Mary Adegbesan

Hometown: Houston, TX
College: TBD
Major: TBD

Something most people are good at that I am bad at: Driving

Things I'm too old to do but still enjoy: Using coloring books and watching old Disney Channel shows

Favorite TV Show: Survivor

Favorite Friday night activity: Going to the cinema

Favorite song to scream/sing in the car: “When We Were Young” by Adele

In honor of my parents, Sola and Theresa Adegbesan, whose sacrifices and unwavering support gave me the confidence to believe in my ability to make a difference.

Aluet Akot

Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD
College: TBD
Major: Neuroscience

Something most people are good at that I am bad at: Anything to do with art! I can barely draw stick figures.

Things I'm too old to do but still enjoy: Build houses with magnetic tiles

Favorite TV Show: Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

Favorite Friday night activity: Going to the movies with friends and trying the weekly Crumble after the movie

Favorite song to scream/sing in the car: "Love" by Keyshia Cole

My mother, Alek Bak, who has worked so hard in order to allow my siblings and I to pursue our dreams bigger than she could have ever imagined.

Santiago Bryce

Hometown: Dallas, TX
College: University of Notre Dame
Major: Finance

Something most people are good at that I am bad at: Dancing

Things I'm too old to do but still enjoy: Rewatching old Disney/kid movies

Favorite TV Show: Ted Lasso

Favorite Friday night activity: Hanging out with friends

Favorite song to scream/sing in the car: "Am I Wrong" by Nico & Vinz

In honor of my mom, Yvonne.

Jerry Cao-Xue

Hometown: Raleigh, NC
College: TBD
Major: TBD

Something most people are good at that I am bad at: Swimming

Things I'm too old to do but still enjoy: Playing in the snow and building a snowman

Favorite Book: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi 

Favorite Friday night activity: Texas Hold'Em

Favorite song to scream/sing in the car: "Hotel California" by the Eagles

In honor of my grandfather, whose experience with retinitis pigmentosa inspired my pursuit of medicine and innovation to fight blindness.

Ariana Chaudhary

Hometown: San Antonio, TX
College: TBD
Major: TBD

Something most people are good at that I am bad at: Opening child-proof medicine bottles

Things I'm too old to do but still enjoy: Blowing and catching bubbles

Favorite Book: Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

Favorite Friday night activity: Brewing tea, competing with my puppy for the beanbag, and bullet journaling

Favorite song to scream/sing in the car: "Folding Chairs on the Moon" by grentperez

In honor of Mr. Kenneth Van Eimeren, my Latin teacher, for constantly demonstrating how impactful genuinely caring for others can be.

Mary Ford Fitzjurls

Hometown: Saint Simons Island, GA
College: Wellesley
Major: Neuroscience with minor in Psychology

Something most people are good at that I am bad at: Everyone in my family can whistle except for me. I've been trying for ages to learn and I just can't.

Things I'm too old to do but still enjoy: When I was younger, my mom used to sit me down on the couch and pile all of the warm blankets and towels fresh from the dryer on top of me.  Even though I've pretty much grown out of it, she still does it sometimes and it reminds me of childhood.

Favorite Book: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Favorite Friday night activity: When I'm not playing football or soccer on Friday nights, I love going to dinner with my friends at our local sushi restaurant.  

Favorite song to scream/sing in the car: I am NOT good at singing, but I attempt to whenever Megan Moroney comes on - especially her song, "Bless Your Heart."

In honor of my mom, Dr. Misty Williams.

Zoe Hewitt

Hometown: Asheville, NC
College: TBD
Major: Elementary Education

Something most people are good at that I am bad at: Trying new foods

Things I'm too old to do but still enjoy: Swing on swings at the park

Favorite TV Show: Modern Family

Favorite Friday night activity: Movie and pizza night

Favorite song to scream/sing in the car: Time of Our Lives" by Pitbull

In honor of my Grandmother, Patricia Madson, who taught me that perseverance is key.

Imre Huss

Hometown: Cleveland Heights, OH
College: TBD
Major: TBD

Something most people are good at that I am bad at: Remembering to take out the garbage.

Things I'm too old to do but still enjoy: Making snow angels

Favorite TV Show: The Newsroom

Favorite Friday night activity: Playing in my indoor rec frisbee league

Favorite song to scream/sing in the car: "Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 - Title Track"

In honor of my parents, Joanna and John Huss, who taught me to fully pursue my curiosities.

Danny Jang

Hometown: Fort Lee, NJ
College: Harvard University
Major: Economics

*CAM FAM CLASS REP

Something most people are good at that I am bad at: Driving

Things I'm too old to do but still enjoy: Swinging on a swingset

Favorite TV Show: MasterChef

Favorite Friday night activity: Get a burrito from my favorite restaurant, Los Compadres, and watch a movie at home.

Favorite song to scream/sing in the car: "Nothin' on You" by B.o.B. (feat. Bruno Mars)

In honor of my Mom, Dad, & Dr. Wesley Pech

Veronica King

Hometown: Baltimore, MD
College: TBD
Major: TBD

Something most people are good at that I am bad at: I'm bad at watching a show "casually."  I either don't care at all or I'm emotionally invested like I helped write the script.

Things I'm too old to do but still enjoy: I still love coloring books, rewatching my favorite Disney movies on repeat, and getting overly excited about new school supplies.

Favorite Movie: The Princess and the Frog is my favorite comfort movie.

Favorite Friday night activity: Staying in with a cozy blanket, snacks, and being on the phone with my best friends with no plans, just decompressing from the week.

In honor of my mom, Heather, who taught me that my past shapes me but does not define me - thank you for loving me unconditionally and giving me the courage to write my own story. 

Austin Krueger

Hometown: Apex, NC
College: TBD
Major: TBD

Something most people are good at that I am bad at: My handwriting

Things I'm too old to do but still enjoy: Drinking Danimals

Favorite TV Show: The Office

Favorite Friday night activity: Watching a home football game and then going to Waffle House with my friends afterward

Favorite song to scream/sing in the car: "Oceans" by Hillsong United and Taya

In honor of my Nana (Carolyn Woodall)

Samaira Mehta

Hometown: Santa Clara, CA
College: TBD
Major: TBD

Things I'm too old to do but still enjoy: I'm "too old" to get genuinely excited about things like peeling a shiny sticker, setting up a bright, cartoonish board game, or racing friends through a playful challenge, but I still do.

I know all of the words to __ and belt it at the top of my lungs: "Middle of Starting Over" by Sabrina Carpenter

I'm no Master Chef, but I make a mean...: S'more on the kitchen stove - the perfect marshmallow-to-chocolate melt ration stays a secret!

Favorite podcast at the moment: Aspire with Emma Grede

In honor of my parents, grandparents, and younger brother, Aadit—the people who taught me radical empathy and remind me daily that impact begins with patience and love

Anna Park

Hometown: Fort Lee, NJ
College: TBD
Major: TBD

Something most people are good at that I am bad at: Spelling the most common words

Things I'm too old to do but still enjoy: Napping

Favorite Book: The Power of Regret by Daniel Pink

Favorite Friday night activity: Fast food trivia with my friends

Favorite song to scream/sing in the car: "The Night is Still Young" by Nicki Minaj

In honor of my grandma, who supports me unconditionally; without her, I wouldn't be the person I am today.

Aditya Sengupta

Hometown: Bellevue, WA
College: TBD
Major: Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence

I know all the words to __ and belt it at the top of my lungs whenever I need motivation: "We Choose to go to the Moon" speech.

My most used emoji: Because life, science and random curiosities constantly blow my mind and I am always learning new and interesting things ? 

Favorite Podcast: The OpenAI podcast - my go-to for deep, thoughtful conversations about AI research, emerging capabilities, and hte future of intelligence.

In honor of my Grandfather.  He inspires me to stay curious, work hard, and use my skills to help others.

Subha Sundaram

Hometown: Cumming, GA
College: Duke University
Major: Financial Economics and Public Policy

Something most people are good at that I am bad at: Cooking

Things I'm too old to do but still enjoy: Watching children's cartoons in the living room after school

Favorite Book: The Healing of America by T.R. Reid

Favorite Friday night activity: Playing basketball with my childhood friend group

Favorite song to scream/sing in the car: "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepson

In honor of my parents, Shalini Kannan and Kyle Sundaram, for showing me that success isn't an objective, but a byproduct of servicing our communities.

 A full list of the 2026 Finalists may be found here.