2024 NHS Scholarship Recipients

Laila Ali

Laila Ali started her school’s first NHS chapter, motivating students and leading weekly volunteer events. Through NHS she has raised over 1,000 food items for donation, increasing food accessibility during the holiday season. She serves as president of the Asian American Association and Science Olympiad, and is speech and debate captain. She also volunteers at Connect-In-Place, increasing educational opportunities by teaching Arabic and international politics to low-income youth. As the Mayor of Modesto’s only teenage intern, Laila handles international correspondence with Modesto’s Sister Cities. She also represented California as a senator in the Girls Nation program, where she advocated for issues impacting her community. And she was chosen as a California Student Leader, one of four students honored for their dedication to making a positive impact on the world.

“Being chosen from among a pool of incredibly talented and service-oriented individuals across the nation is a humbling experience. It reinforced my commitment to the values I hold dear and my desire to live up to the expectations that come with such an accolade.”

Nicole Benne

Nicole Benne is a small-town student with a big love for agriculture. She is driven by the NHS pillar of service and hopes to make a positive impact on the agriculture industry. Farm life has taught her the value of a positive attitude, strengthened her faith in God, and shaped her work ethic. She has held multiple leadership positions, clocked hundreds of service hours, and earned top achievements in 4-H, FFA (Future Farmers of America), and NHS. Leading a service project to pack nearly 30,000 meals for her local community has been one of her favorite events. In the fall, she will pursue her passion for veterinary medicine at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

“I am extremely humbled to be chosen as an NHS Scholarship finalist. My future plans to become a veterinarian will require eight years of undergraduate and graduate classwork. Having the financial support from organizations like NHS is a huge blessing.”

Chloe Birkenfeld

Chloe Birkenfeld is a high-achieving senior with a passion for serving her community. Through NHS and her individual efforts, she has aided in park cleanups, painted signs to decorate her school, assisted at the local food bank, and given back in various other capacities. She raised thousands of dollars to donate to breast cancer research for those like her aunt, and she plays the violin at church and various events in memory of her late grandfather. Chloe has won multiple state titles in academic and athletic contests, including but not limited to journalism, robotics, and cross country. She is also involved in a variety of clubs and organizations, such as yearbook and Future Farmers of America. Chloe plans to attend Texas A&M University and study biomedical sciences en route to medical school.

“Words simply cannot express my gratitude for this opportunity. As a student at a rural school in a town of just three hundred people, I had a hard time convincing myself that my experiences would compare to those of students at schools in megacities and urbanized areas. However, winning this scholarship proves that every effort can leave an impact, no matter how small.”

Vanessa Ching

Vanessa Ching is the daughter of Malaysian-Chinese immigrants who has learned from the hardships her parents faced as their childhoods revolved around financially supporting their families. Because her mother never had the opportunity to finish middle school, Vanessa holds the value of education close to her heart. Her dedication to education takes numerous forms. As her robotics team’s president, she organizes competitions, plans STEM workshops, and facilitates middle school mentorship, all dedicated to providing students opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable. She also provides classroom instruction to elementary and middle schoolers in the fundamentals of art and organizes lantern festivals, art workshops, and collaborative mural painting to further expose the community to the arts. She is also dedicated to protecting the environment. She organized a monthly roadside clean-up in her city, planned community cleanups through NHS, and established community gardens to alleviate food insecurity.

“My childhood was definitely not a smooth journey as my family struggled for stability all while battling the language barriers that came with a foreign territory. Winning the NHS Scholarship means the world to me because it is a testament to the sacrifices my family made for me so that I could pursue my dreams.”

Ella Cho

Ella Cho is an aspiring engineer who splits her days between building robots and building community. As the manufacturing director of a world championship-qualifying robotics team, she led the prototyping, machining, and testing of two $20,000 robots. However, she has derived much of her inspiration from the excitement of local elementary schoolers throwing their duct tape, hot glue, and bubble wrap off the bleachers and sprinting down to check if their egg has remained safe. Volunteering as a teacher at numerous STEM camps for children in her community, she noticed a disheartening ratio of boy-to-girl participants that was further reflected on her robotics team. To encourage more girls to enter STEM, Ella started the Girls in STEM club at her school and published a children’s book, Yuna Soars With STEM. In another initiative, she converted toy cars into motorized wheelchairs for children with cerebral palsy and was inspired to continue her research in affordable assistive mobility devices by designing and building an exoskeleton that helps children with severe cerebral palsy walk. She is also president of her school’s California Scholarship Federation and Key Club chapters.

“Discovering that I was a finalist for the NHS Scholarship was an unbelievable moment. The academic and service values instilled in me by NHS led me to live a fulfilling high school career and it was wonderful to see the work I had put in being recognized.”

Zaheen Chowdhury

Zaheen Chowdhury is dedicated to community empowerment and health equity. She holds several leadership positions, including chair of the Youth Advisory Board of BRIDGES, District 5 representative on the Shelby County Youth Council, and a member of the Memphis Libraries Council. In these roles, she advocates for youth voice and fosters youth-adult equity in decision-making spaces. Passionate about addressing local and global health challenges, Zaheen actively volunteers at the Muslim Medical Clinic, providing free or low-cost medical services to individuals in need. Her commitment to leadership extends to the research she has conducted at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through the radiation oncology department. At school, she serves on the executive boards of both the Red Cross and health-equity clubs. As the co-editor of her school’s newsletter, The Panther’s Post, she uses storytelling to unite her school community. She also founded Learn To Read, a local initiative promoting literacy among elementary school students. She plans to pursue a career in the medical field, focusing on a people-centric approach to healthcare and striving to eliminate disparities in healthcare resources, access, and outcomes.

“It feels really amazing to be a part of this community. I am so honored to be selected as a winner for this.”

Jensen Coonradt

Jensen Coonradt is the founder of a STEM club and debate club at their school. Through the STEM club, Jensen brought together a diverse group of entrepreneurial students to solve community problems. For example, club members developed a backpack concept integrating ultrasonics and neuroplasticity to aid visually impaired navigation. The invention propelled the club to the national finals of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Challenge, winning $65,000 for their school and facilitating the establishment of a student makerspace. Jensen also leads engineering classes, creates STEM kits for underserved students, and presents about robotics at community events. Jensen is passionate about community service and environmental activism, distributing over 8,340 native plant seeds through their nonprofit Seeds of Hope. They also worked with a local animal shelter to organize fundraising and youth engagement events, orchestrated a badminton team fundraising tournament, and led many other community service initiatives as a Key Club lieutenant governor. Jensen hopes to pursue engineering in college to continue changing our world for the better, one invention at a time.

“I am so proud that the NHS Scholarship could see my passion and dedication to expanding access to STEM education and using innovation to change our world, one invention at a time. I believe more students need to know about this incredible opportunity, and am working to encourage others to apply for this scholarship in the future.”

Harry Ding

Harry Ding is a youth leader, who has seen the power that future generations wield. Serving as national political director for the High School Democrats of America and programs director for the South Carolina High School Democrats, he spearheads national campaigns on civic engagement, voter registration, and anti-book ban efforts. A Charlestonian, he fights to preserve the legacy of the Emmanuel Nine by pushing for gun reform in congressional drop-ins for March for Our Lives and Students Demand Action. Endeavoring to maintain the global, online community he embraced during the pandemic, he also champions digital justice. As a Digital Safety Ambassador for Thorn/NoFiltr, he has worked with Discord and Pinterest to enact youth-centered policies. Inspired by his parents’ immigration journey, he lobbies for immigration reform and refugee aid as a UNHCR Young Champion for Refugees. He is also a Ballotpedia Research Fellow and an intern at AllSides.

“Receiving the NHS Scholarship represented a recognition of my lifelong commitment to learning, my service mindset recognizing the need for change and community engagement, my responsibility as a proud leader, and my shared perseverance with others in the fight for justice. These values embolden me, and the NHS Scholarship adds special fuel to my fire.”

Elizabeth Djajalie

Elizabeth Djajalie is a young leader in STEM, innovation, education, and public communication. Born and raised in Juneau, she founded the Alaska Science and Engineering Fair Student Spokespersons Board, raising over $15,000 for the statewide STEM nonprofit. The “Future Women of STEM Podcast” she launched, produced, and hosted aired on public radio and has reached listeners on four continents via Spotify. Elizabeth has conducted graduate-level research on environmental biotechnologies, and she most recently studied using environmental DNA metabarcoding and qPCR to detect, quantify, and conserve various Pacific salmon species. This project was recognized by the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Defense, and Taiwan International Science Fair, among others. She has sung the national anthem for numerous community commemorations, performed with her orchestra at Carnegie Hall, and received several art and writing awards. She is also a U.S. Senate Youth delegate, Regeneron STS Scholar, AIME qualifier, Distinguished Young Woman of Alaska, public radio guest host, and tennis state champion.

“Winning the NHS Scholarship showed me that my leadership was making a real impact. It gave me not only hope but certainty that my service was significant and would be carried on by countless students moving forward.”

Lynn Dyer

Lynn Dyer is president of her school’s NHS chapter, where she orchestrated collaborative efforts with Future Farmers of America, Future Business Leaders of America, and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America to rejuvenate Postage Stamp Park, showcasing her commitment to community service. She has also revitalized her school’s NHS bulletin board, spotlighting member achievements. Additionally, she is president of student council, FFA vice president, and a dedicated counselor at 4-H camps, where she creates unforgettable experiences for youth, fostering deep connections and lifelong friendships.

Yasmeen Galal

Yasmeen Galal is committed to bridging the gap between technology and policy. She’s embarked on this mission by conducting research on virtual reality, delving into its policy implications through a published literature review. As the student representative for the Connecticut Board of Education, Yasmeen represents over 500,000 students, ensuring their voices are heard by decision-makers. She serves as the lead programmer for her robotics team, where she has raised $21,000 to support their endeavors. As a member of the Connecticut Student Equity Advisory Board, Yasmeen strives to create inclusive educational environments. A U.S. Senate Youth Delegate, 2023 Disney Dreamer, Yale Bassett Fellow, and NCWIT National Aspirations in Computing winner, she plans to study computer science and political science in college, integrating her passions to drive meaningful change at the intersection of technology and policy.

“Every day, I strive to embody the pillars of the National Honor Society: Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. As a result, being selected as a winner was an incredibly humbling and gratifying experience. It not only recognized my dedication but also provided me with renewed encouragement to persist in my pursuit of excellence across all facets of my life.”

Aadya Gattu

Aadya Gattu is an advocate for social justice with a vision of effecting positive change through law and public service. A first-generation Indian American, she is a director of the student-run social justice group Youth4Unity, captain of her school’s state-ranking mock trial team, and class president. She is also a Senior Patrol Leader and Eagle Scout in a pioneering female Boy Scout troop. Her commitment to service extends to volunteering with the Prajwala Foundation, a domestic abuse shelter for women, and tutoring in her school’s writing center. She has interned at both state and federal representative offices and organized mass voter registration drives. She hopes to pursue a career as a nonprofit lawyer, advocating for the rights of underserved communities.

“It feels gratifying to know that my hard work is being recognized, and being selected as a winner has reaffirmed my commitment to continue serving my community.”

Esther Ghim

Esther Ghim is a student leader who embodies the qualities of a well-rounded individual. As an unwavering advocate for healthcare equality and empowerment, she joined the fight against period stigma by co-inventing Sensible, a diagnostic menstrual pad. She is passionate about expanding the reach of healthcare for underserved communities while working to destigmatize societal challenges. Esther is also a dedicated community leader, volunteering by using her musical talents with the cello and planning art installations to bring local communities together through collaboration.

“I know that going forward, I’ll continue to strive for excellence in academics and other endeavors. I’ll continue to make an impact on the world, inspire others to pursue their goals, and make positive impacts on my communities.”

Soumil Goyal

Soumil Goyal excels in robotics, engineering, and programming. After noticing a teacher disposing of a batch of old COVID-19 plastic, table-top dividers, he found a clever solution by repurposing them into engineering and robotics stock material. Doing so saved more than 480 pounds of PMMA and polycarbonate plastic from the landfill while also solving his robotic team’s resource-shortage crisis. Soumil also spends time mentoring his younger peers. Out of his more than 300 volunteer hours, he dedicates more than 230 of them to mentoring, teaching, and competition-coordination actions. An Indian-born Singaporean living in the United States, he has been a guest speaker at the 2022 Vex Robotics World Championship, an industry-talk host for Autodesk University 2023, and a two-time guest speaker at the Consulate General of India.

“This scholarship is not only an essential financial support for my higher education, but also a symbol of encouragement to continue striving for excellence and making a positive impact in the world around me.”

Maher Harp

Maher Harp has devoted more than 575 hours to service as a member of NHS and has earned over 31 chapter-based awards. He has served in many capacities on the executive board of his chapter, holding positions such as parliamentarian and vice president. As an officer, he spearheaded multiple courtyard clean ups and rain garden rehabilitations, leading his school to the highest green school status, “Evergreen,” in the state of Michigan. He has also participated in numerous blood drives through the American Red Cross and raised more than $15,000 for breast cancer and Angelman Syndrome research. His contributions to the NASA-GLOBE research program led his group to publish three research papers about independently programming a suite of atmospheric sensors onto a NASA Terra Rover. Maher’s data was soon used to sponsor city laws about atmospheric safety. A varsity tennis player and team captain, he has earned four All-Conference Awards. He is also lead programmer for his school’s robotics team, class president, vice president of Key Club, student representative of the Dearborn Heights Stewards Watershed Commission, and a lead youth organizer for the Taha Foundation.

“Winning the NHS Scholarship means that I representatively emulate the pillars of the National Honor Society, and more broadly the values found in my life.”

Chase Hartman

Chase Hartman is an entrepreneur and civic-minded leader passionate about educational equity and the environment. He was inspired to serve his community after his chapter of National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS) ran a book collection drive. Chase co-founded an award-winning book distribution project, read.repeat. when he was only 10 years old. This project evolved into a nonprofit, Eco Brothers. He has focused on improving literacy rates and has distributed 220,000 books to 65,000 students in Hillsborough County, FL, and in all 50 states. He advocates for more diverse and dual-language books in schools and has spoken to his local board of education about the need for such books. He has raised $120,000, mobilized hundreds of volunteers, and provided 10,000 service hours to teens. An Eagle Scout and Senior Patrol Leader in Troop 46, he ran Scouting for Food for three years and donated 7,000 food units to a local pantry. He also designed, planted, and maintained a butterfly garden for his elementary school. He is student body president, swim team captain, a Congressional Award Gold Medal recipient, and a four-time gold-level honoree in the President’s Volunteer Service Awards.

“To me, this scholarship is another opportunity to keep growing as a leader in my community and the world, and to keep achieving educational equity through my efforts.”

Palash Kapoor

Palash Kapoor is an ambassador for Youth & Peace in Action, working to expand peace education globally and advocate for peace education funding. He also serves more than 5,500 students as an Ohio DECA state officer. Fascinated by the impact businesses have on society, Palash has published research on corporate social responsibility. In honor of his grandfather, he spearheaded a team to fundraise more than $50,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and now mentors local fundraising teams. At school, he serves on the Superintendent Advisory Council and is president of “BizTech” club and NHS. A Harvard Book Award recipient, Rotary Student of the Year, and DECA Glass winner, he spends his free time rapping on social topics, vlogging, and playing chess. In the future, he plans to merge his interests in business, technology, and peacebuilding.

“Winning the scholarship has given me the motivation to continue to dream big and realize my goals while finding innovative ways to make an impact on my community.”

Ella Mayor

Ella Mayor is a dedicated volunteer, public speaker, and healthcare advocate. A resident of Simi Valley, she has served as president of Santa Susana High School’s NHS chapter for two years, and she has collaborated with the nonprofit, Forever Found, to donate clothing to trafficked children in India, Thailand, and Ethiopia. Ella’s leadership extends to various school organizations, including STEM for Girls Excelling in Math and Science (GEMS), HOSA-Future Health Professionals, National Ethics Bowl, and peer tutoring. She works more than 25 hours a week in a CVS pharmacy, and she works as a private tutor. She also enjoys speaking about groundbreaking research alongside UCLA professors at annual stem cell and neuroscience symposiums. As Chief Medical Officer of the Ventura County Medical Explorer Foundation, she helped partner with Safe Passage to volunteer in mobile vaccine clinics located in underserved areas. In 2024, she was named “Student of the Year” by Rotary International.

“This scholarship means more than just money for college. It represents an honor bestowed to my small public school in Simi Valley, my parents who immigrated from the Philippines in search of a better life for me in America and humble recognition of the hard work I’ve put in throughout high school. As a first-generation Filipino-American, I will never forget the support NHS has provided me in my journey to achieving a healthier, more equitable future for generations to come.”

Andrea Moreno

Andrea Moreno actively engages in community service, supporting local businesses at farmers markets, and initiating a tradition on her campus to give back to small businesses. A resident of El Paso, Andrea takes pride in the rich cultural diversity fostered by small businesses. Her commitment to this cause extends to the future, as she aspires to pursue a career in law, focusing on corporate law and immigration. Since she lives in a border town, immigration holds a special place in her heart, motivating her to make a meaningful impact on this issue. Having completed her associate degree as a junior, she is pursuing her bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas at El Paso. She recently has been admitted to Harvard University, where she will explore her diverse areas of interest, deepen her commitment to community service, and pursue her passion for law.

“Winning the NHS Scholarship means the ability to continue pursuing my education. Coming from a low-income household meant not knowing whether I would be able to afford school, but thanks to this scholarship, I can keep following my dreams.”

Anika Parthiban

Anika Parthiban is the founder and president of her high school’s speech and debate club, achieving national recognition, mentoring dozens of students, and significantly expanding her club’s membership. She is also co-founder and president of Music Shines Bright, which enriches the lives of thousands of senior citizens through music therapy performances. Anika was nominated to join the New Jersey Walk to Fight Alzheimer’s Planning Committee where she has fundraised $255,000 to increase awareness for Alzheimer’s, dementia, and music therapy. As NHS president, she has been involved in the construction of her school’s first library, partnering with local bookstores to provide a diverse collection of books. Additionally, she has led various fundraising initiatives, demonstrating a talent for mobilizing support and orchestrating events for targeted causes.

“Being selected as a winner felt incredibly validating. It’s a reminder of the support and opportunities the NHS community provides, and it motivated me to continue making a positive impact.”

Brianna Paulino

Brianna D. Paulino is an aspiring educational leader and writer passionate about advocating for the arts and accessible education. She is a creative individual determined to help her communities through project planning, volunteering, advocacy, and writing. She is the founder of The Cleverly Creative, an online youth-led organization dedicated to assisting youths globally to improve their art and writing skills while providing a platform to share their creativity freely. She has established workshops, editing services, and creative publication opportunities, reaching and impacting over 5,000 youths globally. Brianna is also Creative Director of The Authors of Tomorrow, establishing and implementing programs to provide opportunities that will help students in various ways. She is student council president and the newly appointed New Jersey State Director of Saphron Initiative, an organization centered on advocating and implementing accessible education to marginalized communities in Title I schools.

“No words can describe the immense pride and joy I endured when I opened that email announcing my finalist status. I always strive to improve the communities around me and fight for the topics I am passionate about.”

Samantha Sandhaus

Sam Sandhaus is committed to addressing food waste and food insecurity in her local community. As a sophomore, she founded Feeding Philly, a 501(c)(3)organization rooted in student leadership, mutual aid, and educational empowerment. She has worked with teachers and restorative justice coaches nationally to develop a curriculum through which students use food waste and insecurity as a lens to learn about science and math with real-world implications, impacting over 2,000 students so far. Feeding Philly hosts monthly, free food distributions and facilitates in-school community fridges through which they have repurposed over 10,000 pounds of food and served over 5,000 local families. In her undergraduate career, Sam hopes to design an individualized major through which she can advance global health initiatives through socioeconomic and technological development.

“I am excited to inspire the next generation of NHS leaders at my school to live their personal and academic careers as an embodiment of the NHS pillars, as they will have the chance to be honored for their commitment through this scholarship.”

Tai Stephan

Tai Stephan has dedicated his leadership and service to projects centered around social justice. He first engaged in leadership in seventh grade after co-authoring a book chapter and speaking at an international conference. Both the chapter and the speech sought to help teachers create more accepting curricula for students from unique households. He also founded the Student Empowerment Ambassadors program at his high school, which enables students to improve their public speaking and leadership skills. In addition to his school efforts, Tai has served for six years as a volunteer ambassador at Discovery Place Kids in Huntersville which runs summer programs focused on diversity.

“I feel very honored to stand next to these amazing students who have all worked incredibly hard to achieve their goals and make significant societal contributions.”

Jaidin Upadhyaya

Jaidin Upadhyaya is a senior at Stephen F. Austin High School, where he’s president of his school’s NHS chapter, speech and debate team, and Austin Accelerated, a club bridging the gap between educators and students. He is a student speaker for John Hopkins University, advocating for mental health initiatives in advanced education, and a head volunteer and committee of events chair member for the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Sugar Land. Jaidin is also the president of Vin’s Army Youth Division, organizing blood drives and sharing cancer survivor stories and the co-chapter head of Walk with A Doc. He aspires to become a medical professor and physician.

“While recognition was never my primary goal, receiving this award has underscored the importance of my endeavors. I am eager to share my journey with others, inspiring them to continue their efforts in enhancing their communities and striving for excellence without relent.”

Allison Xu

Allison Xu is a dedicated student leader who is passionate about making an impact and giving back to her community. Serving as an Editor-in-Chief of her countywide student newspaper, The MoCo Student, and her high school’s newspaper, The Pitch, Allison leads her teams to produce publications that reflect the spirit, diversity, and aspirations of the community. As the 2023 Youth Poet Laureate of Montgomery County, MD, she uses her platform to raise awareness of societal issues. Allison has performed at various civic events and public settings, such as the Kennedy Center, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and the American Courage Awards. Through spoken word, she uplifts marginalized voices and encourages people to create positive changes in their own lives and communities. In school, she has taken on leadership roles in Mock Trial, DECA, and NHS.

“I feel incredibly honored to earn this prestigious recognition. Winning the NHS Scholarship also inspires me to continue striving for excellence and serving as a role model for others.”