If the children are our future, then the future’s looking bright. At least, that’s the case with Katya Simonsen, president of the junior class at Lower Cape May Regional High School. An honorstudent and three-season athlete, Katya is also an entrepreneur who sells her own paintings. It’s not just a side hustle -- it’s a business that thrusts the local community into greater identification with the power of art to connect: classmates, neighbors, even generations. Katya will take a break from dismantling millennial stereotypes to share her insights on the TEDx stage. Kids these days.
Born and living in a predominantly white town, Logan Thomas is aware of how a small difference in skin tone can grow into large misconceptions and stereotypes about race. While promoting equality throughout society, however and wherever she can, she’s on a mission to find common ground in all corners of the world. Logan embraces her culture in just about everything she does. In deconstructing how African-American music, food, style, and even physical appearance influence society, her ultimate goal is to underline the intrinsic value of black lives.
Logan is a senior at Middle Township High School. She is an active member in her school’s Key Club, Red Cross Club, Student Council, Class Office, as well as the Soccer, Basketball, and Golf teams. As a young passionate activist, she uses her platform in her community to illustrate racial equality and recognize how African-Americans are a powerful force that cannot be devalued. She is also an active member in Jack & Jill of America, Inc., a family organization dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development and volunteer service. She aspires to study aerospace engineering and pursue a career in the commercial space field.
Sofia Graziano is a senior at Absegami High School in Galloway, New Jersey, who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Astrophysics. Sofia founded a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Outreach Program at her high school that conducts science demonstrations and experiments for students in the community and the Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City. She completed a Texas Space Grant Consortium NASA Internship this summer and is currently a New Jersey Governor’s STEM Scholar. Most recently, she was selected as a Student Ambassador for a new documentary television series called Back to Space, whose mission is to rejuvenate interest in space exploration and make STEM a part of pop culture. Sofia’s TEDx talk is about how to ignite STEM curiosity in kids of all ages and backgrounds. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist; you just need to be willing to make science rock!
Sanjana Buddi is a senior at Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, NJ. Other than her involvement with the non-profit PUREYouth, Sanjana is a varsity tennis player, plays double bass, volunteers at RWJ hospital, and is a Girl Scout working on her gold award, so volunteering has always been a part of her life. With the assistance of PURE, Sanjana is able to work with schools all over the world in makings sure that they get the assistance that they need. About two years ago, Sanjana and her mom started a branch and through this, she has spent countless hours fundraising and spreading awareness for schools in many countries, including rural schools in south India and inner-city schools in North America.
After funding and witnessing the success of various dining halls, online facilities, libraries, and other supplies, it inspired her. How could a small group of teenagers in New Jersey change the lives of countless others? While working with PURE, she understood the true power of the youth and how, yes, we can change the world despite what we have been told.