Aryan Das

Dear Claire, Thank you so much for choosing me as the winner of this scholarship. I'm truly honored to accept this award and am excited about being part of the leadership development program that you have so kindly created. Your story is a story of resilience, starting with your father who was the first person from his rural hometown to find his way to the U.S. I immediately applied after learning this because my father also came from humble beginning. Your own background serving students in Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and even Kyrgyzstan is extremely inspirational as well. This really resonated with me and my work with my own nonprofit, Learn It. I've seen firsthand the potential that is unleashed in students who might otherwise go unnoticed when given access to education and mentorship. With your support, I'm even more excited to keep doing this work, grow our impact, and empower others to do the same. Thanks for trusting young people who care enough to make a difference—and for living your own narrative so others may tell theirs. With sincere gratitude, Aryan Das

Jack Gonzalez

Dear Claire, I am absolutely thrilled to be chosen as the recipient of the Chi Changemaker Scholarship! Your recognition means the world to me, especially as someone passionate about creating real change in environmental advocacy and community leadership. This scholarship will allow me to dedicate even more energy to growing my statewide initiative on plastic pollution and mentoring underserved youth in conservation. Thanks to your support, I can keep working with legislators, dive into hands-on marine research, and amplify the impact of our coalition efforts. As a marine researcher and community leader, I truly believe that action is the key to lasting change. This scholarship energizes me to pursue innovative solutions for our environment. Your commitment to supporting educational opportunities inspires me to push even further, making sure that environmental responsibility and opportunity go hand in hand for future generations. Thank you for your vision and for investing in changemakers like me. Your generosity fuels my passion to expand my work and someday give back in ways that will motivate others just as you’ve motivated me. Warmest regards, Jack Gonzalez