18 Under 18 2026
B&NC highlights fascinating people and the stories that make this community so interesting all year long... But 18 Under 18 remains one of the magazine’s favorite projects because it shines a light on the next generation of standout people in the community.
Each year, the feature introduces young people who are already doing remarkable things; excelling, creating, competing, leading, building, advocating, and fi nding ways to make a difference well beyond what anyone might expect at their age. These are kids who have found a passion, pursued it with unusual determination, and begun carving out paths distinctly their own.
Borrowing a line from a former B&NC cover star, what is so exciting about these young people is that the rest is still unwritten...
Meet the 2026 Bedford & New Canaan Magazine 18 Under 18
[NOTE: ORDER IS RANDOM]
1. Tabitha Dyal | 2. Arabella Lopez | 3. Luke Riley | 4. Brynn Forlizzi | 5. Lucas Pignotti
6. Mateo Gupta | 7. Ellie Wanicur | 8. Adrian Choi | 9. Blake DeRiso | 10. Ava Oliva
11. Nate Zipper | 12. Eva Alexander | 13. Claire Aharon | 14. Kevin O’Donnell
15. Emily Bigman | 16. Timmy Hall | 17. Hayden Vogel | 18. JJ Robotics Team
1. Tabitha Dyal
Age: 10 | Hometown: Bedford | Grade: 5th
School: Rippowam Cisqua from Greenwich County Day School
PHOTOGRAPHY: CINDI WEIST
At just 10 years old, Tabitha is already competing, and winning, against some of the fastest barrel racers in the country, and is one of the sport’s biggest stars! At the 2024 Women’s Professional Rodeo Association World Finals in Waco, Texas, Tabitha won both rounds of the Junior competition aboard ‘Latte Ditto’ to capture the Junior Championship. In 2025, the Bedford cowgirl finished the year ranked #1 in EquiStat’s Top-Speed Division for the entire Atlantic States Region, with more than $74,000 in recorded winnings - over five times that of the second-place rider. This year, after placing fourth in the Regional Finals, Tabitha has earned a spot to compete against some of the sport’s top professionals for a shot at a $2 million purse at one of barrel racing’s marquee events, The American Rodeo - the youngest person ever to qualify!
Barrel racing is the equestrian world at full throttle. Horse and rider race around three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern, executing incredibly tight turns while trying to shave fractions of a second from the clock. “There’s nothing like running a horse full speed toward a barrel, making that turn as tight as you can, and taking off for the next one,” Tabitha declares. “I just feel so free! You blink, and then it’s over.”
“I like that it takes more than just winning one race to win everything - that it takes winning over-and-over to grab a Championship,” Tabitha explains. “Sometimes you have a really good race and sometimes you don’t. Arena conditions change, horses have good and bad days, and races can be decided by fractions of a second. My job is to just be ready for all of it.”
Tabitha travels all over the country throughout the year to train and compete, and spent this past summer living in Montana. “I want to become the best at the sport that I can be… which means I want to keep competing and keep getting faster!”
2. Arabella Lopez
Age: 16 | Hometown: Ridgefield | Grade: 12th
School: Golf Performance Academy
Arabella Lopez is making history on the golf course!
A longtime student athlete at Ridgefield’s Golf Performance Center, Arabella has represented Puerto Rico in international competition and is committed to play Division I golf at Georgia Southern.
She first picked-up a golf club at age 4, inspired by her dad, and the sport quickly became a serious pursuit. As her talent became apparent, she began training at The Golf Performance Center in Ridgefield, a high-performance program for competitive golfers, working with coaches to hone the technical, physical, and mental aspects of her game. Redding Country Club became Arabella’s home course when she was 8, and she says “The members have been so supportive throughout my junior golf career, and access to the Club has been a big part of the development of my game.”
By age 12, Arabella was already the New England Girls’ Junior Amateur Champion! A year later, she captured her first American Junior Golf Association title at Bethpage, shooting a final- round 68 to defeat an international field. At age 13, Arabella became the youngest player to win the Connecticut Women’s Amateur in the tournament’s 60-year history, at age 13.
As a freshman at Ridgefield High School, Arabella won the FCIAC Individual Championship with a 72 and earned All-State Recognition. As golf became increasingly central to her future, Arabella relocated to Golf Performance Academy’s Florida campus, where her education is structured around the level of intensive training and competition her game demands. “A typical weekday begins with a 5:30 a.m. workout, followed by school from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and then training for the rest of the day,” Arabella reports.
Arabella represented Puerto Rico at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay, where she competed against young golfers from across the Americas. Her international schedule has also taken her to the Dominican Republic and Bahamas, while the elite national junior circuit regularly brings her up against many of the country’s best young golfers.
In early 2026, Arabella finished tied for Fifth at the AJGA Discover Puerto Rico Junior Championship, and then placed 13th at the Junior Orange Bowl International Championship.
“I’ve found something that I can compete with myself at, rather than against someone else,” she says. “That really helps me stay motivated, stay disciplined, and keep striving for greatness. I definitely intend to turn pro. I want to take my game as far as it can go.”
3. Luke Riley
Age: 17 | Hometown: New Canaan | Grade: 12th |
School: St. Luke’s
Luke Riley found a way to combine two of the things that have defined his high school career: tennis and environmental service.
Luke is the Captain of St. Luke’s Varsity Tennis Team and has played on the Varsity squad since his freshman year. Last year, he was a key player in helping the Team to win the 2025 New England Small- School Championship.
“I began noticing just how many tennis balls were getting thrown away after games and practices…and I’m incredibly passionate about the environment! …I did some research and found that an estimated 125,000,000 tennis balls are discarded in the U.S. each year, creating some 20,000 tons of waste - and their rubber construction means they can take centuries to decompose!”
Luke partnered with RecycleBalls, a national non-profit that collects used tennis balls and processes them at a specialized facility in West Virginia. RecycleBalls grinds-down the discarded balls and repurposes them into material that can be used for tennis court surfaces and other rubber products. …And, over the past year, Luke has built a local recycling operation that collects used tennis balls from clubs and organizations around Westchester and Fairfield Counties, keeping tens of thousands of balls out of landfills -with a goal of reaching 100,000 recycled balls before he heads to college! He collects the discarded balls himself, sorts and packages them, and ships them off for recycling.
“Seeing all of this material get put to a better use than just sitting in a landfill is amazing,” Luke said. “It feels good every time I send one of those boxes full of balls off to be repurposed!”
Luke’s environmental interests are part of a much broader commitment to service. A longtime Boy Scout, he has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, the organization’s highest distinction, and now helps lead younger Scouts, carrying forward lessons in conservation, community service, and leaving the outdoors better than you found it.
Luke also serves on the New Canaan Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Board, where local teens help evaluate community needs and direct charitable funding, volunteers with the Mather Homestead and his church, and participates in Full Court Peace, a nonprofit that uses basketball to bring communities together. Luke has traveled with Full Court Peace on service trips around the country, helping to renovate and rebuild basketball courts in under-resourced communities.
4. Brynn Forlizzi
Age: 18 | Hometown: Darien | Grade: 12th |
School: Greenwich Country Day School
Brynn Forlizzi is a two-time cancer survivor who has turned overcoming her own adversity into a remarkable effort to make the experience easier for other patients. Diagnosed with Germ Cell Ovarian Cancer at 15, Brynn underwent surgeries and chemotherapy while navigating high school, only to face a second round in her junior year. Today, Brynn is cancer-free and has emerged as a powerful advocate for pediatric cancer patients, helping raise thousands of dollars for care, and co-founding a health-tech app designed around addressing challenges she experienced firsthand as a patient. “I want to do everything I can to make the experience easier for the next patient,” she says.
Soothe Note is the free app Brynn co-founded with fellow high school student Teddy Aaron, who brought his own experience as a caregiver to the project. The idea grew from a problem they had both experienced: patients and families are expected to keep track of an enormous amount of information between doctor’s appointments, often while physically and emotionally exhausted. Soothe Note gives patients one place to record symptoms, medications, appointments, mood, energy, share selected updates with caregivers, and generate summaries for medical visits. “It’s nice to have some control over your own journey in this very uncontrollable experience,” she says.
Since launching in March 2026, Soothe Note has attracted national attention, with coverage by CURE Magazine, News 12, CT Insider, WTNH, FOX5, Yahoo News, and television stations around the country. And the app is only one way Brynn has transformed her experience into action. She serves as an ambassador for Hope & Heroes, supporting pediatric cancer patients and their families, and has represented the organization publicly, including being honored on the field at Yankee Stadium as NYCFC’s ‘Community Kickoff Kid’ during its Kick Childhood Cancer campaign. She also just appeared in a spot on the charity that aired during the U.S. Open on ESPN.
At Greenwich Country Day School, she founded Cards of Courage, which creates cards for children undergoing treatment and, through school fundraisers, in the past year raised more than $12,000 for Hope & Heroes.
Yet, Brynn has not allowed cancer to define her. At Greenwich Country Day School, she is Class Vice President and Captain of the Varsity Tennis Team, competing in Singles and Doubles. She is also a longtime competitive Equestrian, competing in Hunter and Equitation Divisions at major regional horse shows, in addition to balancing academics, advocacy, and public speaking.
5. Lucas Pignotti
Age: 17 | Hometown: Pound Ridge | Grade: 12th |
School: King School
Lucas Pignotti Phillips has been dancing for more than a decade, earning national recognition along the way, and developing his talents from competitive dance into acting, singing, choreography, and musical theater. Born in England and raised in the Czech Republic, Lucas began ballet at the First International Ballet School in Prague at just 6 years old. After his family moved to New York two years later, he continued at Westchester Dance Academy, where he began competing nationally, and distinguished himself in ballet, jazz, contemporary, and contemporary dance. At age 13, Lucas moved his training to Kanyok Arts Initiative in Manhattan, a pre-professional program where his focus expanded to encompass the three disciplines at the heart of musical theater: dancing, acting, and singing.
Lucas was twice named a Top Junior Male Best Dancer at The Dance Awards. And moving into the older Teen division, Lucas earned another Top Best Dancer distinction in 2023. “Dance fuels musical theater,” Lucas explains. “I love dancing, but because of that, I love storytelling. And that brought me into acting and into singing.”
This past year, Lucas took that passion behind the scenes when he co-choreographed a King School theater production, using nearly a decade of training to help his classmates become more confident performers. “I got to teach them some of the things I’ve learned along the way and remind myself of some important lessons,” he says. “It’s not about the steps…it’s about the performance and what you’re telling the audience.”
Lucas maintains his training alongside a rigorous workload at King. In addition to traveling into Manhattan four or five days each week for dance, he studies voice, piano, and violin - and continues to compete in dance with the New York City Dance Alliance and Onstage New York.
But some of Lucas’s most meaningful work happens far from the stage. After studying global migration in AP World History, he began leading a King club that works directly with Jewish Family Services of Greenwich to support local immigrants and refugees. For Lucas, who moved to the United States from Prague as a child himself, the mission became personal. He has since spearheaded an initiative pairing King students with newly immigrated children, helping them explore sports, instruments, books, movies, and other interests as they adjust to a new home. Lucas says, “I hope to help give these children the same opportunities I had, and the freedom and encouragement to discover what they love!”
6. Mateo Gupta
Age: 16 | Hometown: Ridgefield | Grade: 11th |
School: King School
Mateo Gupta is quickly establishing himself as one of the area’s most promising young soccer players. King School’s Varsity Goalkeeper since freshman year, Mateo earned All-State Honorable Mention as a sophomore, takes the field this fall as Team Captain, and last summer was invited to train with theYouth Academy at Atlético Madrid, one of Spain’s most successful professional soccer clubs.
“My family is from Spain, my cousin is a professional Spanish footballer, and my older brother played soccer when I was growing up. Soccer has been part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Mateo says. “We grew up spending summers visiting family in Spain and playing with older relatives and their friends and just really immersing ourselves in a culture where fútbol is practically a way of life. I’ve always had soccer in my heart!”
Mateo earned King’s #1 Goalkeeper spot as a freshman and has since established himself as one of the program’s leading players. As a sophomore, he earned All-State Honorable Mention, becoming the only sophomore Goalkeeper since 2009 to receive the distinction, along with honors from the Connecticut High School Coaches Association and Fairchester Athletic Association.
And Mateo’s development extends far beyond the high school season. He competes in the club soccer system, including with AC Connecticut, and this summer traveled to Spain for an extraordinary stretch of international training and competition. Mateo was invited to train with Atlético Madrid’s Youth Academy, part of the development system that identifies and prepares young players for the highest levels of professional soccer, making the opportunity particularly significant for an American high school player. He was also selected for the GSS Goalkeeper Academy in Madrid, a specialized program dedicated to developing high- level Goalkeepers, before competing in the Donosti Cup on a team combining Spanish and American players and facing older competition.
“As Goalkeeper, you see the whole field and you’re the last line of defense,” Mateo says. “There’s a lot of pressure, but I love having that responsibility. When the game is on the line, I want to be the person my team can count on!”
Mateo spent his early school years at Ridgefield Academy before moving to King, where he balances a demanding academic schedule with athletics. In addition to Captaining the Soccer Team, he plays on King’s Varsity Golf Team. “I think the high-achieving attitude at King pushes me to always do more,” Mateo says.
And, outside of sports and school, Mateo is currently training as an EMT at Norwalk Hospital. “I actually have seen a really unexpected connection between that work and my position as a Goalkeeper. Both require the skill of keeping calm under pressure, and taking on a proactive role. It’s something I’ve really enjoyed.”
7. Ellie Wanicur
Age: 12 | Hometown: Ridgefield | Grade: 7th |
School: Scotts Ridge Middle School
Ellie Wanicur is building an acting career that already spans stage and screen. The Ridgefield seventh-grader has performed in professional regional theater, appeared on TV shows, worked on a short film, sung the National Anthem at Camden Yards, and taken on leading roles from Peter Pan to Matilda.
Ellie’s fascination with theater began with Frozen after seeing the musical on Broadwayy as a little girl. She developed her skills through vocal training and classes in tap, jazz, and ballet, along with A.C.T. of CT’s Summer Star Showcase, an immersive program where young performers train in musical theater and work toward a fully staged production. …And, this past year, Ellie got to play Young Elsa in A.C.T. of Connecticut’s professional production of Frozen - bringing Ellie’s budding brilliance full-circle. “It was a dream come true!” Ellie declares.
Ellie’s stage credits include: Matilda in Matilda Jr., Gretl in The Sound of Music, Grace Farrell in Annie Jr., Peter Pan in Peter Pan Jr., and playing Small Alison in Fun Home at the Carriage House in Norwalk - which earned her a CT BroadwayWorld nomination for Best Performer in a Non-Professional Musical. In 2022, she was one of three A.C.T. Youth Conservatory students featured in the Theater’s professional production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
“Ever since performing in the Summer Stars Showcase in 2021, A.C.T. of CT has become a home for me,” Ellie says. “Every time I walk into the theater for a rehearsal or a show…I feel like myself!”
And Ellie has already ventured beyond the theater. She’s appeared on Saturday Night Live and Sesame Street and worked on a short film/Xfinity commercial directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the Academy Award-winning filmmaker behind The Hurt Locker. She has also done voiceover work, and performed the National Anthem at Camden Yards before a Baltimore Orioles game.
“For me, performing is about transforming what’s written on a page into something an audience can experience. I love the hours of rehearsing, developing a character, and working with a cast. The excitement of arriving at opening night is like nothing else!”
Her dream roles are: Angelica or Eliza in Hamilton, Anne Boleyn in Six, and just about anyone in Wicked. For now, Ellie continues training in acting, singing and dance. In her downtime, Ellie enjoys playing tennis and reading.
8. Adrian Choi
Age: 10 | Hometown: Bedford | Grade: 5th |
School: The Hawthorn School
Adrian Choi is already a serious name to watch in Junior Tennis. The Bedford fifth-grader competes on the national circuit, frequently playing-up against some of the country’s best 12-and-under players, and having already competed in a USTA Level 1 tournament - the highest tier of national junior competition.
Adrian trains up to five days a week with Tennis Innovators Academy in White Plains, and regularly travels around the country for tournaments. In 2025, he won the Boys’ 9’s Singles title at the Little Mo North Regionals, part of a prestigious junior tournament series whose alumni include Coco Gauff, Madison Keys, Taylor Fritz, and Leylah Fernandez. That regional victory advanced Adrian to Little Mo’s National competition in Texas. He later capped the year at the series’ International competition in Florida, placing Second against top young players from across the U.S. and around the World.
At only 10, he competes in Boys’ 12-and-under USTA tournaments, including the Level 1 Brewer Team Cup in Tucson, Arizona. This year, he also traveled to Texas for Little Mo’s 2026 Southern Regionals, where he finished Second. Overall, Adrian currently ranks among the Top 50 Boys’ 12-and-Under players in New York State. Between five-day-a-week training, national travel, and increasingly competitive tournaments, Adrian is already testing himself against players older, bigger, and more experienced than he is…and proving he belongs on the same court!
Primarily a Singles player, Adrian loves the individuality of tennis, “It’s all up to me. Win or lose, it’s my game,” he says. While he’s soft- spoken off the court, Adrian is fiercely driven once a match begins. “I like the challenge of having to prove myself every time I step onto the court.” …And, Adrian loves the sport so much, he spends his free time on the court assisting coaches and helping other players.
Adrian is also a puzzle-lover who can solve a Rubik’s Cube in under a minute, and a chess player. He’s also a budding poet - in 2024, he won his age division in the Bedford Library Poetry Contest. And for a kid whose competitive schedule takes him around the country, some of his favorite downtime is considerably simpler: fishing with his family and, especially, catching frogs.
A Hawthorn student since first grade, Adrian is avidly engaged in his classes and particularly enjoys art, with painting among his favorite units. He also reads Latin, Korean, and Hebrew.
9. Blake DeRiso
Age: 17 | Hometown: Darien | Grade: 12th |
School: Darien High School
Giving back has become a defining part of Blake DeRiso’s high school experience. The Darien senior has devoted much of his time outside the classroom to helping people facing food insecurity, volunteering through his church and local organizations, and finding ways to get other young people involved along the way. “It’s always been really important to me to know that others around me are O.K.!” Blake says. And perhaps the biggest manifestation of that commitment has been the ambitious project of turning September 11 into a school-wide day of service at Darien High School.
For Blake, the project has a deeply personal connection. His father was in the second World Trade Center tower on 9/11/2001 and survived the attacks…but lost friends and colleagues. Growing up with that history, Blake wanted his classmates to recognize September 11 not only as a day to remember those who were lost, but as an opportunity to do something meaningful for others.
Blake has found a way to do that through 9/11 Day, part of a national campaign dedicated to transforming the anniversary into a day of service. Blake became the self-appointed liaison between the official organization and Darien High School, developing plans, applying for grant funding, coordinating logistics, and organizing a school-wide meal-packing event that will take place for the first time this September. 1,400 students will come together to pack about 100,000 meals for people facing food insecurity on this year’s 25th anniversary of 9/11. “My goal is for this to become an institution at Darien High School so that it long-outlives my time at the school. It’s part of a massive national effort that brings tens of thousands of volunteers together each September to pack millions of meals for local food banks. There seems like no better way to ensure that people in my generation, born after 9/11, understand the significance, and honor all the people lost in a way that makes a difference,” Blake shares.
Blake also volunteers with New Covenant Center and mobile food pantries, distributing food to people in need, and serves as a youth ambassador for Food Rescue US, helping encourage local businesses and community members to support food- rescue and distribution efforts, recovering surplus food from businesses and delivering it to organizations serving people facing food insecurity.
Blake is also a youth leader at St. Thomas More Church, where he helps organize other young people around volunteer projects. “I have a larger goal of getting more people my age involved in giving back,” Blake says.
At Darien High School, Blake belongs to multiple academic honor societies and serves as Vice President of the French Honor Society. He’s also a Varsity Hockey player and will serve as Captain of the Darien Varsity Hockey Team this winter.
10. Ava Oliva
Age: 14 | Hometown: Pound Ridge | Grade: 9th |
School: Fox Lane High School
Ava Oliva is making a name for herself in not one, but two of the most competitive youth sports in the Northeast. At 14, the Pound Ridge freshman has competed at the USA Hockey National Championships, advanced through multiple rounds of USA Hockey’s player-development tryouts, and plays for Prime Time 2030 Navy, one of the Top 10 girls lacrosse teams in the country… all after making Varsity Hockey as a seventh grader and Varsity Lacrosse as an eighth grader at Fox Lane!
Ava started hockey at 10, with the Bedford Bears, a co-ed program where she was often one of the only girls on the ice. She made the B Team her first year and quickly progressed to the tournament-bound team, playing alongside and against boys through age 13, and learning to handle an increasingly fast and physical game.
By seventh grade, Ava was already playing Varsity Girls Hockey with the Avalanche. Last season, she joined the Mid-Fairfield Stars Tier I team, helping them advance all the way to the USA Hockey National Championships. At the same time, she dual-rostered with the Express Tier II Boys Team, competing in both girls and boys hockey during the same season.
“I’ve always liked playing against people who are faster or stronger than I am because it forces me to get better,” Ava says. “I don’t really think about being younger or being one of the only girls out there. Once the game starts, I just want to compete.”
Ava’s performance has also earned attention through USA Hockey’s player-development system. After earning a place at a USA Hockey development camp through tryouts, she advanced to a second callback this year. And, this season, she’ll move up to play 16U with the Mid-Fairfield Stars.
Her rise in lacrosse has been equally impressive… Ava started playing with Fox Lane Youth Lacrosse in fourth grade before her coaches encouraged her to try out for Prime Time Lacrosse, a competitive travel program that competes against top clubs from around the country. Ava made Prime Time’s second team on her first try and soon advanced to its top team, Prime Time 2030 Navy, where she still plays today - and the team is currently ranked among the Top 10 girls lacrosse teams in the country for the Class of 2030.
Ava’s performance has also earned her opportunities beyond her regular Prime Time team. For two years in a row, she has been selected through tryouts as one of the standout players in her age group to represent the New York Downstate region at American Select, where regional all-star teams from across the country compete against one another. She has also been selected for Excelsior, a similar program that brings together top players from across New York State for high-level competition.
And just as she did in hockey, Ava began playing high school lacrosse ahead of schedule: JV as a seventh grader and Varsity as an eighth grader, playing defense against athletes several years older than she was. “I love being challenged. Whether it’s hockey or lacrosse, I always want to play against the best competition I can.”
Managing two demanding sports hasn’t come at the expense of school. Ava maintains straight A’s while managing her practice and competition schedules. When she isn’t at a rink or lacrosse field, she’s often practicing shots or working through fitness drills at home.
And Ava still finds time for life outside athletics. She plays guitar, and volunteers with Best Buddies, building friendships with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
11. Nate Zipper
Age: 16 | Hometown: Armonk | Grade: 11th |
School: Byram Hills High School
Nate first became serious about photography as a freshman at Byram Hills, shooting pictures on his phone - and discovering that he had an unusual eye for finding something interesting in otherwise ordinary moments. “Three of those early iPhone shots earned recognition in the prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing Awards,” Nate shares. “That’s when I got my camera! I use a Sony a7 V.”
Nate has developed a remarkable body of work spanning street photography, portraits, sports, landscapes and wildlife. “I’ve found that photography is really all about how you see things…and I guess I see things differently than most people, or at least I think I see the beauty in ordinary things,” Nate shares.
At Byram Hills, Nate has become something of an unofficial documentarian of school life. He’s frequently on the sidelines photographing Bobcats athletics, and creates sports highlight videos. He’s involved with Film Club, Yearbook and Media Club, and was inducted into the National Art Honor Society in 2026.
Last spring, while still a sophomore, Nate entered 12 photographs in the 2026 regional Scholastic competition, and all 12 won awards. Six received Gold Keys, four received Silver Keys, and two received Honorable Mentions. His Gold Key works then advanced to national judging, where his photograph Canvas of Pain earned a National Gold Medal, making Nate the first student in Byram Hills history to win a National Scholastic Art Award.
Nate’s work is already beginning to reach audiences beyond the world of student art. His photograph Rest Stop was selected for Black Box Gallery’s 2026 Vision: Color Photography exhibition, where his work appeared alongside professional photographers and artists. He was also selected as a featured visual artist in the June 2026 issue of Beyond Words Magazine, an international literary and visual arts publication.
Over the past year, Nate has built a freelance photography business, shooting everything from concerts and sporting events to baby showers and bar and bat mitzvahs. He’s also expanding into filmmaking and directing, creating short films with friends and family and learning to work across professional cameras, drones, microphones and other production equipment.
And Nate isn’t always behind the camera…he also runs on Byram Hills’ Varsity Track Team and cheers on the Varsity Cheerleading Team, while also training in all-star cheer at Rise Athletics.
12. Eva Alexander
Age: 17 | Hometown: New Canaan | Grade: 12th |
School: New Canaan High School
For Eva Alexander, seeing hundreds of fireflies illuminate a New Canaan preserve didn’t simply make for a beautiful summer night… it sparked a scientific pursuit. What began during a summer internship with the New Canaan Land Trust has developed into years of environmental research spanning firefly conservation, marine science, air pollution, and public health. “I learned that fireflies can serve as indicators of an ecosystem’s health, and I wanted to know more. I reached out to firefly experts at Tufts University, and then pursued summer research at Brown University - studying the species that’s found right here in New Canaan,” Eva shares.
Eva has gone on to organize field observations at the Firefly Sanctuary to document different species and their distinctive flash patterns with the goal of contributing data to the Firefly Atlas, a North American conservation initiative that tracks firefly populations and helps identify species in need of protection. Her expertise has also made Eva one of the New Canaan Land Trust’s youngest guides at the Calhoun Preserve, where she shares what she’s learned about the tiny but mighty creatures.
Eva has also participated in research at Hofstra University involving cell-phone radiation and air pollution and worked with SoundWaters to study marine science, including disease in oysters and their important role in the Long Island Sound ecosystem. And Eva now serves as Co-President of the Planet New Canaan Youth Board, helping lead local sustainability initiatives including community cleanups and recycling efforts. “I’m particularly focused on the environment,” Eva says.
This year, after her father’s battle with cancer, Eva joined fellow NCHS students to lead New Canaan for a Cure, a seven-week campaign that raised $40,000 for blood-cancer research and patient support. She’s also an accomplished singer and musician, participating in choir and a cappella at NCHS, and serving as President of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Most notably, Eva earned the opportunity to perform a solo at Carnegie Hall during a performance with the Madrigal Ensemble, where she performed Tsela Moya. She also composes her own music and harmonies and plays on the NCHS Varsity Field Hockey Team.
13. Claire Aharon
Age: 14 | Hometown: Ridgefield | Grade: 9th |
School: Ridgefield High School
Claire Aharon is the Founder of Rock Bottom Rescue, an organization she leads that’s dedicated to saving the lives of stray dogs and cats and placing them into loving homes.
“My family does a lot of travel, this summer we spent about a month in India. Through our travels I’ve seen many stray animals being neglected, abused, or in dire need of care. One dog in Puerto Rico was the tipping point. After meeting Milo, a pitbull- mix forced into dogfighting, I decided I would do what I could to save him and others like him.” Claire shares, “Milo is now happily adopted!”
Officially started in April 2025, Rock Bottom Rescue works with animal rescue organizations in multiple different countries, to take-in and care for animals before organizing their transportation, interim care, and eventual adoption. Claire personally takes on a majority of the outreach work, speaking at her school’s concerts and sporting events, and hosting annual adoption events in Ridgefield.
Not only is Rock Bottom Rescue a certified public charity in Connecticut, but they have also partnered with the National Charity League to encourage teens and youths to volunteer, and become part of the rescue effort. “I’m proud to say that Rock Bottom Rescue has been directly responsible for almost 60 dogs and cats being rescued and adopted in the past year!” Claire reports. This year, Claire was awarded the Western Connecticut Superintendent’s award for excellent grades and community service.
Above all, Claire’s favorite part about animal rescue is getting to know each and every dog, learning their personalities and quirks, and eventually helping them join caring families. Claire and her family have four dogs of their own, all rescued from other countries, including Pipa, Lola, Frankie, and Raven.
“My goal now is to save and rehome at least 200 animals by 2030!”
14. Kevin O’Donnell
Age: 16 | Hometown: Katonah | Grade: 11th |
School: John Jay High School
Inspired by his passion for neuroscience and psychology, Kevin O’Donnell has become devoted to mental health advocacy. The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester has been Kevin’s home away from home since he joined its prestigious Marlins Swim Team at age five. As he grew up at the Club, he wanted to find new ways to get involved and give back. “I already spent so much time there, I figured I could bring my skills to bear on making the Club an even better place,” Kevin resolved. Kevin joined the Wellness Team, and works with other student tutors and the on-site mental health clinicians to support and aid younger children with play therapy and group activities. “Giving back to a community that has been so formative for me has been really rewarding,” Kevin says.
This year, Kevin was named a Youth of the Year Finalist by the Boys & Girls Club and is also a Counselor for the Student Leadership Program, and was recently invited as part of a select group of students from the Club to speak with New York State legislators in Albany about funding for mental health programs. The group of students secured a grant towards nutritional services and preventative mental health care for $1.5 million to be directed towards Boys & Girls Clubs statewide. “We chose one person to stand up to make the pitch for securing a half- a-million dollars towards a free mental health program for young people at B&GC in New York State…and it was Kevin. He had half the room of adults in government in tears, and was instrumental to the passage of the legislation that has funded this crucial program,” says Alyzza Ozer, the CEO of the B&GC of Northern Westchester.
Combining his passion for young people’s mental health with his own love of gardening, Kevin gave a presentation for a local elementary school’s fifth grade class about a specific gardening technique called native seed sowing. “Gardening has been a really healthy outlet that I’ve found, and sharing that respite with young kids was a treat,” Kevin smiles.
Kevin also won the Westchester Burke Brain Bee in 2026, an annual regional neuroscience competition for high school students that tests their knowledge of the brain and nervous system - all in order to inspire interest in neurology and biomedical research.
Kevin continues to swim with the Marlins, and also swims on the John Jay Varsity Swim Team, and was a Lifeguarded this summer at the Katonah pool and at the Boys & Girls Club.
15. Emily Bigman
Age: 15 | Hometown: Katonah | Grade: 11th |
School: Harvey School
Emily Bigman is always looking for a laugh! Whether it’s writing her own comedy sketches, practicing improv, acting, or performing in New York City…comedy and humor have always been paramount. “My family is always cracking jokes and making fun of each other… but always in a friendly way,” Emily smiles.
After discovering the hilarious practice of sketch and improv comedy in middle school, Emily dove headfirst into performances and started training in New York City with the Fair Playhouse Egg Salad sketch comedy troupe - a collection of a dozen teens who write and perform their own original work. “We perform at the People’s Improv Theater in Manhattan. It’s a smaller audience, but it’s really nice to be that close to an audience and really immersed,” Emily shares. “It felt really powerful to be able to write and perform those sketches.” …And the experience inspired Emily to expand her writing repertoire by taking English and Creative Writing electives at the Harvey School, including a playwriting class this year. “I feel like Harvey’s flexible curriculum and numerous electives, allows me the opportunity to flourish and to excel in my areas of interest - without feeling too overwhelmed by the workload,” Emily shares.
This fall Emily will join the famed Second City comedy center’s teen ensemble and study comedy writing at The Upright Citizens Brigade in Union Square. And, although comedy is her favorite genre, Emily also acts in plays and musicals and regularly performs in Harvey’s school productions. She intends to audition for Harvey’s production of Spongebob Squarepants the Musical later this year. “I feel like it’s good to be well-rounded…even though I really have a soft spot for comedy.”
During the summer, Emily works as a junior counselor at Brown Ledge Camp in Vermont, where she mentors younger campers while also practicing her own writing and acting. Emily intends to pursue a liberal arts education with concentrations in English, Creative Writing, and Theater. More than anything, she hopes to always be able to use her creative humor and wit to make light of any bad situation. “The world needs a laugh,” Emily says simply. “I’m happy to try to make it happen!”
16. Timmy Hall
Age: 17 | Hometown: Bedford | Grade: 12th |
School: Brunswick School
Timmy Hall is addicted to fast-paced action- packed sports! Both of Timmy’s parents were lacrosse players, and Timmy started in just first grade, kicking off his lacrosse career as an Offensive player. He continued this role on recreational and club teams until 5th or 6th grade when he switched to Defense. “Shifting from Offense to Defense completely changed my game,” Timmy says, “in my position as Longstick Midfielder it’s beneficial to have both perspectives.”
Timmy plays on Brunswick School’s Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse Team - a highly acclaimed high school lacrosse program that finished the 2026 season ranked No. 1 in the country by USA Lacrosse, going 17–3, and winning the 2026 Prep National Championship. The team has placed in the top four of the New England West 1 Conference for each year of Timmy’s high school career, and Timmy has been a pivotal member of the Team. “He’s 6’2’’, competitive, resilient, and disciplined, and has been a key to the squad’s success this year,” Head Lacrosse Coach David Bruce reports. “I first met Hall when he came to Brunswick as a rising ninth grade student. What was true then remains true now: he is a great teammate who gets along with everyone and is also willing to grind it out and put in the work on the field. He has been a big part of the Bruins’ highly successful season.”
“Seven games this year were decided by only one goal, and Brunswick won six of those,” Timmy shared. “I feel lucky to play with such talented teammates and amazing coaches!” Also a standout student, Timmy was scouted by several top-tier colleges, and verbally committed at the start of his junior year to Johns Hopkins, and is excited to be a future member of their D1 Lacrosse Team. “I’m really excited to continue playing in college… but for right now, I’m focused on this upcoming spring season. As one of the senior captains on the team, I hope that our spring season will be just as great as the last one!”
Timmy plays a prominent role in Brunswick’s school community as a student, peer, and mentor. At Brunswick Timmy helps lead the ‘St. Jude’s Club’, raising money for children’s cancer organizations, and is a member of the ‘One Love Club’, which promotes positive and healthy relationships. And, this year, Timmy has been selected as a ‘Vermont Leader’ - an honor bestowed by Brunswick denoting that Timmy will be one of a handful of students selected and trained to mentor his younger schoolmates on their week-long trek up to Brunswick’s Vermont Campus for outdoor education, self-reflection, and connection. “I’m very grateful to be part of the amazing community at Brunswick!”
17. Hayden Vogel
Age: 17 | Hometown: Bedford | Grade: 11th |
School: St Luke’s
For Hayden, leadership is about standing-up for others. Whether she’s on the volleyball court, representing her classmates, confronting hate speech, or advocating for students with learning differences, Hayden has developed a consistent instinct to use her position to make things better for others. “To me, leadership is about looking out for other people. If I’m in a position where I can speak up for someone, protect someone, or help make sure they’re heard, I feel like it’s my responsibility to do that.”
At St. Luke’s, Hayden has served as her Class Representative for the past three years, acting as a liaison between students and administrators. “I like getting to know and being connected with all the other students, and I feel energized when I’m speaking up for others,” she says.
That instinct became particularly important through Hayden’s involvement with St. Luke’s Jewish Affinity Group. After participating in the organization, Hayden was selected to chair the group as a junior, a role typically reserved for seniors. When friends were targeted by antisemitic hate speech on social media, Hayden spoke up, while working to steer the situation toward education, dialogue, and greater understanding. Her advocacy extends well beyond the Jewish community; she’s passionate about making school a more inclusive place for everyone.
It’s personal, too. Hayden is dyslexic, and while attending Rippowam Cisqua School, she became a vocal advocate for students with learning differences. “I wanted younger students to understand that a learning disability isn’t something to hide or feel ashamed of, but something they can learn to navigate and overcome.”
That same instinct to work with and look out for others carries onto the volleyball court. Hayden began playing during Covid in Central Park and quickly fell in love with the sport’s collaborative nature. “When I moved to Bedford in 2021, the first thing I did was join Rippowam Cisqua’s volleyball team. It’s been such a healthy outlet for me.” she smiles.
Today, she plays year-round with the St. Luke’s Varsity Volleyball Team and Greenwich Volleyball Club, a competitive travel program, and was invited to play for the U.S. team at the Maccabi Games. “I chose volleyball because it’s a team- oriented sport. I play Middle Blocker, a position requiring constant communication and involvement with nearly every player on the court. I’m there to protect the other players.” She carries that same sense of responsibility off the court, arriving early to practices to work with younger athletes and spending every weekend coaching at Greenwich Volleyball Club clinics.
That same sense of community also inspired Hayden’s first entrepreneurial venture. In seventh grade, she founded Bedford Clothing Company, creating sweatshirts that incorporate the Bedford Oak emblem, celebrating local pride. Her sweatshirts have been carried by several area retailers, and Hayden donated much of the proceeds to Rippowam Cisqua. “It’s so cool to walk around town and see people wearing the sweatshirts,” she says. “The real reward has been seeing something I created play some small role in bringing the community together.”
Her long-term ambitions are focused on real estate development, a field she has been drawn to since childhood. Growing up in a real-estate family, Hayden says she was building elaborate cities out of Legos and blocks by age five and absorbing conversations about development at the dinner table. This summer, she worked in the construction department at Benchmark Real Estate Group, helping oversee a project on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Her greatest interest lies in design and construction, but Hayden already sees a larger purpose behind it. “As I’ve learned more about America’s housing shortage, I’ve begun thinking about how I might be able to address it. It isn’t just a big number… it’s people. My long- term goal is to build high-quality affordable housing in communities where people need it most.”
18. THE JOHN JAY HIGH SCHOOL
ROBOTICS TEAM
Team MOB (Mechanical Operations Bureau)
As we narrowed down this year’s 18 Under 18, three particularly strong nominations kept bringing us back to the same place: John Jay High School’s Team MOB. Each of the team’s three now-graduated senior leaders had a compelling case for a spot of his own:
TJ Panek - 18, South Salem - now a freshman at Purdue University studying Motorsports Engineering
Sagi Ohana - 18, South Salem - now a freshman at Virginia Tech studying Mechanical Engineering
Haolin Li - 18, Katonah - freshman at the University of Illinois studying Mechanical Engineering.
Choosing any one on their own meant leaving out an essential part of a story that was, ultimately, about what they accomplished together. So, to wrap up this year’s list, #18 belongs to the whole team! And it’s quite a finale!
Last year, led by TJ, Sagi, and Haolin, Team MOB - short for Mechanical Operations Bureau - went from competing against teams across New York to becoming one of just 18 teams left competing for a world title this year. FIRST Tech Challenge is an international robotics competition in which students design, build, and program their own robots before putting them head-to-head in increasingly competitive tournaments. More than 100 teams competed across New York’s Excelsior region, which encompasses the state outside New York City, with just 32 advancing to its championship. Team MOB won the whole thing - earning a spot at the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship in Houston, where more than 300 qualifying teams from across the U.S. and around the globe competed for the world title!
…And MOB kept winning. MOB’s three-team alliance won its 57-team division against 300+ teams at Worlds, advancing to the da Vinci Tournament, the final championship stage of Worlds, making MOB one of just 18 teams left competing for the world title.
“Competitive robotics is part engineering challenge, part team sport,” TJ explains. Each year brings an entirely new game, giving teams just one season to design, build, program, test, and continually refine a robot capable of mastering it. At competition, students must strategize, form alliances, troubleshoot on the fly, and perform under pressure. “Months of designing, coding, testing, failing, rebuilding, and testing again, can ultimately come down to a single two-and-a-half-minute match” Sagi explains.
Building a world-class robot also takes far more than one skill set. MOB operates much like a small engineering firm, dividing responsibilities according to each student’s strengths. TJ and Sagi worked on mechanical design and construction, while Haolin focused on autonomous coding - programming the robot to perform tasks independently. Other teammates tackled coding, driving, scouting, strategy, and competition preparation.
“The challenge changes from year to year,” Sagi explains. “One season might involve shooting Wiffle balls into goals, while the next presents an entirely different engineering problem. And despite the enormous amount of work and increasingly serious competition, it’s a lot of fun!”
For Haolin, the process proved as valuable as the victories. “The whole experience was an awakening as a future engineer,” he says, “most especially for teaching about the trial-and-error process and emphasizing that there’s never only one right solution to a problem.”
“What makes this team’s accomplishment so extraordinary is that John Jay has a two-year robotics program, and they managed to hold their own against incredibly well-funded international teams with four-year programs from China, Brazil, Romania, South Korea, and South Africa,” explains Robotics Program leader Jonathan Peter. “These three terrific students were the team leads, but every member played a role in the tremendous success.”
And so, while TJ, Sagi, and Haolin are honored here,#18 belongs to everyone who helped get that robot from a John Jay classroom to one of the biggest stages in the world. …A big B&NC shout-out to: Emerson Flamm, Kishen Kathuria, Alexander Bond, Oliver Kuszynski, Kiera Coffey, Carys Cooper, and Matthew Mendez.