2021 Scholars
Abigail Montemayor
Mentor: Panneerdos Subbarayalu, PhD
Keystone School
Abby plays club volleyball, as well as varsity volleyball with her Keystone high school team. She is active in foreign language club, dance club, and yearbook club. An active volunteer at the Food Bank, River City Church, Red Cross, and within the children’s ministry at her church. Abbey is passionate about cancer research and hopes to become a pediatric oncologist.
Anja Shakocius
Mentor: Georgianna Gould, PhD
LEE STEM Academy
Anja attends the Lee Stem Academy. She enjoys singing for her choir, is the TEAM STEM Leader, and participates in the First Robotics Competition. She has an overall passion for STEM and problem-solving with a team.
Annabel Guthrie
Mentor: Danet Bluhm, PhD, RN, MSCI, FAAN
Champion High School
Annabel demonstrates that she is a true team player by being a part of Track and Cross and Country reams, in addition to being a member of her Color Guard Team and Spirit Squad. Not only does Annabel represent her school athletically, but she also represents academically. She is HOSA. She volunteers through her youth group at church preparing food for the homeless shelters, cleaning at the Salvation Army thrift store, and serving her community specifically from stadium cleaning to helping with her area Turkey Trot.
Anona Thomas
Mentor: Gregory Collins, PhD
BASIS Shavano
Anona attends Basis Shavano and is the club media officer for Model United Nations, a member of the National Junior Honor Society, and the Committee Outreach Manager for Colors for Coats. She spends her time playing volleyball on the Junior Varsity team. Anona also works as an assistant teacher for the Vacation Bible School, has been a choir instructor for the San Antonio Marthoma Congregation, and works for Julz Financials Consulting LLC as a data entry clerk.
Anusha Soni
Mentor: Harshita Gupta, PhD
Northside Health Careers High School
Anusha is a member of the National Junior Honor Society at Northside Health Careers High School where she has volunteered at the SA Food Bank, Book Buddies Book Sorting, and been a Youth Leader with the Alamo Asian Chamber of Commerce. She placed in the top 5 in district for Science UIL, and in her free time she loves to practice Indian classical dance. As a dancer, she has performed at The Arneson’s theater, La Villita Square, Carver Community Cultural Center, Mahalakshmi Hall, and the San Antonio Public Library. She also works as an assistant dance teacher and participates in Speaking Competition Academic Decathlon and robotics.
Ava Romero
Mentor: Sherry Megerle, MSN, RN
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Ava participates in the National Junior Honor Society where she volunteers both at the Young Women’s Leadership Academy and in the greater community and Medical Club. She has participated in programs such as PREP and DukeTip where she focused on Criminology and Forensics. Ava has a love of STEM and has competed in the Alamo Regional Science and Engineering Fair in Biochemistry.
Avani Gunuganti
Mentor: Andrew Brenner, MD, PhD
St. Mary’s Hall
Avani is involved in many academic clubs and organizations, showing her passions. She serves as a member in Science Bowl, serves as the Student Council President, is a member in Junior state of America and is all on her school’s Debate Team.
Aven Martinez
Mentor: Jorge Lopera, MD
St. Philip’s Early College
Aven is president of Gamma Sigma Pearls at her school at St. Phillips Early College. She was able to get ahead in her high school program while learning valuable self motivation and time management skills by earning credits through The Middle School Partners Program. She volunteers at child care facilities where she was able to learn valuable skills important to health care providers; including patience, leadership, and teamwork. Aven hopes to enter the medical field.
Baala Shakya
Mentor: Yan Du, PhD
Northside Health Careers High School
Baala is the Head of Texas for the Book Fairies Organization which is dedicated to promoting literacy and voices, the Historian for the Health Occupations Student Association, and was a national qualifier for the Science, History, & Geography Olympiads in 2020. She is also the manager of Teen Outreach for the San Antonio Public Library, the San Antonio Executive for Knots of Love, the Treasurer of the Black Student Union at Northside Health Careers High School. Baala has a passion for Latin, social media management, and track as she competes in Shot Put & Discus on the Junior Varsity Team.
Emma Majors
Mentor: Jeremy Davis, PsyD, ABPP-CN
LEE STEM Academy
Emma is a member of the Wind Ensemble and Marching Band. Not only does she excel in the classroom, but she also excels in sports and is on the track and Varsity swim teams. Demonstrating her effort of motivation, she received the STEM Core Values Award for Leadership and Compassion.
Iman Zakaria
Mentor: Shamim Mustafa, PhD
Northside Health Careers High School
Iman spends her time as a part of the San Antonio CityWide Junior Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, competing in mathematics competitions such as Math-a-Lon and Mathcounts, and is a member of the Health Careers JV Tennis Team at Northside Health Careers High School. Iman also participates in UIL district and state-wide biology, chemistry, and physics competitions. She has also helped organize a book drive for elementary school students for the National Day of Service, has tutored young boys and girls, and volunteered at the Corazon Clinic to support people with barriers to medical care.
Lukesh Hornick
Mentor: Dimitri Ivanov, PhD
Boerne High School
Lukesh is a natural born leader and holds a magnitude of position at Boerne High School. Lukesh is the Lead for his Academic UIL team, Lead representative to his Math Honor Society, Fundraiser Committee chair for National Junior Honor Society, leadership representative for Student Council and Defensive Team captain for his football team and many more. Lukesh demonstrates his love for animals by volunteering for the Humane Society.
Lyla Arnold
Mentor: Georgianna Gould, PhD
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Lyla participates in the Audubon’s Conservation Leaders Program for Young Women and the Interact/Rotary Community Service club. Lyla is also a member of Mu Alpha Theta, the Urban Champions Academy, and the Science National Honor Society. Lyla has competed and placed at the Alamo Regional Science and Engineering Fair, as well as the Texas Science Engineering Fair.
Maria Jimenez Montilla
Mentor: Tae Joon Moon, PhD
Judson Early College Academy
Maria has a strong passion for STEM, engineering in general. This passion has led to her involvement in FTC Robotics where she can grow and build her STEM goals. Maria is a member of NHI and likes to help others by serving as a Spanish tutor.
Michael Jeffords
Mentor: Senlin Li, MD
Ronald Reagan High School
Michael is a distinguished student at his school. He has been accepted to great academic programs because of this attribute. In addition to Voelcker, he has participated in the Duke TIP program. Michael chooses to spend his time volunteering and being an active member in the cadet division of the Civil Air Patrol and National Junior Honor Society.
Niya Omiridis
Mentor: Gangadhara Sareddy, PhD
TMI The Episcopal School of Texas
Niya’s interests range from science, to sports and the arts. She is involved in a variety of different organizations at TMI, including Spanish Club, Guitar Club, Film Club and Writing Club. Niya is also a member of the track, basketball and lacrosse teams. With all of these extracurriculars, she still finds time to serve as president for her school’s NJHS chapter and MSTUCO. Niya is also an ambassador for her school and volunteers regularly at the Food Bank.
Olivia Lopez
Mentor: Darpan Patel, PhD
Great Hearts Northern Oaks
Olivia remains busy by participating in many activities at her school, church, and within her community. At school, she is in the Yearbook and Art clubs and is the Service club secretary. Olivia is also on the Varsity Track and Field team. Furthermore, she is trains in dance, ballet, hip hop and jazz styles specifically. Last, she volunteers for the Children’s Shelter, at a local dental office, the Ronald McDonald House and with Meals on Wheels.
Paulina Esquinca-Moreno
Mentor: Sarah Hopp, PhD
St. May’s Hall
Paulina is very active in many organizations at St. Mary’s Hall. She is a member of the Speech and Debate Team, Science Bowl Club, Student Equity Collection, and the LGBTQ+ Alliance Club. In addition to these organizations, Paulina is active in sports as well, playing on the Varsity Soccer, JV Volleyball and Track and Field teams.
Payton James
Mentor: Debbie Jennings, DNP, RN
East Central High School
Payton’s commitments demonstrate that she is a well-rounded scholar. She has maintained a A and B grade point average while being a member of the Health Science endorsement and National Junior Honor Society. While maintaining her grades, she is a team player of her school’s Volleyball Team and shows her passion to help others by serving her community by volunteering any way that she can.
Shahan Mohammad
Mentor: Zhenming Xu, PhD
Lady Bird Johnson High School
Shahan volunteers within San Antonio Jamatkhana and the i-CERV program. He is highly involved in various programs within the Ismaili Center. His academic experiences such as the Gifted and Talented program has allowed him to gain more experience and become exposed to new topics. Shahan enjoys working and volunteering for his community which have allowed him to gain new perspectives about the world around him.
Shelby Flores
Mentor: Nu Zhang, PhD
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Shelby donates her time by volunteering in several areas, Mission Church, CYO Athletics Organization, and COSAT Association. Shelby is an athlete, running on the Cross Country and Track and Field team at school. Furthermore, Shelby is a member of Science National Honor Society, and serves in multiple positions or roles, class representative, Student Council Executive, Medical Club personnel and Academic Decathlon Competitor.
Sophia Ramirez
Mentor: Bernard Fongang, PhD
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Sophia attends Young Women’s Leadership Academy and is a member of the National Hispanic Institute GDx Program and captain of the Texas Boom’s 15 national club volley ball team as well as the varsity volleyball team at her high school. She is also a dancer and is a part of the Ballet Folklorico de San Antonio’s Junior Performance Group. Sophia is an active member at her church where she is a member of the St. Gerard Catechism Youth Ministry and is an assistant coach for the St. Gerard’s Catholic High School Volleyball team. Sophia hopes to pursue a career in neuroscience.
William (Billy) Hoswell
Mentor: Nicole Wicha, PhD
Karen Wagner High School
Billy balances his time by participating in both Academic activities and the arts. He also enjoys partaking in community service. His commitments have included FTC Robotics, the National Junior Honor Society, and the Prefreshman Engineering Program also known as PREP.