIBD and currently serves as its Co-President. The University of Ottawa student organization supports students living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), raises awareness, and leads fundraising initiatives that contribute to IBD research. She has also held leadership roles in several other university clubs and organizations.

Her passion for scientific discovery has led her to pursue research opportunities at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI), where she worked as a Research Student in a clinical microbiology laboratory focused on developing innovative approaches to improve patient outcomes. She is currently completing an honors research project at OHRI and aspires to pursue a career in medicine as a physician.

University of Florida

Major: Nutritional Sciences

Jessie Greenlee is a first-year student at the University of Florida majoring in Nutritional Sciences on the pre-medical track, with minors in Chemistry and Leadership. She is passionate about healthcare and has a goal of becoming a physician, combining her interests in medicine and nutrition to provide well-rounded care to future patients.

Throughout high school, Jessie was involved in academic, leadership, and service organizations including Medical Club, Key Club, National Honor Society, Women in STEM, Best Buddies, and National Music Honor Society. She also held leadership positions in FBLA and National Music Honor Society. These experiences strengthened her commitment to serving others, developing meaningful connections, and becoming a leader in her community.

Jessie has completed more than 300 hours of volunteer service at a local hospital, where she gained firsthand exposure to healthcare and further developed her passion for medicine. She also participated in a NASA-supported research project studying oyster mushrooms in a simulated space environment, contributing to experimental design, material preparation, data collection, and analysis.

At the University of Florida, Jessie looks forward to continuing her involvement in service, research, and leadership while preparing for a future career in medicine.

Barnard College of Columbia University

Major: Economics and Psychology

Koel Malhotra is a first-year student at Barnard College of Columbia University, where she plans to major in Economics and Psychology. Having grown up across Hong Kong and Singapore, she is interested in understanding how people, markets, and businesses make decisions, particularly across different cultural and economic contexts.

Koel’s interest in sustainability has shaped both her research and professional experience. Her independent research examined consumer awareness of sustainable clothing labels and was published in the International Journal of Economics and Management Studies. The research received an International CREST Gold Award and won First Prize in Economics at the Sigma Xi InnoSphere International STEM Research Competition. Koel also completed a shadowship with HP’s Corporate Sustainability team in Singapore, where she explored corporate sustainability strategy and circular economy initiatives. During the program, she conducted a comparative analysis of HP AI Companion and Microsoft Copilot to evaluate their capabilities and potential applications for HP’s sales teams.

Beyond academics, Koel founded ReSole, a circular economy initiative that has mobilized more than 150 volunteers to upcycle and redistribute over 500 pairs of dance shoes, reaching more than 2,500 individuals through partnerships with organizations across Singapore, India, Hong Kong, and Cambodia. She has also led large-scale student service and performing arts initiatives, combining her interests in leadership, community engagement, and dance.

As she moves forward, Koel hopes to pursue a career at the intersection of finance, business strategy, and consumer behavior, using interdisciplinary thinking to address complex global challenges.

St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Major: Physics and Engineering

Kristof is curious, intellectually ambitious, and community-minded, with a natural interest in understanding how the world works. He challenged himself academically through the International Baccalaureate program, earning his IB Diploma, and will spend the coming year in Hungary on a Balassi Scholarship, immersing himself in the country’s culture and history. The program also prepares its scholars to become future leaders and contributors within the Hungarian-American community when they return home.

Kristof will pursue a dual degree in physics and engineering through St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s partnership with Washington University’s McKelvey School of Engineering, bringing together his interests in science, mathematics, and problem-solving.

His commitment to others is equally important to him. As a scout troop leader, Kristof organized troop-wide activities and mentored younger scouts. He volunteered in local parks, removing invasive plants and helping restore natural ecosystems. Through the National Honor Society, he tutored fellow students and participated in community service projects. On his school’s debate team, he researched complex issues and argued both sides of monthly resolutions, developing his ability to consider different perspectives and communicate clearly.

Kristof looks forward to continuing to explore physics and engineering while finding new ways to learn, contribute, and serve his community. 

University of California, Los Angeles

Major: Public Health

Kyla is studying public health at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she is preparing for a future career in dentistry.

In high school, she conducted research on combating antibiotic resistance and was awarded $1,000 in recognition of her diligence and discoveries. Alongside her research, she worked as a piano teacher, fostering a love for the performing arts among her students, and worked in an ice cream shop, where she developed valuable skills in communication and customer service. Her passion for bringing together the arts, science, and service ultimately deepened her interest in dentistry.

During her volleyball season, Kyla was nominated to receive the Coach’s Award, which recognized her leadership, commitment, and dependability to her team. She also earned her school’s most prestigious math honor, the Suegene Kim Award, a cash award presented to one senior each year. Through her dedication to rigorous coursework, she graduated as the salutatorian of her class.

Kyla continues to uphold her core values of truth, collaboration, and commitment and looks forward to growing as a student, leader, and healthcare professional.

University of California 

Major: Computer Science

Kylania is a student at the University of California, Berkeley, whose interests in leadership, technology, and community involvement have shaped her academic and extracurricular experiences. During high school, she played badminton and tennis all four years. As badminton team captain during her senior year, she led her team to an undefeated season, and as co-captain of the tennis team, she helped secure a third consecutive undefeated season.

Beyond athletics, Kylania revived her school's debate club and served as its president, organizing engaging activities ranging from mock murder trials to discussions on current events and public policy. She also gained valuable experience through internships focused on mental health, particularly within communities of color and low-income populations, where she developed insights that strengthened her commitment to advocacy and support.

Her interest in technology was further cultivated through participation in Hack the Hood's Hustle and Hustle 2.0 programs, which renewed her enthusiasm for coding and technology. While in high school, she also completed college coursework, providing a head start on her degree and general education requirements at the University of California, Berkeley.

From an early age, Kylania was fascinated by technology and storytelling, drawing inspiration from STEM-focused and fantasy-driven media, as well as creative problem-solving in games such as Minecraft and Roblox. These experiences sparked her passion for computer science and fueled her long-term goal of developing her own massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), combining innovative technology with immersive storytelling. As a student at UC Berkeley, she continues to build the skills and experiences that will help turn that vision into reality.

University of Chicago

Major: Economics & Data Science

Luis He is a first-year student at the University of Chicago pursuing Economics and Data Science, with a specialization in Business Economics. A graduate of Mission San Jose High School in Fremont, California, he distinguished himself as senior class vice president, basketball team captain, MSJTV news anchor, and a recipient of the school’s Tower Award.

Professionally, Luis serves as an equity research analyst at Forte Capital Group, where he evaluates the business models and financial performance of public companies. He also works as a venture capital associate at US Angels Investment Group, supporting the evaluation of early-stage technology startups. Previously, he completed a real estate private equity internship at Project Destined, where he built financial models and delivered investment committee presentations.

Beyond finance, Luis is deeply committed to serving his community and has earned two Presidential Volunteer Service Awards in recognition of his contributions. He has coached youth basketball at the Fremont Basketball Academy, taught Mandarin at Yellow River Chinese School, volunteered at a local homeless shelter, and supported WCEO and GOYCA, two cultural organizations dedicated to community enrichment. With hands-on experience spanning public equities, venture capital, real estate, and community service, he aspires to build a career at the intersection of finance and emerging markets.