A raw egg flew past my head, missing by inches. I was in fourth grade, just trying to get home when a teenager decided I didn’t belong. As the egg splattered on the garage behind me, I ran home. That egg was more than just a cruel prank, it was the moment I realized how hard it would be to balance my Indian roots with life in America. Fortunately, that moment began my journey to finding strength in my differences. As a first generation immigrant, growing up away from my home country and my people was challenging and often frustrating. Everyone would tell me how lucky I am to live in America, but as a kid, I thought to myself, how is it fair that all my cousins celebrate holidays together and have fun while I get made fun of for my accent? One day, after a heated argument with my parents about being unappreciative, my grandpa came into my room and told me that if it weren’t for my dad, he would have never gotten to see the world outside of his small town in India. Then my grandpa walked out. At this moment, I realized how different my life would be if my dad hadn't sacrificed everything to come here. It is the little things like being able to drive a car, getting a great education, and dressing however I want that matter. My dad financed his own education, supported his siblings, and then made the courageous decision to quit his job in India to build a new life in America. I am determined to honor the sacrifices he made for me. After this, I started to be grateful for every little thing I had. I also realized that being Indian is who I am and always will be, regardless of where I reside. In the future, I will be sure to remain close to my cultural and religious roots even after being hated for it. This shows my resilience and commitment to my nationality. I have learned that even though being a minority comes with many difficulties, it should be celebrated and cherished. Now, as a student, I carry this experience with me when considering my career path and the daily choices I make in college. I stay determined, working so that my parents will never regret their sacrifices. Their journey as immigrants taught me responsibility at a young age. By adapting and sticking up for myself while looking for opportunities in a limited place, I realized that I need to work harder than others if I want to succeed. My mindset shifted when I realized that my education and opportunities are privileges not everyone has. This is why I am studying environmental engineering and plan to improve conditions in poor communities by working on well and wastewater systems that increase water supply efficiency and reduce health risks. My professional goals are to assemble a team of environmental engineers to design financially feasible, sustainable infrastructure in these densely populated areas. Overall, my struggles as an immigrant shaped me into a student and future professional who wants to use my privilege of receiving education to help those where I originally came from and make an impact on a bigger scale.

A raw egg flew past my head, missing by inches. I was in fourth grade, just trying to get home when a teenager decided I didn’t belong. As the egg splattered on the garage behind me, I ran home. That egg was more than just a cruel prank, it was the moment I realized how hard it would be to balance my Indian roots with life in America. Fortunately, that moment began my journey to finding strength in my differences. I was born in New Delhi, India, and am a first-generation immigrant. Growing up away from my home country and my people was challenging and often frustrating. Everyone would tell me how lucky I am to live in America, but as a kid, I thought to myself, how is it fair that all my cousins celebrate holidays together and have fun while I get made fun of for my accent? The main issue is that the two cultures are opposites. I am expected to adapt to life in America while still meeting the expectations of an Indian society. Aside from the emotional challenges of being an immigrant, some challenges conflict with daily life too. The difficulties of getting permanent residency discouraged me in the long term and made me fearful of my future in America. I was impatient and had a negative attitude towards every situation. One day, after a heated argument with my parents, my grandpa came into my room and told me that if it weren’t for my dad, he would have never gotten to see the world outside of his small town in India. Then my grandpa walked out. At this moment, I realized how different my life would be if my dad hadn't sacrificed everything to come here. It is the little things like being able to drive a car, getting a great education, and dressing however I want that matter. My dad financed his own education, supported his siblings, and then made the courageous decision to quit his job in India to build a new life in America. I am determined to honor the sacrifices he made for me. After this, started to be grateful for every little thing I had. I also realized that being Indian is who I am and always will be, regardless of where I reside. In the future, I will be sure to remain close to my cultural and religious roots even after being hated for it. This shows my resilience and commitment to my nationality. I have learned that even though being a minority comes with many difficulties, it should be celebrated and cherished. In my home country, one of the nations most affected by climate change, I've seen firsthand the devastation of air pollution, extreme droughts, and rising temperatures. I have witnessed my family struggle through intense heat and disastrous floods, and I find the effects of global warming intolerable. Being a part of a minority group compels me to act on this cause and serves as a chance to make my loved ones proud for the sacrifices they've made. Keeping this in mind, I will carry my identity as a minority into my future work as a responsibility and a sign of strength. Being part of this community will continue to shape how I approach climate action, as I understand that those least responsible for global warming often suffer its worst consequences. This perspective will continue to affect me because it reminds me to prioritize justice for communities that are often overlooked and not treated equally.

When my family immigrated to the U.S., we fit everything we owned into a single suitcase. Inside were a few clothes, precious memories from our life in India, and an uncertain future. As a first generation immigrant, I’ve been working to make my parents’ dreams come true while building a new life for myself in a foreign country. Being a citizen of India, one of the nations most affected by climate change, I’ve seen firsthand the devastation that comes with air pollution, extreme droughts, and rising temperatures. I have also witnessed my family struggle through the intense heat and disastrous floods and find the effects of global warming intolerable. This crisis compels me to act for my loved ones and the 1.4 billion people who call India home. With the Zedikiah Randolph Memorial Scholarship, I will be able to continue my education in environmental engineering to work towards this issue. This education will help me work towards bettering the conditions in poor communities while also providing awareness to them about climate issues around them and how action must be taken. I will work on well and wastewater systems that increase water supply efficiency in these areas. My long term goals are to put together a team of environmental engineers to implement financially feasible, sustainable infrastructure. This includes solar powered wells, clean waste disposal methods, and flood resistant storage tanks, all while considering the amount of space. This green infrastructure firm will focus on designing unique solutions for densely populated communities. This includes redesigning existing places with poor urban planning and adding things like algae forests, and city gardens. I decided to make change within my community early on, starting with my school district. I noticed that our recycling program had a problem, the types of plastic we recycled was limited. To improve it, I added a new bin to all the teacher lounges that would allow people to recycle additional items like low-density polyethylene based plastics, grocery bags, lamination paper, and bread bags. I reached out to my principal, and she was happy to see my motivation. After communicating with the faculty, I set up my 3 customized bins and waited. Soon, I saw progress and began to collect the plastics from the bins and recycle them at my local grocery store throughout the year. In my field, while there is no specific percentage quantizing Indian women engineers in the U.S., about 32% percent of all environmental engineers are women and 50% of asian engineers are indian. To influence the next generation to step into the world of engineering and focusing on the environment, I would do work that shows people the outcomes and benefits an engineer can bring to society. I have started doing this in two ways. To raise awareness about environmental issues in the world I started an Instagram and Tiktok account dedicated to environmental issues, where I’ve reached over 10 million viewers and 3,000 plus followers for sharing facts and tips to promote sustainability in just under a year. Second, I am working on proposing and implementing a rain garden to an area with inefficient stormwater management on my college campus. I have conducted a 15 page feasibility prior to this project, and hope to improve runoff amounts on my campus with this effort.

When my family immigrated to the U.S., we fit everything we owned into a single suitcase. Inside were a few clothes, precious memories from our life in India, and an uncertain future. As a first-generation immigrant, I’ve been trying to make my parents’ dreams come true while building a new life for myself in a foreign country. Being a citizen of India, one of the nations most affected by climate change, I’ve seen firsthand the devastation that comes with air pollution, extreme droughts, and rising temperatures. Also, I have witnessed my family struggle through the intense heat and disastrous floods and find the effects of global warming intolerable. This crisis compels me to act for my loved ones and the 1.4 billion people who call India home. It is a cause I have researched, advocated for, and taken action against. With the Zedikiah Randolph Memorial Scholarship, I will get an education in environmental engineering. I will work towards bettering the conditions in slums while also providing awareness to them about the issues in their communities. With my expertise from the Grainger College of Engineering, I will work on well and wastewater systems that increase water supply efficiency in these areas. I will be putting together a team of environmental engineers to implement low-cost, sustainable infrastructure like solar-powered wells, clean waste disposal methods, and flood-resistant storage tanks, all while considering the amount of space. Also, with my cultural background, I know I can connect with them on a deeper level and work to improve their lives. I have well-developed public speaking, impromptu, and communication skills that have improved my ability to take action in causes I root for. Additionally, my research, initiative, and advocacy experience show my commitment to this cause. By prioritizing projects that improve habitability, I am on track to develop feasible solutions for underprivileged communities, not only in my country but all over the world. I have already started benefiting my community by working on sustainability in my high school. I noticed that my school had a problem. The types of plastic we recycled were limited. To diversify and improve my school’s recycling program, I added a new bin to all the teacher lounges that would allow people to recycle high and low-density polyethylene-based plastics, along with grocery bags, lamination paper, and bread bags. After communicating with the faculty, I placed my customized bins in the teacher loungers and began to recycle the plastics at my local convenience store. As for my engineering program, while there is no specific percentage showing Indian women engineers in the U.S., but about 32% percent of all environmental engineers are women. 95% of engineers in the U.S. are asian, with 50% of them being indian. To influence the next generation to step into the world of engineering, I would focus on showing people the outcomes and benefits an engineer can bring to society. For an example, an engineer might help increase crop yield through bioengineering to help decrease world hunger. By focusing on the emotional impact and the good that engineers do for society, whether in terms of hunger, the environment, or transportation, the next generation will see engineering as a path in fighting for a cause they believe in and improve our world one step at a time. Thank you.

Echoes of Home A raw egg flew past my head, missing by inches. I was in fourth grade, just trying to get home when a teenager decided I didn’t belong. As the egg splattered on the garage behind me, I ran home. That egg was more than just a cruel prank; it was the moment I realized how hard it would be to balance my Indian roots with life in America. Fortunately, that moment began my journey to finding strength in my differences. I was born in New Delhi, India, and am a first-generation immigrant. Growing up away from my home country and my people was challenging and often frustrating. Everyone would tell me how lucky I am to live in America, but as a kid, I thought to myself, how is it fair that all my cousins celebrate holidays together and have fun while I get made fun of for my accent? The main issue is that the two cultures are opposites. I am expected to adapt to life in America while still meeting the expectations of an Indian society. Aside from the emotional challenges of being an immigrant, some challenges conflict with daily life too. The difficulties of getting permanent residency discouraged me in the long term and made me fearful of my future in America. I was impatient and had a negative attitude towards every situation. One day, after a heated argument with my parents, my grandpa came into my room and told me that if it weren’t for my dad, he would have never gotten to see the world outside of his small town in India. Then my grandpa walked out. At this moment, I realized how different my life would be if my dad hadn't sacrificed everything to come here. It is the little things like being able to drive a car, getting a great education, and dressing however I want that matter. My dad financed his education, supported his siblings, and then made the risky decision to leave his job in India to start a new life in America, and I am determined to honor his efforts. My grandpa always emphasized the importance of a strong education and the hard work required to achieve success in life. He always told me, “Knowledge is something the rain can’t wash away, fire can't burn, wind can't blow away, or no one can steal.” This led me to believe that knowledge is power. Knowledge brings you wisdom, control of your life, and wealth. After that, I started to be grateful for every little thing I had. I also realized that being Indian is who I am and always will be, regardless of where I reside. I have remained very close to my cultural and religious roots even after being hated for it. This shows my resilience and commitment to my nationality. I have learned that even though being an immigrant comes with many difficulties, it should be celebrated and seen as a chance to make your loved ones proud. Becoming the first engineer in my bloodline will be a huge step towards success and will help me positively impact the world and create an image for myself as a memorable contributor to society.

A raw egg flew past my head, missing by inches. I was in fourth grade, just trying to get home when a teenager decided I didn’t belong. As the egg splattered on the garage behind me, I ran home. That egg was more than just a cruel prank; it was the moment I realized how hard it would be to balance my Indian roots with life in America. Fortunately, that moment began my journey to finding strength in my differences. After many lessons learned throughout my childhood, I learned that I am privileged to be getting an education in America and became grateful for every blessing in my life. One roadblock remains as I go into college: funding my undergraduate studies. As an H-4 holder, seeking aid without governmental support has been tough. I do not want the inability to obtain a green card to stop me from furthering my education. In my home country, India—one of the nations most affected by climate change—I’ve seen the devastation of air pollution, extreme droughts, and rising temperatures. I’ve witnessed my family struggle through intense heat and disastrous floods. This crisis compels me to act for my loved ones and all life affected by climate change. It is a cause I have researched, advocated for, and taken action against. With the Hubert Colangelo Literacy Scholarship, I will study environmental engineering to improve conditions in underprivileged communities. Using my education from UIUC, I plan to design efficient water and waste systems and lead a team of environmental engineers to implement sustainable solutions like solar-powered wells and flood-resistant storage. I started early and improved my school’s recycling program by adding bins for LDPE-based plastics. I recycled these bins at convenience stores weekly. This effort boosted my leadership and showed me that change—big or small—is possible.

As a first-generation immigrant, I have been working to make my parents’ dreams come true while building a new life in a foreign country, and as I grew up, I slowly realized how privileged I was to study in America. One roadblock remains as I complete my senior year: funding my undergraduate studies. As an H-4 holder, seeking financial aid without governmental support has been tough. I do not want the inability to obtain a green card to be the factor that stops me from paying for the best engineering program possible. In my home country, India, one of the nations most affected by climate change, I've seen firsthand the devastation of air pollution, extreme droughts, and rising temperatures. I have witnessed my family struggle through intense heat and disastrous floods, and I find the effects of global warming intolerable. This crisis compels me to act, not just for my loved ones but for all life forms affected by the horror of climate change. It is a cause I have researched, advocated for, and taken action against. I started a new recycling initiative in my school to show my support for climate change. Also, in 2012, over 400,000 cubic yards of pollutants were removed from the Sheboygan River, significantly reducing the PBC levels. Learning about this remarkable improvement in my city pushed me to start my research early and become a published student. This proactive effort confirms my commitment to environmental issues and reinforces my confidence in my ability to excel in my major. With the Alumni Association Legacy Gift Fund Scholarship, I will get an education in environmental engineering, working towards bettering the conditions in underprivileged communities. With my expertise from the Grainger College of Engineering, I will work on water piping and wastewater systems that increase water supply efficiency in areas without access to safe distribution methods. I will assemble a team of environmental engineers to implement low-cost, sustainable infrastructure like solar-powered wells, clean waste disposal methods, and flood-resistant storage tanks, all while considering the amount of space in the areas with improper facilities Also, with my cultural background, I know I will be able to connect with the people in these areas on a deeper level and work to improve their lives. I have well-developed public speaking, impromptu, and communication skills that have improved my ability to take action in causes I root for. At the start of high school, I joined Key Club to get involved in service and soon realized how fulfilling it is to help others. Volunteering in my community through organizations like the Salvation Army and Warm the World showed me that giving back is not only meaningful but also a great way to connect with kind, grateful people. Whether I was ringing bells during the holidays or making blankets for those in need, I learned the importance of using my time and resources to support others. The gratitude I got back from my community was what motivated me to keep volunteering, and I know that I will be investing my time in a meaningful cause.

Our world has technologically advanced so much that we spend most of our time indoors on our screens, not appreciating the natural beauty of the Earth. These days, whatever you do, it feels like you’re trapped in a world of devices and nonstop buzzing notifications. But the Earth is still our way out. My favorite thing about the planet is how simply stepping outside can heal us. Research shows that just being outside can reduce stress, clear our heads, and make us feel human again. For example, after I have a long day filled with stress, constant worries about the future, and the influence of social media, I love to step outside. I breathe in the fresh air and feel the ground beneath my feet. In that moment, I remember, this is real. This is what humans evolved for — not endless scrolling, but appreciating the beauty of nature. This connection to nature made me aware of the harsh impacts of climate change, motivating me to dedicate my future efforts toward sustainability. Throughout my high school years, I knew that to help the environment to my fullest potential, I had to take the initiative early on. I decided to start with my own school district. I noticed that my school’s recycling program had a problem. We recycled plastics, but we only recycled some types of plastic. To diversify and improve it, I added a new bin to all the teacher lounges to allow people to recycle items like low-density polyethylene-based plastics, grocery bags, laminated paper, and bread bags. This idea was inspired by convenience store recycling systems. I reached out to my principal, and she was happy to see my willingness to help our school. After communicating with the faculty, I set up my 3 customized bins and waited. Soon, I saw progress and began to collect the plastics from the bins and recycle them at my local grocery store throughout the year. This effort taught me that everyone has an equal voice, and it boosted my sense of leadership and confidence, knowing how easy it is to make a change, whether big or small. Being able to make this small improvement in my surroundings boosted my sense of leadership and confidence, knowing how easy it is to make a change, whether big or small. After this, I was convinced I wanted a career that helped the environment by creating solutions that reduce the impact. Then, I wanted to raise awareness about environmental issues in my community. I started an Instagram account dedicated to environmental issues, where I’ve reached over 125,000 accounts, sharing facts and tips to promote sustainability. This way, I became familiar with video editing and advocacy. I also decided to become a published student and do a research project to learn about current environmental challenges. I’ve been working on a research paper investigating the link between Urban Heat Islands and intensifying heat waves in New Delhi over the last decade. I started this paper in January 2025 with the help of a biology professor at Lakeland University. Lastly, I have completed the Wolbachia Project 2024, submitting DNA samples from a Boxelder Bug and a Honey Bee to Penn State for research on this bacterium's effect on insect populations. The work I have done in the past 4 years for the environment has deepened my understanding of urban climate impacts, potential ways to help affected areas, and public outreach. Through these efforts, I have gained research and real-world experience, which I will need for my major in college, Environmental Engineering.

As a first-generation immigrant, I have been working to make my parents’ dreams come true while building a new life in a foreign country, and as I grew up, I slowly realized how privileged I was to study in America. One roadblock remains as I complete my senior year: funding my undergraduate studies. As an H-4 holder, seeking financial aid without governmental support has been tough. I do not want the inability to obtain a green card to be the factor that stops me from paying for the best engineering program possible. In my home country, India, one of the nations most affected by climate change, I've seen firsthand the devastation of air pollution, extreme droughts, and rising temperatures. I have witnessed my family struggle through intense heat and disastrous floods, and I find the effects of global warming intolerable. This crisis compels me to act, not just for my loved ones but for all life forms affected by the horror of climate change. It is a cause I have researched, advocated for, and taken action against. Also, in 2012, over 400,000 cubic yards of pollutants were removed from the Sheboygan River, significantly reducing the PBC levels. Learning about this remarkable improvement in my city pushed me to start my research early and become a published student. This proactive effort confirms my commitment to environmental issues and reinforces my confidence in my ability to excel in my major. With the Harry B. Anderson Scholarship, I will get an education in environmental engineering, working towards bettering the conditions in underprivileged communities. With my expertise from the Grainger College of Engineering, I will work on water piping and wastewater systems that increase water supply efficiency in areas with no access to safe distribution methods. I will assemble a team of environmental engineers to implement low-cost, sustainable infrastructure like solar-powered wells, clean waste disposal methods, and flood-resistant storage tanks, all while considering the amount of space in the areas with improper facilities Also, with my cultural background, I know I will be able to connect with the people in these areas on a deeper level and work to improve their lives. I have well-developed public speaking, impromptu, and communication skills that have improved my ability to take action in causes I root for. To pursue this plan, I knew I had to become comfortable with taking action to succeed in environmental engineering. I decided to start with my very own school district. I noticed that my school’s recycling program had a problem. We recycled plastics, but we only recycled some types of plastic. To diversify and improve it, I added a new bin to all the teacher lounges that would allow people to recycle additional items like low-density polyethylene-based plastics, grocery bags, lamination paper, and bread bags. I reached out to my principal, and she was happy to see my willingness to help our school. After communicating with the faculty, I set up my 3 customized bins and waited. Soon, I saw progress and began to collect the plastics from the bins and recycle them at my local grocery store throughout the year. This effort taught me that everyone has an equal voice, and it boosted my sense of leadership and confidence, knowing how easy it is to make a change, whether big or small. Being able to make this small improvement in my surroundings showed me that I can do so much more in STEM.

Being a citizen of India, one of the nations most affected by climate change, I’ve seen firsthand the devastation of air pollution, extreme droughts, and rising temperatures. I have witnessed my family struggle through intense heat and disastrous floods, and I find the effects of global warming intolerable. There are approximately 5 years left on the climate clock as of today, showcasing the urgency for action. Without the efforts of our generation today, the consequences of rising sea levels, severe storms, floods, and droughts will intensify as the years progress. These consequences will then be left to be dealt with by not only this current generation, but also our kids and grandchildren. International action against climate change cannot be done without the support of governmental implementations. The bigger the scale, the bigger the impact. This is shown by past events, like when an international agreement, the Montreal Protocol, was signed between 197 countries. The healing of the ozone layer is now the most successful global action, all because of the unity between our international leaders. This shows that we need to form agreements on a much larger scale, since climate change is something that impacts everyone on Earth. Lastly, individualism in addressing the climate crisis is not ideal. We must first begin by understanding and educating those around us. Without literacy among certain populations, their knowledge of these global issues limits their ability to collaborate and devise solutions to climate challenges. Together, we must work to educate those around us to instill responsibility for the environment in everyone. For example, I started by educating my school staff. I expanded my school’s limited recycling program, adding specialized bins in teacher lounges to collect unpopular items like low-density polyethylene plastics, grocery bags, lamination sheets, and bread bags

A raw egg flew past my head, missing me by inches. I was in fourth grade, just trying to get home, when a teenager decided I didn’t belong. As the egg splattered on the garage behind me, I ran home. That egg was more than just a cruel prank; it was the moment I realized how hard it would be to balance my Indian roots with life in America. Fortunately, that moment began my journey to finding strength in my differences. I was born in New Delhi, India. Growing up away from my home country and my people was challenging and often frustrating. Everyone would tell me how lucky I was to live in America, but as a kid, I thought to myself, how is it fair that all my cousins celebrate holidays together and have fun while I get made fun of for my accent? This attitude led me to be arrogant and have a negative view of everything. One day, after a heated argument with my parents, my grandpa came into my room and told me that if it weren’t for my dad, he would have never gotten to see the world outside of his small town in India. Then my grandpa walked out. At this moment, I realized how different my life would be if my dad hadn't sacrificed everything to come here. Being a first-generation immigrant made me grateful for every little thing. Things like being able to drive a car, getting a great education, and dressing however I want mattered deeply. My dad financed his education, supported his siblings, and then made the risky decision to leave his job in India to start a new life in America, and I am determined to honor his efforts. Without the experience of immigrating, I would have never appreciated the blessings given to me and gotten the dedication to succeed. After that, I started to appreciate and take advantage of every opportunity I got. I also realized that being Indian is who I am and always will be, regardless of where I reside. I have remained very close to my cultural and religious roots even after being hated for it. This shows my resilience and commitment to my nationality. I have learned that even though being an immigrant comes with many difficulties, it should be celebrated and seen as a chance to make your loved ones proud. I embody the spirit of a trailblazer by embracing my origin no matter where I live. Instead of letting other people define me, I used my hardships as eye-opening experiences that taught me the value of hard work and a proper education. Lastly, the small town I come from is driven by a highly patriarchal society where women’s education and opinions have minimal value. Seeing this, I started valuing education a lot more. I realized how privileged my life was. I get to go to get an education, I get to go to college, I get to sleep in a comfy bed. This pushed me to start my journey to become the first woman engineer in my family. I will motivate women just like me to get an education and realize that they can also fight for their right to work towards financial freedom instead of being dependent their whole lives. I will work in areas that still discriminate against women and lead them to a life full of opportunities where they can live their lives to the fullest.

A raw egg flew past my head, missing by inches. I was in fourth grade, just trying to get home, when a teenager decided I didn’t belong. As the egg splattered on the garage behind me, I ran home. That egg was more than just a cruel prank; it was the moment I realized how hard it would be to balance my Indian roots with life in America. I was born in New Delhi, India, and am a first-generation immigrant. Growing up away from my home country and my people was challenging and often frustrating. One day, after a heated argument with my parents, my grandpa came into my room and told me that if it weren’t for my dad, he would have never gotten to see the world outside of his small town in India. Then my grandpa walked out. At this moment, I realized how different my life would be if my dad hadn't sacrificed everything to come here. It is the little things, like being able to drive a car, getting a great education, and dressing however I want, that matter. My dad financed his education, supported his siblings, and then made the risky decision to leave his job in India to start a new life in America, and I am determined to honor his efforts. I have witnessed my family struggle through intense heat and disastrous floods and find the effects of global warming intolerable. Being a citizen of India, one of the nations most affected by climate change, I’ve seen firsthand the devastation that comes with air pollution, extreme droughts, and rising temperatures. This crisis compels me to act for my loved ones and the 1.4 billion people who call India home. It is a cause I have researched, advocated for, and taken action against. To start promoting sustainability, I fixed my school's recycling program. To diversify and improve my school’s recycling program, I added a new bin to all the teacher lounges that would allow people to recycle high- and low-density polyethylene-based plastics, along with grocery bags, lamination paper, and bread bags. After I had enough plastic, I recycled it at my local grocery store throughout my high school years. This proactive effort taught me that everyone has an equal voice, and it boosted my sense of leadership and confidence, knowing how easy it is to make a change, whether big or small. Also, I’ve taken on diverse projects to learn about current environmental challenges. I’m currently collaborating with a Lakeland University Biology Professor on a research project investigating the link between Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) and intensifying heat waves in New Delhi. This work has deepened my understanding of urban climate impacts and potential ways to help these affected areas. I also completed the Wolbachia Project 2024, submitting DNA samples from a Boxelder Bug and Honey Bee to Penn State for research on this bacterium's effect on insect populations. Through these efforts, I have gained research experience, which I will need to help me understand sustainable systems. By majoring in Environmental Engineering at the Grainger College of Engineering and with the BIPOC Urban Innovators Scholarship, I will make a meaningful impact on our environment in communities around the world.

Echoes of Home: A raw egg flew past my head, missing by inches. I was in fourth grade, just trying to get home when a teenager decided I didn’t belong. As the egg splattered on the garage behind me, I ran home. That egg was more than just a cruel prank; it was the moment I realized how hard it would be to balance my Indian roots with life in America. Fortunately, that moment began my journey to finding strength in my differences. I was born in New Delhi, India, and am a first-generation immigrant. Growing up away from my home country and my people was challenging and often frustrating. Everyone would tell me how lucky I am to live in America, but as a kid, I thought to myself, how is it fair that all my cousins celebrate holidays together and have fun while I get made fun of for my accent? The main issue is that the two cultures are opposites. I am expected to adapt to life in America while still meeting the expectations of an Indian society. Aside from the emotional challenges of being an immigrant, some challenges conflict with daily life, too. The difficulties of getting permanent residency discouraged me in the long term and made me fearful of my future in America. I was impatient and had a negative attitude towards every situation. One day, after a heated argument with my parents about my unappreciativeness, my grandpa came into my room and told me that if it weren’t for my dad, he would have never gotten to see the world outside of his small town in India. Then my grandpa walked out. At this moment, I realized how different my life would be if my dad hadn't sacrificed everything to come here. It is the little things, like being able to drive a car, getting a great education, and dressing however I want, that matter. My dad financed his education, supported his siblings, and then made the risky decision to leave his job in India to start a new life in America, and I am determined to honor his efforts. My grandpa always emphasized the importance of a strong education and the hard work required to achieve success in life. He always told me, “Knowledge is something the rain can’t wash away, fire can't burn, wind can't blow away, or no one can steal.” This led me to believe that knowledge is power. Knowledge brings you wisdom, control of your life, and wealth. After that, I started to be grateful for every little thing I had. I also realized that being Indian is who I am and always will be, regardless of where I reside. For anyone going through internal struggles from the challenges that come with immigration, I would remind them to always remember that many people have your current life as their dream life. This perspective allows you to be considerate of the blessings you are given. I have remained very close to my cultural and religious roots even after being hated for it. This shows my resilience and commitment to my nationality. I have learned that even though being an immigrant comes with many difficulties, it should be celebrated and seen as a chance to make your loved ones proud. Becoming the first engineer in my bloodline will be a huge step towards success and will help me positively impact the world and create an image for myself as a memorable contributor to society.

Surrounded by soldiers and holding my little cousins close, the trauma of that night, filled with the fear of death, is something I will never forget. In 2023 when I visited India, we decided to travel to Kashmir with my extended family. The route to Kashmir requires getting close to the Pakistan border, but our family did not think much of it beforehand. On the evening of August 14th, we were driving towards the dangerous border. This border is known for mass terrorism and family abductions. We would encounter checkpoints every 10 to 15 kilometers where armed soldiers would inspect our vehicle and inquire about our destination. It was more than just fear and helplessness I felt at that moment. We had little cousins with us, only four years old, and the danger felt heightened the more I got distracted thinking about what I still have yet to accomplish with my life. Later that night, the police stopped us from continuing further north to Kashmir due to terrorist threats ahead. The camp was surrounded by soldiers and other families who had been held back. Soon, my grandpa had a mild panic attack and my dad was helping calm him down. In that moment of vulnerability, all I could do was pray. I grew up in a Hindu family and turned out to be very religious. Knowing that I have god by my side makes me able to live life freely, knowing that whatever happens, happens for a reason (Quote by Bhagwan Sri Krishna). The comfort of being secured by a deity is something I regularly need when I fear what my future could turn out to be. I talk to god every night like my friend and know he is listening to me, watching over and helping my dreams come true. After my family and I prayed to god, we tried to sleep through the night. Unsurprisingly, it was a sleepless night full of terror, but fortunately by 7 am the next morning, we were allowed to continue our journey to Kashmir. My family was still in one piece and I can never thank god enough for the blessings he has given me. Knowing he protects my family helps me stay calm, even in scary situations like this. The memories of that night remain vivid. They also serve as a reminder of my family’s resilience and closeness. When my family immigrated to the U.S., we fit everything we owned into a single suitcase. Inside were a few clothes, precious memories from our life in India, and an uncertain future. As a first-generation immigrant, I have been balancing my parents' hopes while building a new life in a foreign land. Being Hindu will help me because I get a sense of recollection knowing that I have my deity making sure I am safe. Now, as I complete my senior year one roadblock remains; funding my undergraduate studies. As an H-4 holder, seeing financial help without governmental support has been tough. The Arthur and Elana Panos Scholarship will help me become an environmental engineer. When I attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to major in environmental engineering, I know I can get through stressful times by using the teachings of my religion to help me get through stressful times like meditation and yoga and I will forever be thankful for my religion.

Surrounded by soldiers and holding my little cousins close, the trauma of that night, filled with the fear of death, is something I will never forget. In 2023 when I visited India, we decided to travel to Kashmir with my extended family. The route to Kashmir requires getting close to the Pakistan border, but our family did not think much of it beforehand. On the evening of August 14th, we were driving towards the dangerous border. This border is known for mass terrorism and family abductions. We would encounter checkpoints every 10 to 15 kilometers where armed soldiers would inspect our vehicle and inquire about our destination. It was more than just fear and helplessness I felt at that moment. We had little cousins with us, only four years old, and the danger felt heightened the more I got distracted thinking about what I still have yet to accomplish with my life. Later that night, the police stopped us from continuing further north to Kashmir due to terrorist threats ahead. The camp was surrounded by soldiers and other families who had been held back. Soon, my grandpa had a mild panic attack and my dad was helping calm him down. In that moment of vulnerability, all I could do was pray. I grew up in a Hindu family and turned out to be very religious. Knowing that I have god by my side makes me able to live life freely, knowing that whatever happens, happens for a reason (Quote by Bhagwan Sri Krishna). The comfort of being secured by a deity is something I regularly need when I fear what my future could turn out to be. I talk to god every night like my friend and know he is listening to me, watching over and helping my dreams come true. After my family and I prayed to god, we tried to sleep through the night. Unsurprisingly, it was a sleepless night full of terror, but fortunately by 7 am the next morning, we were allowed to continue our journey to Kashmir. My family was still in one piece and I can never thank god enough for the blessings he has given me. Knowing he protects my family helps me stay calm, even in scary situations like this. The memories of that night remain vivid. They also serve as a reminder of my family’s resilience and closeness. When my family immigrated to the U.S., we fit everything we owned into a single suitcase. Inside were a few clothes, precious memories from our life in India, and an uncertain future. As a first-generation immigrant, I have been balancing my parents' hopes while building a new life in a foreign land. Being Hindu will help me because I get a sense of recollection knowing that I have my deity making sure I am safe. Now, as I complete my senior year one roadblock remains; funding my undergraduate studies. As an H-4 holder, seeing financial help without governmental support has been tough. The Arthur and Elana Panos Scholarship will help me become an environmental engineer. When I attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to major in environmental engineering, I know I can get through stressful times by using the teachings of my religion to help me get through stressful times like meditation and yoga and I will forever be thankful for my religion.

I can proudly say that I am an environmentalist. Having witnessed my family struggle through intense heat and disastrous floods, I find the effects of global warming intolerable. Being a citizen of India, one of the nations most affected by climate change, I’ve seen firsthand the devastation of air pollution, extreme droughts, and rising temperatures. This crisis compels me to act—not just for my loved ones, but for the 1.4 billion people who call India home. With the current devastating pollution emergency in Delhi, I can’t stay quiet. To start taking action, I observed my local community and noticed that my school district’s recycling program was limited. People would only recycle the usual stuff, but why limit what we recycle when our local convenience stores have special recycling bins for clean plastics? So, I expanded it to include clean plastics. the bins, placed in teacher lounges, are collected weekly. I collect lamination paper, cling wrap, tape, polythenes, plastic bags, and more. This initiative deepened my commitment to environmental issues and taught me that anyone can lead change—no matter how small. I will apply this in my career by continuing to be an effective leader and being open-minded, listening to all ideas and initiatives. This experience also taught me the power of connections and networking because I originally got the inspiration to do this from a family friend who does special recycling programs throughout her workplace. After I got the idea, I had to reach out and talk to various staff members at my school to help me pursue this which helped me improve my professional skills. Next, In 2012, over 400,000 cubic yards of pollutants were removed from the Sheboygan River significantly reducing the PBC levels. Learning about this remarkable improvement in my city pushed me to start my research early and become a published student. I have been working on a research paper that explores the direct relationship between Urban Heat Islands and heat haves in Delhi. This proactive effort confirms my commitment to environmental issues and reinforces my confidence in my ability to excel in my major. Lastly, As a first-generation immigrant, I’ve grown up balancing the hopes my parents carried across borders with the realities of building a new life in a foreign land. Seeing my parents sacrifice so much for my higher education compels me to give back and help people through environmental issues. With the Global Girls In STEM Scholarship, I can pursue my goal of becoming an environmental engineer and helping my hometown of Delhi and other communities in the world. Expanding on the idea of helping communities around me grow, innovation and problem solving are the biggest ways to help even more people around the world. This is why proceeding with an engineering career will help me develop innovative green technologies and sustainable solutions that can lessen the impact of climate change. I aspire to create a business dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals facing difficulties regarding climate habitability. My engineering knowledge will be the basis for my startup as I develop business expertise, keep up with the circular economy, build a team, and look out for market gaps. Since engineers spend their time finding solutions to problems, they are more likely to be able to solve real-world problems. With my engineering knowledge from UIUC, I will be sure to use it logically by staying disciplined and ambitious.

From my experience and values, I promote education as the best way to start using renewable resources to improve habitability. Having witnessed my family struggle through intense heat and disastrous floods, I find the effects of global warming intolerable. Being a citizen of India, one of the nations most affected by climate change, I’ve seen firsthand the devastation of air pollution, extreme droughts, and rising temperatures. This crisis compels me to act—not just for my loved ones, but for the 1.4 billion people who call India home. So, I will major in environmental engineering to help slow the detrimental impacts of severe weather events and heat waves. Renewable energy is a big positive for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It prevents us from using fossil fuels and helps delay Earth overshoot day. The best way to use renewable and traditional energy to ensure sustainable solutions for humankind is by tripling the annual renewable energy installment budget and shifting the governmental subsidies to renewable energy rather than fossil fuels. [United Nations. (n.d.). Renewable energy.] As of 2024, there are just under 5 years left on the climate clock, meaning we have that much time to convert 90% of the human population’s energy sources from fossil fuels to renewables. This seems rather unachievable, and since the center of reversing global warming impact is energy, focusing on sustainable sources should be the number one priority. Several studies from E7 economies show that boosting spending in the environmental tax sector dramatically decreases carbon emissions. [Ameer, W., Ali, M. S. e., Farooq, F., Ayub, B., & Waqas, M. (2024).] Additionally, The incorporation of renewable resources into our surrounding environments can be seen as an investment that will potentially save the government money in the long run. When we build a renewable power station we are effectively pre-paying for the next forty years of electricity from it. Governments also should focus on funding green infrastructure, which contributes to the job market positively since projects like these create more jobs and allow the adoption of renewable technologies. [Heal, G. (2009)] Governmental decisions are the most sufficient way to create change faster and execute sustainable energy in larger areas. When it comes to promoting a green earth for everyone, individualism is simply not an option. Renewable energy needs to be enforced over a vast scale, which will require unity and cooperation from our governments. Circling back to using the idea of education to promote a healthier and sustainable future, we can use renewable energy concepts to implement practical solutions that engage local communities. By incorporating renewable energy education into school curriculums and community workshops, we can create a generation of informed individuals ready to fight climate change effectively. After all, addressing climate change requires a multifaceted approach that combines education, governmental action, and the widespread adoption of renewable energy. With a degree in environmental engineering, I hope to contribute to this global effort by innovating sustainable energy solutions and advocating for policies that prioritize the environment.