Spotlight

While visiting a marine biology lab, Zackery learned scientists were using ultraviolet to measure the concentration of microplastics in seawater. However, he realized there are currently no effective methods to remove the microplastics. Zackery has a mission to develop a system, like the way whales filter krill, to remove pollutants from our ocean.

Zackery is also a dedicated Eagle Scout, captain of the VEX robotics team and founder of the “Trash-Talking chess club”.

Plans to major in: Mechanical Engineering

Santiago is the program director and director of communications for the freshman mentoring program at South El Monte High School and president of the Environmental Club and California Scholarship Federation. Living in South El Monte, he is aware of the rampant pollution caused by factories and hopes to create sustainable methods to reform factory output and waste.

When Aaron isn’t serving as OCSA’s senior class president, he is thinking about ways he can bring his passion for innovation and engineering to the U.S. military. He has been a part of Boy Scouts of America for four years and has served in numerous leadership roles, including junior assistant scout master and patrol leader. Aaron also plays several sports at the competitive level, including baseball, lacrosse, kickboxing, muay thai and MMA.

Plans to major in: Mechanical Engineering

Living in Southern California, Lizbeth has seen firsthand the lack of affordable housing. In college, she plans to major in applied mathematics to work alongside city planners and engineers to create affordable housing opportunities for families that fall below the poverty line.

Lizbeth is not only on the varsity track and tennis team, but she is also captain of the varsity soccer team and co-founder of the Women’s Empowerment Club.

Plans to major in: Applied Mathematics

Sean loves the beach and has always been troubled by the amount of trash and pollutants that he sees sprawled across our shores. After a summer internship at Boeing, he realized that he wanted to build a machine to clean up these pollutants while protecting aquatic ecosystems.

Sean is captain of the Walnut Valley Hydromechs Robotics team and a part of the Diamond Bar Symphony Orchestra, all while helping his mother run her small business.

Plans to major in: Mechanical Engineering

Growing up constantly doing 3D puzzles and construction, Tony realized that he has an insatiable love for problem-solving. As he has gotten older, he has realized that climate change is going to be his generation’s greatest problem to solve. Planning to major in environmental science, Tony believes the future of sustainable energy lies in nuclear sustainability.

When he’s not playing tennis for Upland High School, Tony serves as the lead junior volunteer and head junior volunteer trainer at San Antonio Regional Hospital.

Plans to major in: Environmental Science

A proud resident of Inglewood, Devin can’t help but notice the impact homelessness and mental health is placing on his community. By majoring in computer engineering technology, he plans to build systems to help correct this crisis. Devin is also the captain of the University High School football team, a CIF 4x400 relay gold medalist and member of the Black Student Union and University High Red Cross.

After an internship at Caltech, Valentina became fascinated with the idea of data mining and how to keep our information secure. With plans to pursue a double major in physics and computer science, she wants to be at the forefront of science, technology, innovation and safety.

For the past four years, Valentina served as a leader in her Girl Scouts organization and placed first on the Varsity Mathletes.

Plans to major in: Physics/Computer Science

Involved in robotics at a young age, Michael learned that there was a stigma that STEM education is “too hard to get into.” Michael began teaching at local elementary schools to show younger students how science applies to our everyday lives and its accessibility to anyone interested in the field. Michael is also the safety captain for the FIRST Robotics Competition and served as president of Summit High’s Robotics Club.

Plans to major in: Computer Science

Living in one of the most polluted cities in the country, Jonathan plans to pursue his passion for environmental engineering to develop solutions to improve air quality. He is a member of the Key Club, science club and California Scholarship Federation, as well as a Science Olympiad and CyberQuest winner.

Yesenia serves as president of the art club, co-founder of the math club and co-captain of the Buena Park High School softball team. She has already been problem-solving ways to improve our roads and infrastructures around the world through revolutionizing the way we use asphalt.

As a programming and strategy leader in the FIRST Robotics Competition and a judge and mentor for the FIRST LEGO league, Tristan has learned how important strong infrastructure is to a growing society. As an engineering major, he plans to dedicate his studies to building sound transportation and renewable energy systems.

Plans to major in: Mechanical Engineering

As the founder and executive director of Bytes of Code, an international organization that introduces STEM to girls in underserved communities, Erica knows the need for diversity in the field. She has raised over $30,000 for her organization and has developed a multilingual online curriculum with global ambassadors across the United States, India, Mexico, Liberia and Saudi Arabia.

Erica has plans to pursue computer science in college and hopes to create systems to solve complex social problems.

Plans to major in: Computer Science

Combining imagination and research, Paul plans to pursue computer programming to create systems to refine autonomous vehicles. He is the founder and president of the Earth Club and volunteers in the radiology department at City of Hope Hospital. He also plays on the varsity tennis team and serves as a math, computer science and physics tutor.

Yubin was disheartened to discover only 17.9% of Americans with Disabilities were employed in 2016. This led her to begin a nonprofit organization, Orange Tech Pros. This organization aims to empower people with disabilities by teaching them to code. Yubin is also a talented musician and is the principal cellist for the Livingstone Chamber Orchestra.

As president of the Japan Bowl, a Japanese-language competition, Justin led his team to a fourth-place title in the state competition. He also is the vice president of the California Scholarship Federation and a member of the National Honor Society. After a trip to Korea, and seeing how they have revolutionized recycling, Justin has plans to implement these systems in Los Angeles by being an urban planner.

Plans to major in: Environmental Science

After realizing that his schoolmates were continuously late for class, Matthew and his friends developed an app called Integral. Integral allows students and administrators to get an alert to their phones about their class schedule, upcoming events and serves as a virtual ID card. Matthew plans to pursue computer science to continue developing new technology.

He is a member of Boy Scouts of America and the first-place winner of the Congressional App Challenge.

Plans to major in: Computer Science

After being selected as one of 20 students in the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Research Program, Jimin realized that there were major disparities between men and women in the STEM field. This led her to begin TechSeedz, a STEM organization that hosts monthly workshops for girls and minorities. Jimin is also the captain of the junior varsity water polo, swim & diving team.

Planning to pursue chemistry and environmental science, Shin Hyung knows that in order to pursue her dream of extending human life spans, the first step is improving the environment we live in. She serves as the president of Health Occupation Student America as well as president of Young Leaders of Orange County. Shin Hyung also works as a private tutor and babysitter.

With dreams of becoming an innovator, Abigail hopes to develop new methods to curb our society’s fossil-fuel consumption. Abigail is currently an intern at USC’s Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Lab and president of the Humanitarian Club. She also serves as the captain of the JV cross country team and volunteer at the East Los Angeles Library.

Plans to major in: Environmental Science

Elizabeth wants to live in a society where all children can learn freely and without the burden of financial responsibilities. She has goals of building a program to give low-income children hands on opportunities to learn STEM outside of their core curriculum. Elizabeth is president of the Spanish Honor Society, a member of the softball team and the mathletes.

Plans to major in: Applied Mathematics

Co-founder and vice president of the STEM club, Jonathan is passionate about showing communities of color the importance of STEM and STEM education. He also is the cross-country varsity co-captain and junior commander for the Royal Rangers.

Plans to major in: Chemistry

President of the Associated Student Body at Alhambra High School, Sophia has dreams of majoring in civil engineering to build infrastructure and create new building materials that make less impact on the world. She is also the captain of the cross-country team, secretary of the Alhambra High robotics club and a member of Girl Scouts of America.

Plans to major in: Civil Engineering

Hye Min is the drum major at Woodbridge High School and vice president of the Earth Resource Foundation. She has dreams of using science and engineering to combat global warming. Hye Min is also a member of the speech and debate team and a group leader for America on Track.

As the vice president and team captain of the Robotics team, Luke led his team to a regional championship. He has dreams of joining a team to build and innovate space technology. Luke is also a peer calculus tutor, the president of the California Scholarship Federation and a member of the science club.

As a member of the soccer and tennis teams and a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Alazne is fascinated with coding. After being exposed to coding in middle school, she realized how powerful technology can be. Alazne has dreams to work with tech companies to create coding programs and make them accessible to underfunded primary schools.

Plans to major in: Computer Science

Knowing the importance of good role models, Jacob wants children in his community to know that STEM education is interesting and approachable. He has served as president of the FIRST robotics team and El Modena Academic Decathlon. He also on the men’s varsity volleyball team at El Modena High School and lead guitarist for his band.

Plans to major in: Mechanical Engineering

Living on Catalina Island, Daniel sees how climate change is affecting our society at an accelerated rate. He hopes to make clean energy and battery technology accessible to all communities. Daniel is the captain of the soccer, cross-country and volleyball teams and president of the Interact Club.

Plans to major in: Electrical Engineering Technology

Samantha knows how climate change has begun to take ahold of our beautiful state, particularly our water supply. Samantha has goals to rebuild our inundated water infrastructure by advancing our oxidation process. She is also captain of the varsity cross-country and track and field teams and a member of the California Scholarship Federation.

Plans to major in: Chemical Engineering

When Itzel is not leading her club soccer team, tutoring students at Sierra Vista Elementary school or serving as student government captain, she is problem-solving ways to decrease air pollution. She wants to look at the way we build cars in order to reduce CO2 emissions.

Plans to major in: Mechanical Engineering