I am probably the only person at Columbia University this fall who has received a rejection letter from a horse riding team, 122 rejection letters from tech companies, and an acceptance letter from an Ivy League school, in that order. I grew up in Kyrgyzstan, the daughter of a family that went from comfortable to bankrupt almost overnight. We moved into two cramped rooms. I fell behind in math and science. The future I had imagined quietly disappeared. What I had instead was stubbornness sharpened by years of acrobatic horseback riding, a sport I had fought my way into after being turned away on my very first day of training. That experience taught me early that rejection is not a verdict. It is just information. What makes me unusual is not any single thing about my background, it is the combination. I am a girl from Central Asia who competed in national equestrian competitions and then taught herself to code. I am a former software developer at the leading investment bank in Kyrgyzstan who left a stable career to go back and teach other women for free. I translated an entire computer science textbook into Kyrgyz so that students in rural villages could access it in their own language. I organized digital literacy workshops across twelve schools in five regions of the country, reaching 180 high school students many of whom had never touched a laptop before. I did all of this before ever setting foot in a university classroom. I am a non-traditional student in the truest sense. I spent five years working, teaching, and building things before higher education became possible for me. That path gave me something most students my age do not yet have: a very clear understanding of exactly why I am here and what I plan to do with what I learn. This fall 2026, I will begin studying Cognitive Science at Columbia University. I am drawn to this field because it sits at the intersection of everything I care about — how humans think, how trust is built or broken, and how technology can either support or damage the human mind. My current research explores how the emotional tone of AI responses shapes user trust, a project I started at community college that I plan to develop at Columbia's Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute. My long-term goal is to build AI systems that are fair, culturally aware, and genuinely useful for communities that are typically ignored, starting with Central Asia. What makes me unique, ultimately, is that I already know what it looks like when technology fails real people. I have sat in village classrooms in the Kyrgyz mountains and watched teachers spend entire evenings writing lesson plans by hand because no digital tool existed in their language. I have watched young women decide that tech was simply not for them because nothing in the tech world had ever been designed with them in mind. I am not going to Columbia to get a credential. I am going because I need the research tools and institutional platform to actually fix that problem. This scholarship would directly fund my tuition at Columbia. As a first-generation college student from a low-income background, and as an international student without access to federal financial aid, the financial barrier to completing my degree is significant. Every dollar of support translates directly into time time to focus on research, time to build the skills I need, and time to become the person who goes back home and changes what technology looks like for the next generation of girls.

The first time I tried acrobatic horseback riding, I fell before the horse reached even full speed. I stood up also climbed back on in order to try again. I learned, over time, just how to perform tricks in addition to competing nationally and staying balanced when a gallop occurs. To me getting back up many times sticks out more than winning in those years. Persistence teaches about how progress comes. Riding is what taught to me this very lesson. My family's financial situation changed and so that lesson became more important so we moved to just two small rooms from a large apartment. I gave care to my young brothers, sometimes walking far when the bus was too costly. Those years were not easy, teaching me about how to adapt. Remaining motivated was important during hard times too. Later on, I joined into a women's coding bootcamp. Kyrgyzstan was where the bootcamp was located. Initially I wrestled with course content like math since classmates seemed faster. I did not give up but I was staying after class for practice. I often stayed late within the night. After 122 applications, an internship offer was finally received. After a period of several months, that internship turned right into my first job. I then received payment from the technology company. Confidence grew since consistency and persistence revealed opportunities to me. I did begin with teaching of and mentoring of other girls in programming, as I gained more of the skills. Within rural schools I also worked on digital literacy projects, where many students were first seeing a computer. I later started research into easier lesson planning for teachers in Central Asia using AI. A basic Kyrgyz app was built by me. It helped with generating quizzes and lesson ideas. Teachers did see it and then used it with real excitement, reminding me that technology can offer real opportunities for people when designers consider people. I carried these experiences along with me when I moved to the U.S. to study. I came without funds so I found ways to pay for costs of living plus tuition as I got used to a brand new space. Independence as well as resilience were indeed taught to me through the challenges of studying abroad alone, along with my appreciating community support here. AI studies and research do remain as my focus, especially for work on designing technology so it is culturally aware and trustworthy. Earning a college degree in the U.S. is more than a personal achievement for me; it is a way to contribute back to Kyrgyzstan. The same persistence that once helped me get back on a horse, or apply to my 123rd job, now drives me to focus on integrating AI into education in my home country. My vision is to design AI tools that help teachers save time, generate lesson plans in Kyrgyz, and bring modern digital resources into rural classrooms where opportunities are scarce. I am doing this because I believe education is the key for individuals and communities to thrive. This scholarship would support me in continuing my studies and moving closer to that mission - ensuring that students in Kyrgyzstan can learn, grow, and prepare for the challenges of the future with the same resources as students anywhere in the world.

The first time I tried acrobatic horseback riding, I fell before the horse reached even full speed. I stood up also climbed back on in order to try again. I learned, over time, just how to perform tricks in addition to competing nationally and staying balanced when a gallop occurs. To me getting back up many times sticks out more than winning in those years. Persistence teaches about how progress comes. Riding is what taught to me this very lesson. My family's financial situation changed and so that lesson became more important so we moved to just two small rooms from a large apartment. I gave care to my young brothers, sometimes walking far when the bus was too costly. Those years were not easy, teaching me about how to adapt. Remaining motivated was important during hard times too. Later on, I joined into a women's coding bootcamp. Kyrgyzstan was where the bootcamp was located. Initially I wrestled with course content like math since classmates seemed faster. I did not give up but I was staying after class for practice. I often stayed late within the night. After 122 applications, an internship offer was finally received. After a period of several months, that internship turned right into my first job. I then received payment from the technology company. Confidence grew since consistency and persistence revealed opportunities to me. I did begin with teaching of and mentoring of other girls in programming, as I gained more of the skills. Within rural schools I also worked on digital literacy projects, where many students were first seeing a computer. I later started research into easier lesson planning for teachers in Central Asia using AI. A basic Kyrgyz app was built by me. It helped with generating quizzes and lesson ideas. Teachers did see it and then used it with real excitement, reminding me that technology can offer real opportunities for people when designers consider people. I carried these experiences along with me when I moved to the U.S. to study. I came without funds so I found ways to pay for costs of living plus tuition as I got used to a brand new space. Independence as well as resilience were indeed taught to me through the challenges of studying abroad alone, along with my appreciating community support here. AI studies and research do remain as my focus, especially for work on designing technology so it is culturally aware and trustworthy. Maggie Kwiecien’s adventure as well as my adventure do share many parallels. Alone in the U.S., she did come, challenging even herself intellectually and also physically while building her own life without any safety net. Consistency plus determination helped me overcome self-doubt and begin anew in a fresh place, I know. I want for to keep learning just like Maggie does. Also, I want for challenges to turn into growth. This scholarship would be supporting my continuing of studies as well as building technology for creating opportunities for others. Maggie’s story inspires me to keep moving forward along with courage and curiosity. I aspire to uphold her memory and employ my schooling to benefit all people.

I'm Tavita, a community creator, coder, and passionate Kyrgyz nomad. I spent my days riding horses and participating in national equestrian competitions while growing up surrounded by the colorful customs of Kyrgyzstan, which gave me a strong sense of cultural identity. Through these experiences, I became aware of the glaring digital divide in rural areas, where there is still restricted access to technology, science. I studied CS because I was determined to close this gap and wanted to combine cutting-edge technology with age-old customs. My love of technology and equestrian eventually led me to work with Ashlee Vance on Bloomberg's Hello World program, where I am pleased to embody the potent combination of cutting-edge technology and culture. With a team, I released my app when I was sixteen years old. It was an educational app that used gamified courses to teach kids about recycling and environmental consciousness. We taught children to think critically about sustainability. I learned from that experience how technology can combine science with community development and social effect. It gave me my first idea of how curiosity, reasoning, and math may result in something greater than oneself. I've been learning frontend technologies like Javascript for four years since then. Creating a fintech app for the biggest bank in Central Asia was one of my significant undertakings. I contributed to the implementation of important features that increased accessibility for thousands of users, simplifying and streamlining everyday financial tasks. That project demonstrated to me how computer science can be both incredibly technical and incredibly human, and how a single well-written line of code may have a significant impact on thousands of lives. Now, as a student of CS I'm still pushing the boundaries of creativity. Together with Professor Eric Voss (Columbia University), I am currently in charge of a research project in Central Asia on digital literacy driven by AI. We're creating plans to help educators by automating administrative tasks so they may concentrate on providing effective instruction. I'll carry on this project this summer by looking at how we might scale AI technologies in non-Western, remote schools, beginning in Kyrgyzstan. Additionally, I have practical experience working with marginalized communities. I oversaw a group at IT Academy Bishkek that taught kids the fundamentals of computer science by planning over 12 programming workshops in isolated villages. I was reminded by their enthusiasm and interest that scientific thought, whether it be in the form of logical analysis, pattern detection, or problem solving, is a universal language. It belongs to everyone, not just tech corporations or labs. I have a strong interest in communication and storytelling outside of my technical work. I utilize creative writing as a way to communicate underrepresented viewpoints from my community, heal, and reflect. I think that effective communication is the key to resolving human problems, and my goal is to create a technological platform that supports the growth of empathy-based communication abilities. My life has been greatly touched by connections, so I want to use technology to support others in making meaningful connections as well. In keeping with William Griggs' philosophy of pushing limits and fostering curiosity, I work to combine technology and service, engineering and storytelling, and knowledge and compassion. My long-term goals include starting a nonprofit tech center for girls in Central Asia, developing culturally sensitive AI teaching tools, and using my expertise in computer science to increase everyone's access to science and math. Science, in my opinion, is about providing opportunities, especially when others believe it is impossible. It is not simply about making discoveries. And that's exactly what I intend to do.

I'm Tavita, a proud Kyrgyz woman who works as a software developer and community builder. Growing up in Kyrgyzstan, I was able to enjoy the beauty of nomadic life, which included riding horses, participating in national horseback races, and developing a close cultural tie. But I also noticed the digital gap, especially in rural areas where access to technology and education is limited. However, I also observed the digital divide, particularly in rural regions with limited access to education and technology. I decided to pursue a career in software engineering in order to bridge those worlds. As a student of computer science in the United States and a participant in Bloomberg's Hello World program alongside Ashlee Vance, I'm now fusing my ancestry and abilities to create technology that brings people together and promotes positivity. When I was sixteen, with a small team i launched an app: an interactive, educational app that teaches children about recycling and environmental awareness - how to sort, environmental preservation through gamified courses. That initial experience demonstrated how programming might unite creativity, mission, and community. With a focus on frontend technologies, I have been coding for more than four years. Working on a fintech banking app for the biggest investment bank in Central Asia was one of the first times I truly saw the potential of technology. I was in charge of putting important features into place that improved the usability and accessibility of regular banking for thousands of users. It made me realize how many lives may be improved by a single line of code. Now, I’m leading research on AI-powered digital literacy in Central Asia with Professor Eric Voss. I’m exploring how we can reduce paperwork for teachers by integrating AI tools - giving them more time to focus on quality education. This summer, I’ll be continuing this work, analyzing how we can improve digital literacy in non-Western schools and rural regions, beginning with Kyrgyzstan. My mission is to develop scalable, culturally responsive technology that empowers educators and bridges learning gaps for students across the region. I oversaw a group at IT Academy Bishkek that introduced kids to programming by planning more than 12 coding seminars in small towns and villages. Witnessing the spark of their interest was a life-changing experience. It made me realize how vital it is to use tech education to benefit rural areas. I think that enabling those who have been left behind is essential to the future of global innovation. I'm a connection and a storyteller outside of tech. Writing creatively has always been a place for expression, development, and healing. I use it to share stories that are frequently forgotten and to think back on my path. Every blessing in my life has come from people, thus I always strive to improve my communication skills and like meeting new people. Every human issue, in my opinion, stems from a lack of communication skills, which we must all master and develop. I began honing my communication abilities, and I think that by combining technology and communication, I can change the world if I have begun to change myself. One day, I want to develop an app that helps people improve their communication abilities and form closer relationships with others. I am able to connect culture, education, and connection through computer science. I want to lead a nonprofit tech hub for females in Central Asia, create AI that helps teachers, and elevate marginalized stories. Technology is more than simply my professional route; it's my language of opportunity, change, and service.

I was born into a humble family in Kyrgyzstan. Since childhood, I was an active and curious child, but during my teenage years, I became withdrawn due to difficult family circumstances. Everything changed when, at the age of 17, I joined a grant-funded program for girls, where 40 talented young women studied programming for nine months - and that became a turning point in my life. It was there that I was first introduced to the concept of a growth mindset. I was inspired by my fellow students - smart, strong, progressive young women. That program didn’t just teach me how to code - it gave me faith in myself, big dreams, and bold thinking. Since then, technology has become my purpose, my passion. After completing the program, I continued to pursue STEM, but I had to pause my education for five years due to financial hardship. I chose to support my family by working. Still, I never gave up on my desire to study. That’s when I made one of the hardest decisions of my life - to leave my home country in pursuit of a dream: to study in the U.S., in the global hub of innovation: Silicon Valley. In America, I faced deep loneliness, uncertainty, and chronic stress. I juggle college and 2–3 jobs to pay for my education. It’s difficult, but every day we choose our own version of “hard.” It’s hard to sit and do nothing. It’s hard to study, but not getting an education and falling behind is also hard. It’s hard to work, but not working is hard too. So every day I feel grateful for this incredible opportunity to pursue my higher education. Immigrating to the U.S. has been a transformative experience for me. It’s taught me to trust myself, the journey, and God, while also deepening my sense of gratitude. This journey has strengthened my belief in myself, made me more resilient, and encouraged me to take meaningful steps toward building a brighter future rather than dwelling on uncertainties. I love this quote: "The best way to predict the future - is to create". Also this incredible country has shown me how to move quickly, adapt fast despite all my fears. In this, I’m deeply inspired by my older sister - a person who rose from poverty and hardship to graduate with honors and get accepted into a Master’s program in the UK. During the most difficult times, when our family didn’t even have money for transportation or baby food for our newborn brother, she never gave up. Her strength and perseverance have been a lifelong example to me. I chose to study STEM in college because I truly believe that when people and technology come together, they have the power to create lasting, sustainable change. In the summer of 2025, I will begin a research project focused on digital literacy for teachers in Central Asia. My goal is to help integrate artificial intelligence into the region’s educational system, allowing teachers to move away from outdated methods and focus on progressive, modern learning. After graduating, I plan to continue my education and build a career focused on developing AI tools for schools in developing countries. I dream of a world where children and teachers in remote corners of the world have access to quality, modern education - because I have personally witnessed the lack of technology in remote regions of Central Asia. I believe that since I have started the change within myself, I can help change the world too.

My journey into STEM began with my participation in a women’s empowerment IT bootcamp, where 40 young women united to break barriers and promote equality in Kyrgyzstan’s tech industry. This transformative experience introduced me to inspiring women from rural regions, shaping my perspective on the power of education and technology. Over nine months, we immersed ourselves in programming while attending workshops and industry events. Though I had always dreamed of studying abroad, I had to pause my education for five years due to financial difficulties, working to support my family. During this time, I gained industry experience as a programmer, further solidifying my passion for technology and education. Now, as a community college student, I am preparing to transfer to a top university such as Stanford or Columbia, where I can develop my expertise and continue my mission of using AI to bridge the digital divide in education, particularly in rural communities. I chose to pursue a STEM field because of its transformative potential to create solutions for pressing educational and technological challenges. My programming journey has shown me how technology can be a powerful tool for solving real-world problems, particularly in education. I am driven by the potential to create meaningful solutions that contribute to society. Specifically, I am committed to developing AI-powered education tools for Central Asia, with a long-term vision of expanding their impact globally. After the bootcamp, our team held 15 programming workshops in rural schools, which showed me the urgent need for better technology in underserved communities. This experience inspired my current research project on AI-powered digital literacy for teachers. I want to explore how AI can help educators in underdeveloped regions by providing tools to improve their teaching and adapt to modern technology. So I will collaborate with teachers from rural schools to test and refine an AI-powered teaching assistant. This interactive chatbot will help teachers with lesson planning, provide guidance on using digital tools, and offer AI-generated recommendations tailored to local educational needs. By using natural language processing, the assistant will be accessible to teachers with limited technical knowledge, making it a scalable solution for bridging the digital divide in education. Once tested, I plan to expand this project to Central Asia, where many countries face similar digital literacy challenges. This initiative is deeply personal to me because I have seen firsthand the challenges of limited access to education. Growing up in Kyrgyzstan, I witnessed the disparity between urban and rural schools, where many teachers struggle to incorporate technology into their lessons. My experience conducting workshops in rural areas reinforced the importance of providing teachers with the right tools to support their students. Winning this scholarship would allow me to fully focus on my studies without the stress of tuition fees, giving me the freedom to expand my drive and make a meaningful impact. I would start by actively contributing to my community college - launching student clubs, organizing STEM events, and fostering collaboration among students passionate about technology. This support would also enable me to dedicate more time to research and community-driven projects, particularly in AI and education. As I continue my preparation to a top university by maintaining high GPA and great academic performance, I will gain the knowledge, mentorship, and resources to scale these initiatives beyond Kyrgyzstan, creating AI-driven advancements in education with a global impact. Through AI-driven innovation, I am committed to reshaping digital literacy in education and ensuring that no teacher or student is left behind in the digital age.

1. Being born a woman in Central Asia means being strong, navigating challenges, and finding the courage to believe in your dreams despite the odds. I was born in the heart of Kyrgyzstan, a country renowned for its breathtaking mountains, rich culture, and warm people. Yet, amidst this beauty, gender equality remains elusive. In Kyrgyz traditions, women have often been seen as having fewer rights - whether in the workplace, at home, or in society at large. Despite these challenges, I was fortunate to receive a grant for a women’s empowerment IT bootcamp. Alongside 40 other girls, I spent nine months learning programming and English. I also took part in a tech project for teenage girls, where we developed a product and presented our startup. These experiences connected me with incredible women, especially those from rural areas, and they transformed my perspective. I started to dream big, set goals, and truly believe in myself. At just 17 years old, I realized how much our environment shapes us. Unfortunately, after this project, I couldn't continue my education as I had to step in to support my family financially. After 5 years gap, I decided it was time to pursue my aspirations again. I resolved to earn a bachelor’s degree and specialize in IT. Now, I’m fully immersed in my studies, working hard to maintain a high GPA and gain as much knowledge as I can. I’m also preparing to transfer to a top university next year, determined to achieve my goals. 2. What excites me most about STEM is the endless potential it offers to solve real-world problems and create meaningful change. I am naturally curious, deeply oriented toward the pursuit of knowledge, and committed to growth. STEM perfectly aligns with my values and goals, where every innovation has the ability to shape a brighter future. Also I identify myself as a creative person, the STEM field it is a science sphere, where using our creativity we can create, conquer, develop, change, implement the richest, fantastic and useful and innovative ideas into the reality. I love this feeling of capability with technologies and inventions. The positive impact I want to make is through bringing AI into the education system of rural schools in Kyrgyzstan (with mission to expand the working system of integration of AI to the other countries in the world). The old post-Soviet system now puts too much paperwork on teachers and uses outdated teaching methods, which slows them down. Teachers are some of the most important people in shaping future generations, as they have a direct influence on children, who are the foundation of our future. My impact includes using AI to make teachers' administrative tasks easier and to create more engaging, personalized learning for students. AI in Kyrgyzstan and much of Central Asia - is still new, especially in education. Many teachers still use old methods, spending a lot of time on paperwork and not having access to digital teaching tools. AI could help by reducing administrative work, making lesson planning easier, and improving student learning through personalized tools. This research could be the first step toward a bigger impact. While the focus is on Kyrgyzstan, the results could help rural schools worldwide by showing how AI can improve digital literacy and modernize education in underserved areas. This year, I started working on a research project "AI-Powered Digital Literacy for Teachers in Central Asia" which aims to explore barriers to AI adoption in non-Western schools and develop an AI-powered assistant to support teachers in digital literacy, lesson planning, and AI-integrated education. My research project is the first step toward making this vision a reality. 3. At the age of 23, the biggest decision I made was to move to the USA to pursue my bachelor’s degree. Moving to a new country, or even just living away from home for a while, is one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. I left behind my comfortable life to focus on my studies. The first six months were very tough. I often felt terribly lonely, exhausted, and unmotivated. However, this challenges to integrate with new country’s values, culture and make a new environment of good people, friends - it was just beautiful process, which made me more resilient and much more positive thinking and grateful person. I also realized how important it is to take care of basic needs. Good sleep, healthy food, and regular exercise are essential for staying in a good physical and mental state. Once I focused on these, I started making plans for a brighter future. I started to do 5 minute gratitude practice and journaling every day. I learned that believing in myself is the first step to making my dreams a reality. I started to learn how to trust to God, myself, my journey. Now, I am proud of how far I’ve come. Moving abroad was not easy, but it worth it because it has shaped me into a more resilient, hopeful, and determined person. I am excited to keep learning, growing, and working towards achieving my goals.

I was born and raised in Kyrgyzstan, a country in Central Asia where 94% of the land is covered by breathtaking mountains. These mountains have shaped not only the geography of my homeland but also my character. Much like Malgorzata “Maggie” Kwiecien, I have had to climb my own mountains - both literal and figurative - to pursue my dreams and overcome challenges. Growing up in a low-income family, my dream of studying in the United States seemed distant and unattainable after I graduated from high school. Financial constraints meant that I had to put my education on hold for five years. However, I firmly believe that dreams have no expiration date. Through perseverance, hard work, and a deep belief in myself, I am now living my dream of studying in the U.S. as a first-generation international student. Moving here alone, without a support system, was daunting, but it has also been the most transformative journey of my life. This experience resonates deeply with Maggie’s story of bravery and determination. Before coming to the U.S., I built my career in software development in Kyrgyzstan. My passion for engineering aligns with Maggie’s professional dedication. I am currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science and aspire to transfer to Columbia University. For a young woman from Central Asia, studying abroad and charting this path is a monumental achievement. Like Maggie, I am intellectually curious and driven to master whatever I set my mind to, whether it’s coding a complex algorithm, navigating a new culture, or striving for academic excellence. Maggie’s love for physical challenges also inspires me, as sports are an integral part of my life. I am a passionate runner, and my connection to the mountains goes beyond admiration - they are my sanctuary and my source of strength. I hike, climb, and find peace in the vast, rugged terrain of my homeland, which has taught me resilience and endurance. Every run I take reminds me of the beauty of pushing through barriers, just as Maggie did in her adventures as a skier, climber, and diver. On a personal level, I admire Maggie’s boldness and her zest for life. Her commitment to growth - both physical and intellectual - is a trait I strive to embody daily. Like her, I am always eager to learn, debate, and explore. My journey is fueled by the same thirst for knowledge and passion for new experiences. Whether it’s tackling a challenging class, exploring the U.S., or diving into a new sport, I am driven by a curiosity that mirrors Maggie’s. Moving to the United States has been a test of my courage and adaptability. I had to leave behind my family, friends, and the familiarity of my culture to pursue my education. The transition was not easy, but it has taught me to embrace uncertainty and find strength in challenges. Maggie’s story gives me hope and reinforces my belief that bravery, determination, and an unrelenting spirit can lead to extraordinary achievements. Maggie’s life is a powerful testament to the strength of women who dare to dream and push boundaries, regardless of the obstacles they face. I am honored to share similarities with her in our passion for engineering, love for physical and intellectual challenges, and determination to forge new paths. This scholarship would not only help me continue my education but also inspire me to honor Maggie’s legacy by striving for excellence in all that I do.