BE MORE GRANT COMPETITION

Sumedha "Sumi" Katakam is the Chief Executive Officer at ASK Solar LLC. From a young age, Sumi has been passionate about using STEM to impact people's lives positively. Sumi's love for STEM has guided her endeavors, and she now leads ASK with a strong focus on sustainability and financial efficiency. With a deep understanding of the solar industry's challenges, Sumi uses her engineering and leadership expertise to drive ASK towards a more sustainable future.

Andrew Watters received the top prize of $10,000 through the NSHSS Be More Fund Grant for his Integrated Precision Input and Accessibility Initiative (IPIAI). This project focuses on developing innovative solutions like the EZ3 trackball controller and Radial Based Texting (RBT) to improve accessibility in gaming and digital communication for individuals with disabilities.

Driven by a passion for technology and inclusivity, Andrew is dedicated to creating tools that empower users and enhance their ability to interact with digital environments. His work reflects a commitment to innovation and making technology accessible to all.

Ariyan Patel is a passionate problem-solver and visionary leader driven by a relentless desire to confront global challenges through innovation and public service. As a legislative intern at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, he works alongside Congress and top agency leaders, actively supporting transformative healthcare policy. Ariyan’s goals to address inequality with innovation are encapsulated in his startup Pathlight, an AI-powered navigation tool he and two friends are developing to empower blind individuals that have garnered attention from PennState’s LionCage, The Diamond Challenge, The Conrad and Houston Space Center, and NSHSS for its unique emphasis on social accessibility.

Ariyan’s leadership thrives in service. He is a Yale Young Global Scholar (Solving Global Challenges) and Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) alumnus. He channels his passion for volunteerism through his board position on the International Youth Advisory Board for the Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC), in which he represents over 300,000 volunteers globally. In these roles, he leverages his value of perspective and consensus to lead youth-driven initiatives that inspire collective action and foster lasting social change.

Ariyan’s experiences and positions deepen his understanding of complex international issues. They are the premise for his ambitions to one day serve in Congress, where he plans to craft policies that unite and impact worldwide.

Victor Young is a passionate high school student dedicated to solving real-world community issues. He gained invaluable insights into fire emergencies and rescue operations through interviews and site visits with numerous firefighters. Deeply concerned about the safety of firefighters, Victor developed FlameFender, an AI-powered assistant designed to be a trusted partner for professional firefighters. His innovative work reflects a strong sense of responsibility toward community safety and showcases his exceptional potential in technology and problem-solving

Rony Korab is a founding tutor and board member of Connect Me Tutoring, a nonprofit organization providing free, online tutoring to students worldwide. He is a senior at Churchill High School in Livonia, Michigan, where he serves as President of the Math National Honor Society (Mu Alpha Theta), Vice President of the National Honor Society, and an Executive Board member of the National English Honor Society.

Rony is deeply committed to both his school and community. He is a lead programmer and strategist for his school's robotics team and holds a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo. Beyond school, Rony is an active member of the Rotary Club, frequently volunteers at meal-packing events and senior homes, and continues to make education accessible through Connect Me Tutoring.

Founded in 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Connect Me Tutoring has grown into a global initiative, helping students achieve academic success through personalized, virtual tutoring. With the support of the Be More Grant, Connect Me aims to expand its mission of reaching as many students as possible, one child at a time!

Sebastian Tan is the founder and CEO of OutsideConnection, a groundbreaking platform dedicated to empowering previously incarcerated individuals by connecting them with meaningful job opportunities. Recognized as the first reentry-focused job site sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Justice, OutsideConnection has transformed the landscape of reentry support across the nation. Sebastian’s work emphasizes the importance of second chances and equity, creating pathways for reentrants to rebuild their lives and contribute to their communities. His leadership and vision have earned recognition from organizations like NASDAQ and The TODAY Show, highlighting his commitment to social impact and innovation.

Ariana Chaudhary is the founder and CEO of Access to Specialist Knowledge (ASK) a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to elevating global healthcare equity by connecting healthcare workers in over 30 clinics across South America, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa to medical specialists in the U.S. through e-consultations. With over 27,000 cases solved and medical services valued at over $2.25 million as of 2024, Ariana strives to build a world where healthcare is a basic human right, accessible to all irrespective where they live.

Through ASK, Ariana also leads preventative health and vital screenings for immigrant and low-income communities throughout Texas, has connected schools in Uganda with $43,000 worth of technology and tailored educational videos to increase rates of sustainable, healthcare careers, researches the effects of local herbal medicine on mortality rates throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, has provided guidance and distributed locations of testing sites and information from the Uganda Ministry of Health and WHO during the Ebola and COVID outbreaks, and is the editor-in-chief of a seasonal journal publication centered on science-based social issues as the president of the CDC Youth Advisory Council.

NSHSS’s $10,000 Be More Grant will enable her to sustainably launch multiple two-day health camps across the warring eastern front of the Democratic Republic of Congo, breaking through barriers to health equity and bringing care to those who need it most.

Grace C. Liu is recognized globally as a youth researcher, advocate, advisor, and changemaker for promoting STEM, gender and education equity, and sustainable development. She has successfully worked on 16 projects, published multiple peer-reviewed journal articles, and a sole-authored book, Research to Empower: A Vibrant Guidebook for Young Students, before turning 15. Grace has inspired students from over 140 countries as a highlighted speaker at prominent organizations, including the United Nations, the International Telecommunication Union, the Society of Women Engineers, TEDx, and the National Youth Leadership Council.

Grace founded Research to Empower (ReTE), a nonprofit empowering young researchers and making research education accessible and enjoyable, focusing on underrepresented students and communities.

Grace is a World Science Scholar and serves as a Youth Advisory Council Mentor of the National Youth Leadership Council, and the Technology Focal Point of the Major Group for Children and Youth (representing over 1 billion youth). An active community volunteer, Grace has received the Evan Dalgaard National Leadership Award, the Daily Point of Light Award, and the US President's Volunteer Service Gold Award. She is also the Bill of Rights Institute MyImpact Challenge 2nd Prize Winner and a Riley’s Way Call for Kindness Fellow.

Reuben, now 18, was recognized as a child prodigy by Microsoft Network in 2014 for his exceptional hacking skills at just 8 years old. Over the past decade, he has delivered over 30 keynotes on cybersecurity topics, often with live hacking demonstrations. Inspired by letters from kids worldwide eager to learn, Reuben founded CyberShaolin, a nonprofit dedicated to making cybersecurity education free and accessible. He has empowered thousands of kids and adults to navigate the digital world safely through engaging videos and hands-on labs.
In high school, Reuben combined his love for technology and innovation to create Notifeye, an AI-powered driver safety device. Leading his team to win national pitch competitions, he earned recognition as the Texas Business Hall of Fame’s 2023 Outstanding High School Entrepreneur. Now, Reuben is entering a new chapter as a freshman at the University of Texas, Austin, studying business at the McCombs School. He serves in a leadership position on the Board of a premier finance organization - the University Securities Investment Team (USIT), as the Marketing Chair. He aims to blend tech and business knowledge to fuel his future ventures.
Reuben is a former competitive gymnast and 3rd-degree Shaolin Kung Fu black belt.