Aaisha goes to Mt. Lebanon High School in Pittsburgh. She plays the cello in my school orchestra. Outside of school, she enjoys getting a coffee with friends or hanging out at the mall. 

Alana is from Sarasota, Florida. She is passionate about using teamwork to unite girls through STEM to create a new generation of leaders. Her interest in STEM came from her father, who works in the technology field as well as her mother who works within the financial sector. At her school, Alana is an active member of Student Government, the Leadership Advisor for Asian Heritage Club, and a Networking Director for the largest virtual DECA club in Florida. 

Deeply involved in her community, she serves as a Teen Attorney for Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc., advocating for second chances, and is a valued member of the Keystone program at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. In her free time, she plays on her school’s junior varsity girls basketball team. Alana is excited to bring her passion for STEM to NGCP's Youth Advisory Board.

Alveena is from Middletown, Delaware. She is someone who has always been captivated by STEM and is excited to serve on the NGCP YAB board. In school, she serves as her grade level representative, a research officer for Body Blueprint Society, and an officer in Technology Student Association. She is also starting her own clubs. This year in Business Professionals of America, she has also qualified for nationals after placing at states in two events. 

Outside of school, she has conducted mentored research at Delaware State University for the past two years and competitively won first place at the DSU Summer Research Symposium. She also was a student leader at the Delaware Youth Environmental Summit where she organized workshops, and is an intern at Seaside Sustainability where she is performing sustainability assessments on local businesses. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, crocheting, dancing, and reading. 

Amanda (she/her) is from Langhorne, PA. She loves computer science and has been granted scholarships to attend various programming camps. She has become efficient in over 5 coding languages. She is the head website designer of her school’s literary magazine. She has co-founded the Women In STEM club for her school and is an ambassador for the national organization WiSTEM. She also works as a Research Assistant at a cancer research center during the summer. She is very excited to be on the YAB and hopes to be able to inspire other girls to go into STEM-related fields. In her free time, she enjoys reading, volunteering at her local library, and crocheting new accessories.

Angelina goes to Alief Early College High School in Houston, TX. She is a passionate advocate for STEM and public policy, and is committed to advancing reproductive justice and expanding access to accurate reproductive health education for teens across the nation. Angelina first took initiative in STEM when she recognized the lack of STEM opportunities at her school following COVID, despite attending a STEM school. She then decided to take the lead and founded three STEM competition clubs, creating pathways for students to explore their true interests. 

Beyond STEM, she is an active advocate, working on campaigns across Texas, serving on the administration of one of the biggest civic engagement non-profits in Houston, and is excited to bring back everything she has learned from the National Girls Collaborative Project to bring back to her community. 

Anupa is from Herndon, Virginia. She has always had a passion for STEM, specifically science. She’s wanted to be a doctor for as long as she can remember. Anupa is especially interested in oncology; she is currently enrolled in a course at Georgetown University to learn how to conduct medical research. She is also an active member of her school’s medical club. Another one of Anupa’s passions is the environment. She has been involved in environmental clubs since middle school. In 8th grade, her team won the Caring for Our Watersheds competition and received funding for her school’s compost program. She has also participated in climate change rallies in DC.  

Anupa is a member of her school’s Girl Up club which advocates for gender equality. She can’t wait to help create opportunities for other girls in STEM fields by joining the NGCP YAB. In her spare time, she enjoys playing the guitar, competing in public forum debate, playing chess, and reading.

Arisha has a strong interest in biomedical science, healthcare, and STEM leadership. She has conducted research in computational-biology leading to a co-authored publication in the Journal of Medical Device Regulation and a poster presentation at an international healthcare AI conference. At school, Arisha is the Co-Founder & Co-President of her school’s HOSA chapter. She also serves as Program Director for UPSKILLS through the International-Vedic-Society, coordinating tutors and providing academic support to underserved students. Arisha is the founder and host of the Type One Takes podcast, which was ranked among BuzzFeed’s Top 100 diabetic podcasts and has charted internationally in the nutrition and health category. She has also led in-person health-seminars reaching over 300 patients. Outside of STEM, Arisha is a third-degree black belt and instructor in Taekwondo and has earned top placements at international competitions. She also works part-time at a nursing home supporting residents in memory care and hospice. 

Christina is from Florida. Her interest in STEM careers started when she took a biology course during eighth grade. Learning about neuroscience, molecular biology, and genetics sparked her curiosity in professions that bridge science and engineering. 

After noticing the gender gap prevalent in many STEM fields, she decided to join the NGCP Youth Advisory Board to elevate the voices, perspectives, and insights of young girls, and advocate for gender equity in STEM. 

Currently, she is involved in club organizations, such as Technology Student Association, HOSA, and National Honor Society. Whether she is collaborating with a peer to develop a website for the TSA state competition, giving back to her community by volunteering at events hosted by her high school, or conducting research with HOSA students on stem cell scaffolds to combat neurodegenerative diseases, she has a passion for interdisciplinary thinking, community wellness, and building vital skills in STEM. She has also worked as an Outreach and Social Media Manager for an Alzheimer’s nonprofit organization. 

In her free time, she enjoys playing the cello, practicing writing poetry, learning coding languages, and taking care of her pet rabbit. 

Isabel goes to Pittsburgh Allderdice High School. She enjoys swimming, art, and learning new things. At school, she is a part of a couple clubs, including Mock Trial, HOSA, and the Swim Team, and outside of school she helps organize events at many different organizations, like The Allegheny Observatory. Being able to use her abilities to talk to people to bring the community together and inspire everyone is something she looks forward to every single day. But a lot of her time mostly revolves around balancing school, activities, and time with her friends and family. She is really interested in science, and she likes setting big goals for herself and pushing to grow. Whenever she is not studying, you could probably find her baking, at the gym, or most likely walking around the city with her friends. 

Jenissa is from East Meadow, New York. She has a strong passion for STEM and law, driven by a desire to create equitable opportunities for all students. Her academic rigor in AP courses, leadership in school organizations, and participation in STEM initiatives have deepened her understanding of how science, technology, and policy intersect to shape society. She is particularly interested in exploring how legal frameworks can support innovation, protect scientific integrity, and promote diversity in STEM fields. 

Beyond the classroom, Jenissa engages in leadership and service initiatives that enhance collaboration, advocacy, and critical thinking skills. As a member of the National Girls Collaborative Project Youth Advisory Board, she aims to empower girls nationwide, especially those from underrepresented communities, to pursue STEM and related policy work. Through mentorship, outreach, and program development, she hopes to ensure every student has access to the resources, guidance, and confidence to thrive at the intersection of science, technology, and law. 

Lola is passionate about STEM, especially science, and expanding opportunities for students from underrepresented communities. She enjoys exploring how STEM can intersect with other disciplines to create more engaging, creative, and accessible learning experiences. At Greenhill, Lola is a multi-varsity athlete competing in volleyball and track and field. She is also involved in several leadership and service initiatives, serving as a United to Learn Teen Fellow and as a member of her school’s Mental Health Board. 

Lola participates in Youth and Government, where she earned recognition as a State Qualifier and Distinguished Delegate. She also serves as an UPchieve Ambassador, helping connect low-income students with academic support. She is particularly interested in combining STEM with the arts and is currently developing an interactive, immersive installation that integrates technology, engineering, and art for submission to the ISAS Art Festival. 

Lucia (Lulu) X. presents herself as a result-oriented student who strives to live and a collaborative team player who cares about knitting a community together. Attending an all-girls school for her middle school years and continuing on in her high school career, she has come to realize the innovative ideas that women can bring to the STEM field. She hopes that her connections with teachers, advisors, and mentors alike can help her to inspire young girls in STEM to speak out for what they believe in. In school, she is part of the Medical Science club and outside of school, she pursues a passion in artificial intelligence and mental health. 

Some of her achievements include winning second place in the Girls STEAM Institute Virtual Reality Business Challenge – using VR to help deal with mental health issues, and winning first place out of 12 competing teams in Girls Inc. of NYC four-week Girl Boss Entrepreneurship Summer Program, in which she pitched a “COVID Toolkit” to the Health & Wellness Industry panel. She has also published an article on Neuromarketing Ethics and Controversies on STEAM News. Outside of STEM, Lucia does competitive swimming, learns about financial investing, and enjoys creative writing.

Lydia’s passion for STEM began in the 2nd grade.  She loves inventing as a means to solve real-world problems.  Lydia created her first working prototype, the Beat the Heat Car Seat, in 5th grade and won the Citgo Discovery Fueling Education Grand Prize.  She has been a Samsung Solve for Tomorrow State finalist twice, taken first place in the Paradigm challenge, and won the grand prize for the NHL Everfi Virtual Science Fair.  Lydia also enjoys serving in the Maker Space at her local science museum and serves as Treasurer of the Junior Board.  

In addition to STEM and academics, Lydia enjoys taking tap dance, enjoys public speaking and is active in community theater.  Throughout the past year, Lydia has shared her message of "Problem Seeker, Problem Solver" in more than 30 classrooms, as the Keynote address at the Women in STEM event at Bowling Green University and at the NCSTA conference.  Lydia is excited to join the NGCP Youth Advisory board and hopes to help other girls find a passion for inventing and STEM!

Lyla, from Waldorf, MD, is an engineering student who cares deeply about making STEM more welcoming, especially for girls. After often being the only girl on her STEM competition teams, she’s become passionate about creating spaces where more girls feel encouraged to explore engineering, robotics, and technology. 

Lyla is active in her community, serving as the Youth Member At-Large on the Charles County NAACP Youth Executive Committee and as Chair of the Teen We Are One Committee for the Southern Maryland Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. In these roles, she helps create programs that support youth of all abilities and backgrounds. 

She’s also participated in STEM programs like AEOP GEMS, West Point STEM Camp, and Emerging Leaders in Biotechnology, continuing to grow her skills and curiosity. 

In her free time, Lyla loves playing video games with friends and trying out new tech ideas

Rachael has always wanted to break boundaries in the STEM field. Her journey took a significant turn with her acceptance into a local STEM magnet school. This experience deepened her interests and opened doors to numerous opportunities within this impactful domain. Through various endeavors in the STEM field, she is particularly fascinated by the biomedical engineering field due to the lack of diversity in the field, and she aspirations to become a leader in promoting diversity in this vital field, aimed to contribute to improving human health by applying engineering principles to medical challenges.  

Rachael's engagement in various STEM initiatives highlights her dedication to expanding her knowledge and skills. From participating in prestigious events like the Harvard Science Research Conference to active involvement in science fairs and STEM-focused clubs like Bio-Olympiad, Rachael actively seeks avenues to deepen her understanding and impact in the field, beyond her STEM endeavors. Rachael is enthusiastic to be a part of NGCP’s Youth Advisory Board, aiming to close the gender gap in STEM. Her motivation stems from a desire to provide girls nationwide with the same unique opportunities that have propelled her success in the field, and she is excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals. 

Rashi is from San Diego, California. She has always had a deep passion for STEM, and she especially loves learning about complex math theories, computer science, and cognitive science! Driven by her deep interest in human behavior, and the intersection of AI with psychology, she aims to innovate new solutions for mental health and improve wellbeing. In school, she is involved in Math Club, Girls in CS, Bring Change 2 Mind, and Peer Counselling, and aims to make the school environment a better place through her STEM interests. Outside of school, she really enjoys dancing and has been learning an ancient Indian classical art form, Odissi. She also loves playing the piano. Rashi is eager to be a part of the NGCP Youth Advisory Board, collaborate, and inspire other girls to find their unique interests within the world of STEM.

Renata is currently enrolled in a stem-based magnet high school that is centered around engineering and other STEM fields. Her profound love for STEM was due to the inspiring influence of her mother, a female manufacturing engineer. Renata has assisted or participated in STEM-based events held by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) such as “Girl Day”, a program meant to encourage girls to pursue a career in STEM, and Railway Safety, a summer camp that tests your robotics knowledge while teaching you the basics and importance of railways and trains. Furthermore, she is an active member of the “Girls Who Code” club at her school which focuses on coding just for girls.  

Not only is Renata a straight-A student, but she is also an athlete and musician as a member of her school’s varsity volleyball team with piano lessons and recital experience of up to 8 years. Due to her musical background, Renata has opened several ceremonies at UTRGV with the national anthem, including the National Manufacturing Expo, Railway Safety summer camp (2022-2023), and a medal ceremony for the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Rhea is a high school student from California and the youngest of 45 global finalists among 115,000 participants in the NASA Space Apps Challenge, where she won the prestigious NASA Earth Sciences Award. Through her 501(c)(3) nonprofit, she has taught coding and app development to over 600 students across 30+ schools. As founder and president of her school's Girls Who Code club, Rhea has mentored young women pursuing careers in STEM and grown the chapter into one of the region's most active. Rhea is passionate about conservation, sustainability, and energy, working at the intersection of environmental science and technology. She also writes for the LA Times and volunteers at the Orange County Discovery Cube. Rhea is excited to join the NGCP Youth Advisory Board and work to expand STEM equity and education for students and girls nationwide. 

Violet is from McLean, Virginia, with a strong passion for mathematics and computer science. She is particularly interested in artificial intelligence and machine-learning, and has applied these tools in research projects spanning business and environmental science. She hopes to leverage technology to address real-world challenges and create meaningful social impact. Violet plans to pursue technology-related fields in college and continue exploring innovative, interdisciplinary applications of computing. 

Violet is an active member of her high school’s Computer Science Club, Speech Team, Math Honor Society, and Latin Honor Society. She also serves as a BranchOut! mentor, supporting younger students at summer STEM camps and outreach events. Beyond academics, she is a solo ice dancer competing nationally and internationally. Violet is excited to join the Youth Advisory Board at NGCP to continue promoting STEM skills among youth, closing the gender inequality, and encouraging everyone to pursue opportunities with confidence. 

Yasmine is passionate about STEM, innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship. She is the founder of InnovateHER, an initiative dedicated to introducing young girls to technology, engineering, and leadership while creating a supportive community that encourages them to explore STEM with confidence. 

Her interest in engineering and problem-solving began through robotics programs such as SeaPerch, where she served as a team leader and her team placed 1st and 2nd internationally. Yasmine is also a member of the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) and enjoys designing with CAD and exploring how technology and creativity can be used to solve real-world challenges. She also participates in Girls Who Code, Model United Nations, and her school’s Girls Club. 

Beyond STEM, Yasmine runs her own Etsy business, MoodiCandles, where she designs and sells handmade candles, and she is currently working toward launching another business. Outside of academics and entrepreneurship, she is a varsity tennis player and competes in crew. She is also a musician who plays the flute and piccolo and has performed with the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. Yasmine is trilingual and loves reading. Through her work and leadership, she hopes to continue inspiring more girls to pursue STEM and explore their potential.