My world spans two oceans. From sunny Los Angeles in Southern California to frosty Danvers in New England, I have become a bi-coastal kid. Born in Santa Monica, I moved cross-country to New York and then Massachusetts, and finally returned to California. I was a national traveler before entering elementary school. As my collection of “unaccompanied minor” lanyards will attest, I am no stranger to airports or traversing new places. This constant stream of new environments forced me to embrace new things, while being more outgoing and comfortable making new friends. I realize everyone possesses some knowledge I do not have, so I decided to discover any possible insights or useful information from each new encounter. Even before my number of years on this planet was larger than the number of fingers on my hands, I was already facing life with one parent. My mother’s memory lives on in everyone I see wearing a big smile, and I am so grateful for the formative years I enjoyed with her positive yogi spirit. I observed my mom work as a volunteer and spokesperson for the Julie Fund for Women’s Cancers as she was in a fight against cancer she ultimately lost. I was inspired to become active in organizations that offered me support, such as Walk With Sally, which connects kids impacted by cancer to loving mentors. When I see kids smiling at WWS events, it makes the hours of fundraising calls and setting up the event all worth it. Camp Kesem also helps kids impacted by cancer, and I have spoken at “Make the Magic” and other Kesem events while serving as their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Research Intern to help other children like me. In a full circle moment, I also helped the Julie Fund as Social Media and Research Intern. More than just teaching or volunteering, I want to provide opportunities for every person to make a positive impact on the world. During the heart of the pandemic, I founded the World Changers Club at my school. We collaborated on planning weekly challenges based on my detailed presentations on topics ranging from “Environmental Heroes” to “Season of Giving.” My goal was to lift my classmates with actionable information and inspire them to do something meaningful for our community and beyond. My mom is on my mind as I volunteer for these organizations and when I watch cheesy Hallmark movies. With my unique experiences, I am prepared to share my academic knowledge with classmates as well as my life knowledge, including stories about cross-country road trips or what it means to have a “Dom” (Dad + Mom). We sometimes forget we have so much to learn by just engaging with the many people around us. At Boeing, my end-of-internship presentation included both the technical knowledge I gained as well as the people I met and interviewed throughout the internship, featuring photos and personal tidbits from each employee. The title of the poster was “It’s Not WHAT You Know, It’s WHO You Know,” and this philosophy has served me well in life thus far. My family in Massachusetts are my biggest fans, and I am so excited to be able to come back to them for college, where I will be a student-athlete at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, studying bioengineering while running on MIT's cross-country and track teams. This is a rapidly evolving field with limitless opportunities. From genetic alterations, to changing the makeup of the foods we eat, to eradicating diseases (including cancer), I will use my love of STEM to benefit others.

When Analise pulled out the Daily Breeze newspaper article with my photo, it felt like worlds colliding. This was her first year in the Manhattan Beach Elementary Strings Mentorship (MBESM), an organization I co-founded to give young musicians like Analise access to critical in-person instruction at no cost. The pandemic had prevented students from being in classrooms for required subjects like math and English, but it impacted valuable electives like music classes. Making matters worse, our district had just lost its long-time elementary school music teacher, so students were without the necessary instruction required to play an instrument at this critical age. My solution was creating MBESM with a fellow orchestra student to provide free lessons and help these young musicians after in-person classes resumed. We discovered that we not only taught music skills, but also created close connections in our community between high school and elementary school students. Throughout the year I tutored Analise, we bonded over our mutual love for music and reading. During one session, I brought the Harry Potter theme song to take a break from the endless scales and traditional pieces. We were both transported to the magical world of wizardry as we decoded the melodies. During my time with Analise we only discussed music, so I was stunned at our last session to see her hold out both a thoughtful violin necklace thank-you gift and the article about a part of my life completely unrelated to orchestra – sports. The story highlighted the school and national records I had just set as a member of my varsity track distance relay team. This adorable third grader sweetly asked me to sign my photo in this article celebrating athletics, and she expressed her excitement about my accomplishments. I realized I was inspiring Analise to not just excel in music or sports, but in anything that might bring her happiness. Young people are often told to find their one true passion, but she made me realize that I want to continue inspiring others to rise above any limitations and try every activity that brings them joy. The more positive impacts I make, the easier giving back seems to get. I observed my mom work as a volunteer and spokesperson for the Julie Fund for Women’s Cancers as she was in a fight against cancer she ultimately lost. I became active in organizations that offered me support, such as Walk With Sally, which connects kids impacted by cancer to loving mentors. When I see kids smiling at WWS events, it makes the hours of fundraising calls and setting up the event all worth it. Volunteering reminds me to always be grateful and give back. This scholarship would mean so much to me. After I lost my mother at a young age, my dad became the sole provider for our family. He has done so much to support me, but as of now, I will have tens of thousands of dollars of college debt. I have been working a minimum-wage job as soon as I turned 16 and have been doing as much as I can to work on the side through tutoring and dog walking, but I know much more money is needed to cover the cost of my education. No scholarship amount is insignificant, with this scholarship being equivalent to working over 200 hours at my current job. I would be infinitely grateful to carry Lauren's legacy as I run on MIT's track and cross-country teams and continue to volunteer my time at organizations that make a difference.

About 71 percent of the Earth is covered in water, and yet only 2.5 percent of it is freshwater. Many countries have scarce access to clean, drinkable water and rely on wells or drinking holes for water. Water is the source of all life, but stagnant water can breed many harmful diseases, such as Guinea worm disease. This is an immensely painful parasitic infection that 3.5 million people had in 1986. In comes technological innovation, the ultimate application of science. In 1994, LifeStraw partnered with the Carter Center to design a filter to remove Guinea worm larvae from drinking water. Resulting from the donation of over 40 million LifeStraws, there were only 13 reported human cases of Guinea worm disease in 2022. This is merely one example of the immense impact easily-accessible water purification systems have made on the planet. In addition to being used in over 60 countries for drinking water, portable water purifiers are distributed to communities impacted by emergencies or natural disasters that shake up their way of life. Water is a human right, and this simple technological innovation has saved so many lives. On top of these clear benefits to countries around the world, LifeStraw improves the quality of life for everyday people. Hikers, hunters, and explorers have the opportunity to carry the gift of unlimited clean water when they are near a source, which means more journeys taken and memories made. The LifeStraw protects against bacteria, parasites, microplastics, dirt, sand and cloudiness, which means the world to a planet already struggling with clean water resources. Our population is exponentially growing, with little signs of stopping. Not only is space going to run out, but so is clean water. Water is life, so it is up to technology to continue to protect this basic need.

1. I am a lifter. Not one who uses weights in the gym, but someone who lifts up other people. I am inspired when the math student I tutor gets his first A or I see my young violinist mentee get promoted to concertmaster. I find nothing more rewarding than knowing I made a positive impact and the more I do it, the easier it seems to get. I observed my mom work as a volunteer and spokesperson for the Julie Fund for Women’s Cancers as she was in a fight against cancer she ultimately lost. The pain I felt when cancer took her inspired me to help others. I became active in organizations that offered me support, such as Walk With Sally, which connects kids impacted by cancer to loving mentors. When I see kids smiling at WWS events, it makes the hours of fundraising calls and setting up the event all worth it. More than just teaching or volunteering, I want to provide opportunities for every person to make a positive impact on the world. During the heart of the pandemic, I founded the World Changers Club at my school. We collaborated on planning weekly challenges based on my detailed presentations on topics ranging from “Environmental Heroes” to “Season of Giving.” My goal was to lift my classmates with actionable information and inspire them to do something meaningful for our community and beyond. There are 8 billion people in our world, so imagine what can be accomplished when we all lift each other! With the opportunity to study bioengineering at MIT, I want to utilize the problem-solving of STEM to tackle world issues like renewable energy and cancer research. Beyond the specifics, I just want to do good in whatever time I have on this planet. 2. Science, technology, engineering, and math are the concepts that guide the world. Our society can only advance with the brilliance of technological innovations that push us to imagine an even brighter future. Magic is real. It is just called science. We are so fortunate to live in a time in which the guiding principles have been discovered, so now we have the opportunity to push beyond surface-level knowledge and discover truly great unknowns. While history and English are important in their own ways, STEM is unique in its ability to rapidly evolve and improve over time. It is the career path that allows us to build the future we want to live in, and uncover mysteries only dreamt about. Everyone has their own unique perspective. In my mere 17 years of life, I have dealt with my fair share of hardships, but I have also made the most of the opportunities I had to make a positive impact on the planet. Information technology is the future, and I intend to make my mark on the world through STEM. 3. Even before titanium rods were screwed into my spine, I was not physically flexible. Having tried nearly every sport, I was happiest running (and there was no need to touch my toes). When my cross-country coach, Renee, first watched me run, she saw huge potential, but noticed I leaned to one side. Despite my spine’s irregular curve preventing me from standing up straight, Coach Renee selected me for varsity as a freshman. I was dedicated throughout a season ending with the CIF State Championships and earned a spot in the finals, typically reserved for upper-class runners, and even scored for my team. After the season, I had to address the defect in my back. Doctors said it could prevent me from walking normally later in life and urged me to have spinal fusion surgery. Waking up unable to get out of my hospital bed was humbling and I faced a prolonged recovery without being able to attend classes. I learned to tolerate the pain and appreciate any daily progress, so walking down the hospital hallway the first time was a big step. I maintained this focus throughout physical therapy and found a way to improve every day. It took a while to walk normally, but I was determined to improve and keep up with my academic assignments. Teachers provided as much help as they could, but I missed the in-class interactions, office hours, and ability to ask questions while learning each lesson. After several weeks, I recruited friends to help me around campus on crutches to ease back into a normal schedule as I put in the extra work to catch up. I pushed myself physically and mentally to run again after only six months and maintained my 4.0 unweighted GPA. Taller, and no longer leaning to one side, I returned to practice and saw my coach smiling proudly. With my new metal rods, I am not supposed to even try to touch my toes, but I appreciate running and being with my classmates more than ever, so every step I take is filled with gratitude.

Future Heather is a force of good who applies her aptitude in STEM to real-world solutions, giving back to cancer organizations that positively impacted her younger self and staying connected to her family while adding at least some pets to her own.

I am a lifter. Not one who uses weights in the gym, but someone who lifts other people. My dad, a fellow lifter, instilled values about giving to others, and I experience joy when my words or actions improve someone else’s life. I am inspired when the math student I tutor gets his first A or I see my young violinist mentee get promoted to concertmaster. I find nothing more rewarding than knowing I made a positive impact and the more I do it, the easier it seems to get. While I love science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), I am also an avid book lover. After I was elected president of Girls Advancing Leadership in STEM, I was thrilled to learn several members also loved getting lost in elaborate fictional worlds. We planned engineering booths while chatting about our favorite characters. We humans are so complex, and I embrace every part that makes me unique! I observed my mom work as a volunteer and spokesperson for the Julie Fund for Women’s Cancers. My mom was my sunshine, my hero in life, and while she was in a fight against her battle with cancer she ultimately lost, her memory continues to inspire me every day. The pain I felt when cancer took her gave me the motivation to help others. I became active in organizations that offered me support, such as Walk With Sally, which connects kids impacted by cancer to loving mentors. When I see kids smiling at WWS events, it makes the hours of fundraising calls and setting up the event all worth it. Camp Kesem is another organization that helps kids impacted by cancer. It provides these children with a free week-long summer camp where they can be surrounded by people that understand and just be kids again. In addition to being a camper and leader in training myself, I have spoken at “Make the Magic” and other Kesem events while serving as their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Research Intern to help other children like me. I am very excited to have the opportunity to become a Kesem counselor at MIT! In a full circle moment, I also helped the Julie Fund as Social Media and Research Intern. I know my mom would have been proud of all the research and design I did to spread the word about such a wonderful group supporting women in the fight against such a terrible disease. More than just teaching or volunteering, I want to provide opportunities for every person to make a positive impact on the world. During the heart of the pandemic, I founded the World Changers Club at my school. We collaborated on planning weekly challenges based on my detailed presentations on topics ranging from “Environmental Heroes” to “Season of Giving.” My goal was to lift my classmates with actionable information and inspire them to do something meaningful for our community and beyond. There are 8 billion people in our world, so imagine what can be accomplished when we all lift each other! I hope to continue my passion for helping others and the world we live in as I study bioengineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This is a rapidly evolving field with limitless opportunities. From genetic alterations, to changing the makeup of the foods we eat, to eradicating diseases (including cancer), I am prepared to use my love of STEM to benefit others. Surrounded by the best and the brightest, there is nothing that can stop us, the next generation of mavericks.

About 71 percent of the Earth is covered in water, and yet only 2.5 percent of it is freshwater. Many countries have scarce access to clean, drinkable water and rely on wells or drinking holes for water. Water is the source of all life, but stagnant water can breed many harmful diseases, such as Guinea worm disease. This is an immensely painful parasitic infection that 3.5 million people had in 1986. In comes technological innovation, the ultimate application of science. In 1994, LifeStraw partnered with the Carter Center to design a filter to remove Guinea worm larvae from drinking water. Resulting from the donation of over 40 million LifeStraws, there were only 13 reported human cases of Guinea worm disease in 2022. This is merely one example of the immense impact easily-accessible water purification systems have made on the planet. In addition to being used in over 60 countries for drinking water, portable water purifiers are distributed to communities impacted by emergencies or natural disasters that shake up their way of life. Water is a human right, and this simple technological innovation has saved so many lives. On top of these clear benefits to countries around the world, LifeStraw improves the quality of life for everyday people. Hikers, hunters, and explorers have the opportunity to carry the gift of unlimited clean water when they are near a source, which means more journeys taken and memories made. The LifeStraw protects against bacteria, parasites, microplastics, dirt, sand and cloudiness, which means the world to a planet already struggling with clean water resources. Our population is exponentially growing, with little signs of stopping. Not only is space going to run out, but so is clean water. Water is life, so it is up to technology to continue to protect this basic need.

Always bring gum and a portable charger, plus connect with your teachers! Everyone loves the person with gum (+ it is something to do with your mouth) and your devices need to be charged. Teachers are there to help you, so reach out when you need support!