Grit • Optimism • Gratitude — new in 2026.
Awardees archive
4 awardees
Computer Science / Psychology
Angela is a sophomore at Harvard studying computer science and psychology. She combines her technical and human-centered interests through consulting and AI research on campus. She is also involved in Women in Computer Science and the Chinese Students Association, helping build community. In her free time, she enjoys podcasts, games, and movies with family and friends.
Civil Engineering
Cristian Hernandez is a senior civil engineering student focused on transportation engineering and traffic operations. He has experience in traffic analysis, roadway design, and data-driven decision making through academic work and research. He led a student team to develop an interchange design in Menifee, California, emphasizing safety and efficiency.
Computer Science / Neuroscience
Irene is a high school senior working at the intersection of computer science, neuroscience, and social impact. She began her tech journey through Academic Decathlon, becoming her school's first national gold medalist. She has held national leadership roles in FBLA, conducted research at UC Riverside, and was a delegate to the National Youth Science Camp. She aspires to lead a neuro-tech company focused on expanding global healthcare equity.
Electrical Engineering
Jenny Zhang is an electrical engineering student at Caltech focusing on autonomy, robotics, and space systems. She has conducted research at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and in Caltech's Autonomous Robotics and Control Laboratory on learning-based control and multi-agent systems. She is a first author on two research papers and will continue her work on safe reinforcement learning for autonomous systems. Outside of research, she enjoys adventurous experiences such as skydiving and flying a plane.