18 Under 18
In every generation, there are young people who defy expectations, proving that age is no barrier to talent, vision, or impact. Our 18 Under 18 honors scholars, athletes, entrepreneurs, artists, and activists who are already shaping their communities, and going above and beyond. These are the prodigies, pioneers, and change- makers whose stories remind us that the future is bright. From inventors and scholars to performers and philanthropists, they embody what it means to lead with curiosity, courage, and creativity.
Meet the rising stars of the next generation ...lighting the way forward.
[NOTE: ORDER IS RANDOM]
Michael Telesco
Minho Chung
Mia Jacobson
Zane Tickoo
Hudson Greenstein
Amoolya Menon
Jack Aronian
Cody Wu
Sara Strnad
Henry Ginnel
Mollie Luth
Juliet Lipman
Timothy Harkins
Gus Creech
Marilyn Sommerville
Peter Garrett
Harper Pierce
Giovanni Raniola
1. MICHAEL TELESCO
Age: 16 | Hometown: New Canaan | Grade: 11th | School: NCHS
ASTRONOMY’S RISING STAR
At just 16, Michael Telesco has already discovered a new planetary nebula, built his own telescope rig, and led university-level research searching for the next Earth... and by some funny coincidence, or maybe a stroke of fate, his last name is impossibly close to Telesco[pe].
Michael’s passion began at age 13 during a family trip to rural Florida, where a sky free of light pollution revealed the stars in breathtaking detail. “It was so beautiful and profound—it made me realize how much light pollution there is everywhere else,” he says. When he returned home to New Canaan, Michael bought a star tracker, borrowed his mom’s DSLR, and started photographing the night sky from his own backyard. That spark evolved into a sophisticated astrophotography practice, telescope engineering projects, and hands-on astrophysics research.
Over the past three years, Michael has progressed from a kit lens and a 2” refractor telescope to designing and building custom rigs with advanced imaging sensors, autofocusing systems, and cooled monochrome cameras. He now controls a remote imaging telescope in Texas, giving him access to clear skies unobstructed by urban light. Previously, he used an observatory in Spain, where hours of painstaking imaging led to a remarkable milestone: the discovery of a previously unknown reflection nebula. And later in Texas, Michael discovered a planetary nebula, which is a cloud of gas and dust ejected from a dying star, making him the second-youngest person ever to find one.
Michael has also revived and expanded his school’s Space Club into the NCHS Astronomy and Astrophysics Club, steering it toward true research and outreach. Under his leadership, the club partnered with NASA’s TechRise program to test quantum dots in space, researching their potential to improve astronaut safety. The project earned a research stipend and gave students experience in real-world engineering and data analysis.
His work doesn’t stop at school. Michael co-leads observation nights with the Westport Astronomical Society, presents to local groups on astrophysics and light pollution, and serves as a youth leader for Dark Sky International CT, advocating for reduced light pollution globally. His astrophotography has earned multiple awards, been featured in exhibitions like the Carriage Barn Arts Center, and published in top astronomy outlets.
Currently, Michael’s research focuses on exoplanets, which are planets that orbit a star outside the solar system, analyzing Kepler Space Telescope data for faint planetary transit signals. “Most of the big, bright ones have already been found, so we’re looking for those faint signals - the ones others might overlook,” he says. His goal is to publish in a competitive astrophysics journal before graduating high school.
Despite the late nights spent imaging galaxies near and far, Michael still finds time to share his passion with others. “It’s about the love of the game,” he says. “I want to contribute to the field of science, that in and of itself is a reward.”
With plans to pursue astrophysics in college, focusing on universities with strong observatory access and undergraduate research opportunities, Michael has his eyes set not just on the stars - but on expanding humanity’s understanding of them.
2. MINHO CHUNG
Age: 12 | Grade: 7th | School: Ridgefield Academy
GOLF PRODIGY
Before the pandemic, Minho Chung was an ice skater and a red belt in martial arts. ...But when everything closed in 2020, his dad took him to the only place that seemed to be open... the golf course. “It was a bit of a blessing in disguise,” Minho says. “I instantly fell in love with golf!”
At just 12 years old, Minho Chung is already a rising star, with World Championship appearances, elite tournament wins, national television coverage, and major brand sponsorships. He’s ranked 5th globally and 3rd nationally in the Class of 2031 Boys on the Junior Golf Scoreboard, has an official handicap of +1.5, and is one of the champions to watch in junior golf!
When he was only 8 years old, in 2021, Minho tied for 3rd in his first tournament. Weeks later, he earned his first win in the Hudson Valley Local Tour. “That same year I discovered the movie The Short Game on Netflix. It’s a documentary that features a few kids going to the U.S. Kids World Golf Championships, and I was enthralled. I looked up what I had to do to qualify...” Minho smiles. “I first competed in the U.S. Kids New York State Championship when I was 9, and a year later I returned to win the U.S. Kids New York State Championship...and then went on to take second at the New England State Invitational and qualify for the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina - the pinnacle of junior golf. On my first trip to the World Championship I broke into the top 20 in my division - out of 150 highly accomplished players. And I returned in 2024 and placed 11th out of 150 players.”
Now a seventh grader at Ridgefield Academy, Minho thrives both academically and athletically. “Ridgefield Academy has given me the academic rigor I wanted, but also a supportive environment for my sport,” he says. Minho’s work ethic is legendary. In the summer, he practices at least five or six hours a day. During the school year, he gets over to Centennial Golf Club whenever weather permits, hitting balls until dark. And he’s taken over his family’s living room with indoor simulators and launch monitors that Minho works on all year long.
Minho’s dedication is paying off! In 2024, Minho won six PGA Metropolitan Section Junior Tour events in the Boys 12014 Division, placed third in the Notah Begay III Junior Golf Regional Championship, and helped lead his PGA Jr. League Team to both the Connecticut Sectional and Regional Championships. The team advanced to the 2024 National Car Rental PGA Jr. League 13-and-Under Championship, which was nationally televised on ESPN. “Being on national TV is a surreal moment. Playing with cameras on you makes you think differently and motivates you to perform your best. Hopefully it’s my first time, but not the last,” Minho says.
This summer, Minho won the multi-day 57th MGA/MetLife Boys’ Championship as the youngest player in the field; the win exempts him into next year’s Met Junior Championship.
Minho has secured sponsorships from Callaway and Adidas, earned co-medalist honors at the Boys Championship qualifier at West Hills Country Club, and secured a coveted spot in the upcoming prestigious MGA Carter Cup at Baltusrol Golf Club - an invitational typically dominated by much older players.
While he’s still balancing A+ academics with a near-professional practice schedule, Minho says “I want to see how far I can go in the pro journey of golf.” ...Ridgefield Academy might just have the next Tiger Woods!?!
3. MIA JACOBSON
INNOVATIVE ENGINEER
Age: 18 | Hometown: Katonah | Grade: College freshmen | School: Greenwich Country Day School → Dartmouth
When it comes to combining brainpower, leadership, and athletic excellence, Mia Jacobson is in a league of her own. A recent graduate of Greenwich Country Day School and incoming freshman at Dartmouth College - her dream school - Mia is charting a course toward a future in Mechanical Engineering with an eye on using technology for social good.
A National Merit Scholar and member of Greenwich Country Day School’s Honor Society - which is selected by faculty from the top 3% of students - Mia spent her high school years solving problems, building prototypes, and leading the charge to make STEM more accessible to everyone. She championed GCDS’s ‘Fems in STEM Club’, turning it into a thriving space for young women to explore science and engineering with confidence. She also led the CSX/Coding Club, and was a senior member of the school’s Computer Science Team, helping them win international programming competitions for three consecutive years.
Mia’s love of logic and problem solving has been hands-on from the start. “Greenwich Country Day School was an amazing place for me to explore my interests and to flourish. The Maker Space is filled with every piece of technology and equipment to learn, tinker and test, and it’s where I spent as much time as I could,” Mia shares. While at Greenwich Country Day School Mia completed an independent study designing a smart dog feeder tracker, built a Holocaust memorial sculpture, learned to weld, and crafted a custom dresser as part of the school’s most advanced MakerX program. She even created a prototype for a trackable golf ball as part of an economics-engineering capstone project, and authored a 15-page thesis on the ethical implications of gene editing. “I like solving problems and want to use that kind of brain for good. Maybe biomedical engineering, something positive for people and the planet,” Mia says.
“This past year, I was able to devote my J-term, where we take a break from classes for the month of January and focus on one topic in depth, to construct my own independent study focused on forest health with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies. I spent two weeks on the ground in Colorado working on field programs, leading educational programs, and writing code for the online ACES graphic of the forest health index,” Mia shares. “It was amazing to have the opportunity for independent research prior to college, and it was a formative experience within my environmental focus.”
Mia was on Greenwich Country Day School’s Varsity Soccer Team all four years of high school, and Captained the Team both her junior and senior years, earning First Team All-Fairchester, All- State, and All-NEPSAC Honors while leading the team to the Finals as a center midfielder. She also competed with the New York Soccer Club Academy Team five to six nights a week after her high school team’s practice, and represented Team USA at the Maccabi Games, bringing home Gold in 2024! ...And she played GCDS Varsity Tennis, Lacrosse, and Squash, as well! ...She’s even served several times as a Ball Girl at the US Opens, having had the honor of working the court for the US Open Women’s Finals in 2024.
To boot, Mia launched Greenwich Country Day School’s Outdoors Club, leading trips for hiking, rafting, and even solar eclipse viewing. She served on the Teen Board of her Temple, volunteered on a service trip in Costa Rica, and spent three weeks on a NOLS whitewater canoeing expedition in Utah. Her dedication to community earned her Greenwich Country Day School’s Personal Achievement Award, recognizing academic excellence and personal growth and impact.
4. ZANE TICKOO
FEEDING THE FUTURE
Age: 17 | Hometown: New Canaan | Grade:11th | School: NCHS
Zane Tickoo is reimagining how communities think about food—and who has access to it. His advocacy journey began with necessity: a childhood marked by 20 life-threatening food allergies forced him to read every label, ask every ingredient, and think critically about what went onto his plate. That early vigilance sparked a lifelong curiosity that became a call to action when, at age 12, a summer farm program opened his eyes to the connection between agriculture, equity, and health.
Zane has since evolved from curious camper to full-fledged food justice warrior, founding two groundbreaking initiatives. His Food Equity Initiative partners with the Green Village Initiative in Bridgeport, teaching preschoolers about nutrition, gardening, and food systems through hands- on programs built around ‘hex beds’—raised garden beds kids plant and maintain themselves. What started as Zane cold-calling preschools now spans 10 early childhood centers and 30 garden beds, backed by grant funding to scale his impact.
His second project, SEEDS, takes food literacy even further. Through interactive workshops, kids and adults alike explore the journey of a single seed: from strategizing its growth to engaging with the harvest and sampling the fruits of their labor. The program emphasizes cultural diversity in food, with participants drawing favorite meals on paper plates—a collection Zane has now curated from communities worldwide and plans to exhibit publicly.
Zane’s efforts have gained national and global recognition. In 2024, Zane was one of only ten students worldwide to receive the Global Challenge Award at the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute - dubbed the ‘Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture’. His research on food literacy in Brazil earned him recognition as a Borlaug Scholar from the National Association of Plant Breeders, connecting him to some of the top agricultural innovators in the world. That same year, he delivered a TEDx Talk titled The Power of the Plate, urging audiences to rethink what goes on their plates, one meal at a time. He challenges, “Everyone consumes 100,000 plates in their lifetime. One thoughtful choice at a time can change the world.”
Beyond his own programs, Zane interned with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture and helped launch the Zero Hunger Generation platform with the World Food Program USA, expanding youth engagement around hunger awareness and agricultural policy. “I want kids to grow up understanding where their food comes from and how it impacts their
communities,” Zane says. “If we start early, food literacy becomes a core value.”
Despite his global agenda, Zane remains grounded. He’s a top student at New Canaan High School, fluent in Latin - earning a Seal of Biliteracy, a Princeton Alumni Association Book Award recipient, and a standout volleyball and basketball player ...and he loves to cook!
5. HUDSON GREENSTEIN
UNLEAVENED, BUT ALREADY FULLY BAKED
Age: 11 | Hometown: Armonk | Grade: 7th | School: H.C. Crittenden Middle School
Hudson Greenstein is already a seasoned entrepreneur! He identified an underserved market, built strategic partnerships, and is creating meaningful social impact. The seventh-grader from Armonk has built Yalla - which is Yiddish for ‘let’s go!’ - into a profitable business that’s bringing communities together and donating thousands to charity.
The idea for Yalla was born from a craving. During the week of Passover, Jews avoid leavened bread, and Hudson was longing for some good pizza...and missing hanging out with his friends having pizza at his favorite local pizzeria, Nick’s Pizza, in Armonk. His family tried making matzah pizza at home, but “it was never really that good”, Hudson says. So he approached Anthony, the owner of Nick’s Pizza, with a proposal: ‘put matzah pizza on the menu - at least during the holiday’. Anthony was interested and told Hudson to check back the following year, and Hudson persisted, checking back the following year with a more developed pitch.
From the start, Hudson treated Yalla like a real business. The name captures the business’s energetic, community-focused spirit. He created a logo and merchandise, marketed on Instagram, and even attracted Streit’s Matzo as a sponsor and the exclusive matzah partner.
Pizzerias use all their own ingredients, except they swap in matzah meal for pizza dough. Yalla does the community outreach, education, and marketing to ensure a long line of customers to buy-up the tasty and Kosher Style offering. Hudson has donated thousands of dollars to causes close to his heart, including funding medical equipment for United Hatzallah, supporting families in Israel who have lost loved ones in the war being waged since October 7, and to his local synagogue.
Yalla has already added a second cooperating pizzeria in Merrick, Long Island, called Frankie’s Pizza, and Hudson is seeking further expansion opportunities. What’s more, Yalla is already developing a frozen packaged matzah pizza, testing matzah nachos, and debuting a new dessert called ‘Matzoli’, which is deep-fried matzah dusted with sugar. “We’re aiming to bring matzah pizza and other original matzah products into homes across the country,” Hudson declares. “I want to use matzah to bring people together!”
Hudson was most recently invited to serve his matzah pizza at a Passover dinner at the James Beard award-winning Zahav restaurant in Philadelphia, and Yalla has already received positive coverage in The New York Times, USA Today, Fox News, and Bon Appetit Magazine.
And alongside his entrepreneurial hustle, Hudson plays golf competitively in the Tamarack PGA Junior League and dreams of a college golf career, performs in theater and music, and even does some modeling for companies including Denny’s and Lester’s.
6. AMOOLYA MENON
TABLE TENNIS TITAN
Age: 16 | Hometown: Mount Kisco | Grade: 11th | School: Fox Lane High School
Amoolya Menon has already paddled her name into the world of competitive table tennis, earning a spot on the U17 Girls U.S. National Team and ranking among the top 50 players globally for her age group - all while balancing high school life! ...Her sights are now set on the 2028 Olympics!
Amoolya first picked up a paddle at eight years old, but it wasn’t until a summer trip to India, where she trained for hours each day and watched professionals play, that she realized her calling. “I’d never had that much fun doing something,” she recalls. “By the end of that year, I knew I wanted to play professionally and in the Olympics.”
Her home base became the Westchester Table Tennis Center in Pleasantville, one of North America’s largest table tennis academies, run by New York Times crossword editor Will Shortz. There, Amoolya has trained nearly every day under Kokou Fanny, the six-time National Champion of Togo and an Olympian, combining 2.5-hour weekday sessions with 5 to 6-hour weekend practices, strength training, cardio, and even work with a sports psychologist to sharpen her mental edge.
The results speak for themselves. In 2024, she placed ninth at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Louisiana, a performance that solidified her goal of competing on the world’s biggest stage. She also became a World Table Tennis Youth Contender Girls U17 Champion, Won the under-15 mixed doubles at the U.S. Open, and in early 2025 brought home Gold at the under-16 Laval Open in Montreal and multiple Bronze medals at the Southeast Regional Championships.
But Amoolya’s competitive fire is balanced by remarkable integrity. At her very first U.S. Open quarterfinals in 2018, in a very high-stakes match, an umpire mistakenly awarded her a point. Amoolya stopped the match to correct the call - even though it meant giving up an advantage. “I always try to do the right thing, on or off the court,” she says.
Beyond table tennis, Amoolya is a second-degree black belt in karate, an accomplished cellist, and a committed volunteer with PingPongParkinson, a nonprofit using racquet sports to help those with Parkinson’s disease. She also manages the social media for Fox Lane High’s Robotics Club and plans to launch a table tennis club at school this year.
Academics are just as important as athletics for Amoolya. She loves English, Writing, and International Relations, and aspires to become a litigator. “In my house, education always comes first. Knowledge is power!” Amoolya proclaims.
Even an injury this past spring didn’t slow her down... as she’s already back on the table, training for the U.S. Open Championships in Las Vegas this December.
For Amoolya, the dream to represent the U.S. at the Olympics is all about honoring the sacrifices of her parents, her coach, and the community that has supported her every step of the way. Amoolya exclaims, “It would mean so much, not just for me, but for everyone who believed in me. It’s my village... and I’m playing for them too!”
7. JACK ARONIAN
ORNITHOLOGICAL DOCUMENTARIAN
Age: 16 | Hometown: North Salem | Grade: 11th | School: St. Luke’s
Jack Aronian has combined his passion as an ornithologist with his talent as a storyteller and has already become an effective videographer and documentarian, including as one of the country’s most compelling young voices on zoonotic disease awareness.
Jack’s grandfather, a surgeon at Weill Cornell Hospital in Manhattan, was legendary for having built a nest box for a Peregrine Falcon that stayed at the Hospital for fifteen years and hatched twenty chicks from that nest - and was actually known around the Hospital, and New York, as ‘The Birdman’, even earning coverage from the New York Times and New York Post. ...That family history awakened Jack’s love of birds from a young age, and paired with Jack’s STEM-curiosity and instinct for tinkering, Jack started incubating ducks in his kitchen, then raising parrots, and then...a lot of birdwatching!
“I really learned how to use the camera and implement special effects just for fun, but once I knew how to use these tools I realized that I had the power to tell a story - and knew that could be broadcast at a wider and more impactful scale,” Jack shares. He now co-leads St. Luke’s Video Club, called Eye of the Storm, and produces content for the school’s many extracurriculars.
When Jack became aware of the threat of zoonotic diseases - and specifically H5N1, commonly known as the avian flu - he realized that he could use the combination of his unique skillsets to raise awareness and make a difference. Over the past year, Jack has directed, produced, filmed, and edited a 30-minute documentary, sponsored by a Youth Service America Hershey Heartwarming grant to raise public awareness about the threat of the avian flu and what people can do to play their part. The film has been screened at many bird sanctuaries, at educational events, and is available online as well.
For the past three summers Jack interned at a local farm in North Salem to gain a better agricultural understanding, and focused particularly on the large flock of chickens.
Jack has also founded Documentaries4Difference, available at docs4diff.com - a production platform with the mission of creating compelling video content to spotlight important causes. He’s already collaborated with organizations like Filling in the Blanks, US Chess, and Audubon, using his editing skills to create emotionally resonant, high-impact video content.
On the side, Jack is also a 4x St. Luke’s Chess Champion, and alongside his sister, Laurel, won the Mixed Doubles Championship in the NY State competition.
From field research to film festivals, Jack’s work has earned recognition from the New York Times Coming of Age Learning Contest, Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards, Skipping Stones Youth Honor Awards, and the Chess Journalists of America. But for Jack, accolades are secondary. “Storytelling is how we inspire change,” he says. “If I can connect someone to birds, or to any other important cause, through video...that’s when science becomes real!”
8. CODY WU
CHESS CHAMPION
Age: 11 | Hometown: Darien | Grade: 6th | School: Long Ridge School → St. Lukes
Cody Wu started playing chess at seven years old, after having found an old chess set tucked away in a cabinet while on a family vacation. He asked his dad to show him how to play... and Cody more than took to the game!
He began playing competitively by playing a tournament at the DIG Chess Center in Weston. “The coaches said I was pretty good - and that it might be worth continuing down the competitive path!” Cody relays. “I played my first big tournament about three years ago, when I was eight, and since then I haven’t stopped going for it.”
Cody is the top-rated elementary school chess player in Connecticut and boasts a U.S. Chess Federation rating of 1843, with a peak rating of 1884. “My next goal is to qualify as a ‘National Master’, which requires a rating of 2200. I think I can get there, but no matter what happens I will always love chess. It is my passion!” Cody proclaims.
Cody is among the top 3.5% of all scholastic K-12 players nationwide and among the top 7% of all players -including adults- nationwide. In addition to scholastic tournaments, Cody regularly competes against adults in games that last for several hours.
Cody recently won his first First Place title at the Connecticut State Tournament! He spends many weekends traveling near and far to participate in chess tournaments, and has recently traveled to Philadelphia, Florida and Wisconsin to compete. He typically spends five to seven hours a week practicing at home, and regularly works with a coach who is a ‘FIDE Master’.
“I’m always looking for ways to improve my game and get better. I love that it’s a complicated game that can always be evolved, and that it can be played with anyone. I compete against people of all ages. I love the possibilities, different strategies, and the different places chess takes me and people that chess allows me to meet!” Cody declares.
Cody just graduated from The Long Ridge School, where he also excelled at math and in art. Cody’s dad, Aric, shares, “Long Ridge School was incredibly supportive and nurturing for me in every way, but especially in fostering my love of chess and accommodating my chess schedule,” Cody says.
9. SARA STRNAD
MECHANICAL MASTERMIND
Age: 17 | Hometown: Katonah | Grade: 12th | School: Harvey School
In just two short years of tinkering with gears and circuits, Sara Strnad has zoomed to the forefront of the robotics world. A senior at the Harvey School, Sara has transformed from a curious beginner to a national-level competitor, wowing judges and peers alike with her technical chops, creative designs, and relentless drive.
Sara’s interest was piqued during her sophomore year with an introductory robotics class at the Harvey School. She quickly mastered simple builds, often staying after class to pursue independent projects. One of her early creations was a scaled-down version of Home Depot’s high-shelf retrieval machine - complete with a ping pong ball shooter attachment just for fun.
Sara went on to join Harvey’s competitive robotics team, called Hard Wired 6277C, as a builder - a role that demands translating ideas into reality through prototyping, testing, and constant refining. In her debut competition season, she built three different robots, each tailored to evolving rules and challenges. The results spoke for themselves as she earned one Tournament Championship, a Finalist title, two Design Awards, an Innovation Award, and a coveted Create Award at the Speedway Signature Event - a national competition with more than 100 teams. A strong performance at the New York State Championship earned her a ticket to the World Championships in Dallas, where she competed against elite teams from across the globe, expanding both her technical skillset and her vision for what’s possible.
Sara was invited to present her robotics work at Google Headquarters, inspiring middle schoolers with her knowledge and enthusiasm.
“It’s something I do every day, and love doing it!” Sara exclaims. ...And while robotics may be a constant occupation, Sara also maintains a stellar 4.28 GPA, served as Class Co-Representative on the Student Council, and thrived in AP Physics - a class that allowed her to connect classroom concepts to her robotics work. She’s also an All-League Varsity Volleyball player, helping her team reach the Conference Semifinals, and somehow also finds time to work at the Pottery Factory in Mt. Kisco, and to volunteer with Neighbors Link in Mt. Kisco, supporting children from immigrant families.
Sara’s drive and curiosity are fueling big dreams... She plans to major in Mechanical Engineering and continue exploring the intersection of technology and creativity in her college studies. ...There’s no telling what Sara Strnad - or a robot she builds - might do!
10. HENRY GINNEL
SUPREME SAILOR
Age: 18 | Hometown: Bedford | Grade: 12th | School: Rippowam Cisqua School → Brunswick School
Henry Ginnel is a skillful sailor...with the wind at his back!
“I started when I was 11 years old, in a little one person Opti boat in Amagansett, going down the beach and coming back, just focusing on the basics,” Henry recalls. “In that first summer I graduated to a more aerodynamic Sunfish, and later 420s and Lasers, and went from knowing nothing...to racing. I was hooked!”
“Every year I would do more and more to learn, and one of the big reasons I chose Brunswick was because it has a sailing team,” Henry explains. ...And Henry not only made the Brunswick Sailing Team, but as a freshman he was one of six on the starting roster. That year the team placed in the top teams in Fairfield County, sending them to the New England regatta, held at MIT, which they won! The Brunswick Team then placed a Brunswick-best 4th, out of 626 high school sailing teams nationally, in the Team Race National Championship in Minnetonka, Minnesota. In the 2023 season, Henry won the award of Most Improved Member of the team. “One of the senior Skippers on the team whose Crew had graduated took me under his wing and taught me the ropes. He was instrumental to my sailing career. We worked together through that season, and winning the New England regatta as a freshmen was incredibly rewarding. As I’ve gotten older on the team, that mentorship is something I’ve tried to pay forward,” Henry says about his participation at Brunswick.
Henry’s sophomore year, again on the starting lineup, the team placed 1st in Connecticut in both Fleet and Team Racing, and again qualified for Nationals.
And in the 2025 season, as a junior, the Brunswick team finished 1st in Connecticut again, and 4th in New England.
Henry practices three days a week during the off season and six or seven days a week in season, which starts in February. “We’re sailing with our dry suits, hats and gloves on... and I’m always so excited to be getting back out on the water,” Henry grins.
Henry keeps-up during the summer by competing in a weekly Sunfish race, and crewing on Sundays on a four-person J70, and training as much as he can in a 420.
As a senior, Henry will take the helm as the Team Captain, and he hopes to lead the team back to Nationals once again.
Henry intends to sail in college at the highest level possible, and dreams of racing on an America’s Cup boat across the ocean.
Outside of sailing, Henry is very focused on his academics. “I started my academic career at Rippowam Cisqua School, which is where I really grew up, and they fostered such a love for learning in me. I’ve been at Brunswick since 6th grade and not only has the school been an incredible place for me as a sailor, but as a student.” He’s particularly interested in Comparative History, likes Spanish, and participates in Brunswick’s Model U.N. Team. He is also a member of the Brunswick Wrestling Team.
11. MOLLIE LUTH
EMPATHY IN ACTION
Age: 16 | Hometown: Darien | Grade: 11th | School: Brewster Academy
Mollie Luth understands that some of life’s greatest challenges can become the most powerful catalysts for change. The Brewster Academy junior, who struggles with dyslexia, has transformed her learning differences into a mission to advocate for neurodivergent students and address global inequities.
Mollie’s journey hasn’t been easy. At Winward School, where she attended middle and elementary school, daily tutoring sessions during lunch meant sacrificing time with friends. “It was hard for me,” she recalls. “The work was intense, required real commitment at a young age, and there wasn’t a lot of room for my social life.” But those struggles shaped her perspective on education and empathy.
When she arrived at Brewster Academy, Mollie found more than just academic support. Through the Brewster Academy’s Instructional Support program, Mollie discovered her calling as an advocate. She joined the Neurodiversity Alliance, a group focused on improving learning outcomes for students with learning differences, and spearheaded a groundbreaking seminar bringing together teachers from each grade level to better understand how to teach neurodivergent learners. “When you have a learning disability, you get stuck,” she explains. “You’re trying to learn and process, but you face a wall. I need to climb over that wall, and the teachers can help me do that... I want to make sure teachers have the tools and understanding to not only help me, but all students.”
Mollie’s advocacy has sparked meaningful dialogue about the unique needs of neurodivergent learners and she looks forward to leading the Neurodiversity Alliance at Brewster... “I felt like I was alone and drowning in my education, but bringing people together and sharing our experiences has been really helpful for me,” she says. The experience has even drawn her toward a career in teaching, “I think I could make a big difference in young people’s lives, and help to instill a love of learning by bringing my own experience to teaching.”
But Mollie’s impact extends far beyond Brewster’s campus. Over the past year Mollie became involved with the Nambale Magnet School in western Kenya, which serves impoverished children. Determined to give these students recreational opportunities she values - being a three-sport athlete in soccer, hockey, and lacrosse - Mollie and three friends in Darien organized fundraising efforts, including babysitting, bake sales, and weeding neighbors’ gardens, that raised $10,000 to build a basketball court at the school. ...Mollie had a chance to visit the Nambale Magnet School this summer, spend time with the children, and see where the basketball court will be built this year. She was moved by the joy and kindness of the students who had ‘absolutely nothing’ but were still ‘smiling so much’.
At home in Connecticut, Mollie volunteers at New Covenant House, a soup kitchen in Stamford, preparing and serving meals for homeless individuals on weekends. “It doesn’t take a lot of effort, but with every interaction with our clients at NCH, I know I am making a big difference in people’s lives,” she says.
12. JULIET LIPMAN
COMPASSIONATE CRUSADER
Age: 17 | Hometown: Katonah | Grade: 12th | School: Rippowam Cisqua → Ethical Culture Fieldston School
For Juliet Lipman, social justice isn’t an extracurricular... it’s a calling deeply rooted in her family history. Growing up surrounded by reminders of her ancestors - both Holocaust survivors and enslaved people - Juliet developed a sharp awareness of inequity and a strong desire to leave the world better than she’s found it. “I feel so profoundly lucky for the opportunities I have,” she says. “That means I have a responsibility to give back.”
That conviction has inspired work spanning multiple issues and communities. At age 14, Juliet connected with organizations like Sal’s Shoes and Bundles of Joy, which provides essentials like clothing, school supplies, and hygiene needs to mothers and children in need. As well as securing large donations of unused shoes and helping to expand the scope of the program, Juliet launched a shoe and essentials boutique for underserved students at Mount Kisco Elementary School. The store allows kids to ‘shop’ donated items without stigma, a simple but powerful concept that’s now a permanent part of the school. Juliet’s advocacy also extends to criminal justice reform. Troubled by wrongful convictions and systemic inequities, she founded the Innocence Project Advocacy Club at her school, mobilizing hundreds of calls to the Governor’s office and hosting powerful campus conversations, including one featuring Gary Benloss, an innocent man who spent twenty-one years in prison. “I had become interested in the story of Marcellus Williams who was on death row for something he hadn’t done... I was calling the Governor’s office dozens of times a day to advocate. Mr. Williams was ultimately put to death - and then I realized if I could get hundreds of people to make calls, it might make a difference for the next wrongfully convicted or innocent person,” Juliet says.
...And Juliet’s activism hasn’t stopped there... Through her interview and photography project, called ‘Framed to Freedom’, Juliet has documented the lives of prison exonerees to humanize their stories and expand awareness. She has already been invited to speak at Columbia University’s Center for Justice to encourage other schools to start their own advocacy chapter.
After October 7, Juliet drew on her unique identity as a Black Jewish student to help mend fractures on campus, reviving the school’s Black Jewish Alliance. The group quickly became a safe space for difficult but necessary conversations, fostering dialogue and understanding at a time of heightened tension. Juliet pairs her humanitarian drive with a passion for equitable health care. During the summer between her sophomore and junior year, and again this summer between her junior and senior year, Juliet has been able to shadow a neurosurgeon at NYU Langone, and even contribute to a published study on aneurysm clipping. She has also participated in Georgetown University’s pre-medical summer program, training in blood draws, birth simulations, and trauma response.
Juliet is committed to bridging medicine and social justice to eliminate barriers to quality healthcare. She envisions a career in public health that will unite her passion for medicine with her commitment to social change, aiming to improve lives and promote equity on a broader scale.
Even while taking on such heavy topics, Juliet brings joy and humor to everything she does. “These are serious issues,” she says, “but laughter and kindness are part of the answer, too.”
13. TIMOTHY HARKINS
PRINTING PRODIGY
Age: 15 | Hometown: Katonah | Grade: 10th | School: The Hawthorn School
Most teenagers don’t spend their free time in libraries... but fifteen-year-old Tim Harkins works in one! Tim manages the Katonah Village Library’s 3D printing center, training patrons of all ages, and keeping the machines running. He’s not just a user of the technology, he’s the person trusted to teach it, repair it, and imagine what it can do next.
Tim’s journey started with curiosity. “I wanted a 3D printer, but my mom wouldn’t get one,” he recalls. Instead, he discovered one at the library and quickly mastered it, often repairing the machines when they broke. Library leadership began to ask his opinion on program strategy and equipment needs. His skills were so strong that when the library received a grant for upgraded equipment, staff didn’t hire an outside expert... they hired Tim, then just 14, to run the program.
Today, Tim’s one-on-one training sessions fill-up fast. He works with six-year-olds designing video game trinkets, teens learning engineering concepts, and retirees crafting custom housewares. He’s even created summer programs that teach design principles and end with students building their own projects, from bookmarks to piggy banks. “Introducing people to new technology and seeing them get excited about making something themselves... it’s just awesome!” Tim declares.
And then there’s his other library-famous talent...maple walnut fudge. Tim is an avid cook, known for pickles, homemade hot sauce, and a fudge recipe so beloved that it sparked an inter-library fudge exchange. “I’m probably the only 15-year-old whose closest friends are librarians in their 50s,” he laughs. “They share recipes and gardening tips, and I share pickles and hot sauce.”
Outside the library, Tim is equally driven. He’s a competitive diver, an avid gardener, and a homesteader - raising a thriving flock of chickens and hatching his own chicks. He used his 3D printing skills to design and print a chicken feeder. He’s also a chess club member, a classics reader, and deeply committed to his Catholic faith. “When I look back someday, I want people to remember me as a good friend, helpful, and faithful,” Tim says. A recent graduate of The Hawthorn School in Bedford, Tim credits its screen-free environment for fostering his love of the outdoors, building, and growing.
For the future, Tim wants to expand his technical expertise through advanced math and engineering classes while growing the library’s 3D printing program and his homesteading efforts…starting with upgrades to his chicken coop this spring.
14. GUS CREECH
CUTTING-EDGE REPORTER
Age: 17 | Hometown: Katonah | Grade: 12th | School: The Masters School
Gus Creech is already a Journalist. As the anchor and executive producer of Tower Broadcast News at The Masters School, Gus has turned a classroom elective into a serious pursuit of truth-telling, delivering award-winning stories that capture both campus life and broader community issues. His work earned him two Best of Student Newspapers Online journalism awards and the coveted Private School Journalism Association’s Journalist Junior of the Year title, thanks in part to an ambitious, unbiased feature on a controversial local development project known as ‘Protect the Knoll’.
After seeing protest signs on his daily drive, Gus dug deeper... interviewing residents, activists, and even the developer’s legal team, in order to cover every perspective. The resulting 5.5-minute broadcast, unusually long for student journalism, became a model of balanced reporting and earned regional recognition. “It was the first piece where I felt like a real journalist,” Gus says. “It taught me how powerful storytelling can be when you include every voice.”
Beyond the newsroom, Gus. is also an Intern with the Bedford Open Spaces and Acquisitions Committee, filming trails and interviewing hikers to highlight why open spaces matter - and why they must be protected. A Katonah resident since age seven, Gus developed a deep love for his region’s fields, woods, and rural character. “Access to the outdoors is something I don’t take for granted,” he says.
...And then there’s Gus’s other, more unexpected, interest in...Butchery. For the past two summers, Gus has apprenticed at the renowned Blue Hill at Stone Barns, learning to break down lamb, beef, pork, and poultry, and making “thousands of pounds of sausage” in the process. “Working with my hands gives me the same satisfaction as journalism,” Gus says. “In news, you gather parts of a story and combine them into something people can consume and enjoy... at Blue Hill, I’m doing the same thing, but with food. And I’m particularly interested in sustainable agriculture.”
At The Master School Gus is the Captain of the Varsity Squash Team and a Member of the Varsity Baseball Team, and is also a member of Gold Key, giving campus tours to prospective students.
15. MARILYN SOMMERVILLE
ELOQUENT EQUESTRIAN
Age: 16 | Hometown: South Salem | Grade: 11th | School: King School
Some teens read books...Marilyn Sommerville builds movements around them!
Marilyn founded the Stamford chapter of Turning Pages, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing childhood and community literacy. She has organized countless book drives and volunteered at free-book fairs, delivering thousands of books to underserved families across Westchester and Fairfield counties.
Through the King School’s Connections Club, Marilyn has also partnered with numerous local organizations to help families in need, with a particular focus on uplifting children.
Marilyn is also a decorated equestrian. In 2023, she earned Individual Bronze at the USHJA Zone Jumper Championships, followed by Team Bronze and Individual Silver in 2024, and qualified for prestigious Finals in both Equitation and Jumpers in 2025. Her love of horses has led to Marilyn’s volunteer work in the animal welfare space, and this year she is the President of King’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, coordinating annual adoption events and advocating for animal welfare.
Marilyn is also a rising star in debate, winning multiple team awards throughout the Connecticut Debate Association and qualifying for State Finals in her first year competing.
And Marilyn is an accomplished artist, using mostly watercolor and colored pencils as her mediums, and sometimes experimenting in encaustic mediums like melted wax on wood. Her paintings gained national attention when they were published in The Chronicle of the Horse in both 2023 and 2024. She’s also been featured in the National Art Honor Society Juried Exhibition and in the National Arts Program Exhibition, and was honored with the Artistic Excellence Award at the 2025 Junior Artists Competition. She also serves as Chair of Awards and Ceremonies for the National Art Honor Society at King School, using her creativity to support causes like the Memory Project.
Academically, Marilyn is a King Scholar, the highest level academic award the school presents, requiring an unweighted GPA between 3.86 and 4.0. She has represented her school at the Girls Advancing in STEM Conference, presented at the King Science Fair, and was accepted into the competitive ASPIRE research program, where she’ll conduct independent veterinary science research.
Marilyn believes she wants to pursue a career in science, but with her track record of community leadership, championship riding, and award-winning creativity, Marilyn Sommerville’s story is just beginning.
16. PETER GARRETT
MULTITALENTED MAVERICK
Age: 17 | Hometown: Darien | Grade: 12th | School: Greens Farms Academy
Peter Garrett is just exceptional.
Academically, he’s a Greens Farms Academy standout. With a 4.3 GPA - the highest possible at Greens Farms Academy - he has earned the Head of School Distinction every year of high school and maintains high honors across a rigorous course load, including AP Mandarin, BC Calculus, and Physics Mechanics.
Athletically, he’s a star lacrosse player. A defender since growing up in Darien - a community where lacrosse culture runs deep - by freshman year at Greens Farms he was already a varsity starter. Last season, as Greens Farms Team Captain, Peter demonstrated leadership mentoring younger teammates and helping to instill a winning culture. As a highlight to the season, Peter intercepted a pass to secure a one-goal victory against rival Rye Country Day School and, for his defensive prowess throughout the year he earned FAA Second Team All-League recognition and his coach’s Best Defender award.
And when he’s not defending his net, he’s commanding a stage. As the lead singer and multi- instrumentalist for Greens Farms’ rock band, Peter brings the same energy and charisma to music that he does to sports. From Pink Floyd’s Time at Coffeehouse to a heavy-metal-infused warmup playlist before games, Peter lives for the power of sound. “I love performing,” he says, noting how joining an acappella group early in high school gave him the confidence to share his voice. “Whether I’m singing, playing keyboard, or experimenting with jazz fusion, I love the feeling of bringing people together with music.”
Peter also Captains Greens Farms’ Robotics Club and, in whatever spare time is left, builds video games and writes poetry as a creative outlet and a means of personal growth.
“Whether it’s shutting down elite attackers on the lacrosse field, hitting impossible notes in rehearsal, solving complex coding problems, or tackling the challenging course work at Greens Farms...I really try to lean fully into every pursuit,” Peter says. “I want to keep learning, keep improving, and keep contributing. I’d like to play NCAA Lacrosse, and whatever else happens, I’ll always be into music.”
17. HARPER PIERCE
THEATRICAL PHENOM
Age: 12 | Hometown: New Canaan | Grade: 7th | School: Saxe Middle School
At just 12 years old, Harper Pierce is already a rising star in musical theater. The 7th grader at Saxe Middle School embodies the rare ‘triple threat’ combination of singing, dancing, and acting talent that has opened doors to some of the industry’s most prestigious stages.
Harper’s impressive resume reads like that of a seasoned performer. She has graced the iconic Radio City Music Hall stage as a front line dancer in The Christmas Spectacular opening for The Rockettes for three consecutive years. Her athletic precision has also taken her to major sporting venues, where she’s performed hip hop and jazz routines at halftime shows for the NY Jets at MetLife Stadium, Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center, NJ Devils at Prudential Center, and the Harlem Globetrotters at Madison Square Garden.
The young performer’s theatrical range shines through her diverse role portfolio. From playing young Cosette in New Canaan High School’s production of Les Misérables to starring as Annie in The Studio for Performing Arts’ production at the Powerhouse Theater, Harper demonstrates remarkable versatility. Her breakthrough into television came with her role as young Adam Friedland’s childhood friend Erica in the opening sketch for Rob Schneider on the Adam Friedland Show, appearing alongside Drea Matteo.
Harper’s dedication to her craft is evident in her rigorous training schedule. She commits 18 to 20 hours weekly to honing her skills through voice lessons, acting classes, dance training, auditions, and rehearsals, traveling to NYC three times a week while also training locally. This commitment has earned her multiple Double Platinum 1st place overall titles at top national dance competitions including Showstoppers, Turn it up, Starpower, Backstage, KAR, and Star Alliance.
With six years of professional experience already under her belt, Harper is represented by a bicoastal management agency and has appeared in commercials for major brands including Sandals Resorts and Fox Kids News. Her recent callback to the final round for the title role in Annie at Madison Square Garden with Whoopi Goldberg demonstrates she’s competing at the highest levels of the industry.
“I love Musical Theater and performing! It’s so much fun! I couldn’t imagine doing anything else!” Harper says of her passion.
18. GIOVANNI RANIOLA
CODED FOR SUCCESS
Age: 14 | Hometown: Bedford Corners | Grade: 9th | School: Fox Lane High School
At just 14, Giovanni Raniola has done what most seasoned software developers only dream of... he’s built a website that’s attracted over three million users and runs on code he wrote himself.
Giovanni is the creator of Void Network, a browser-based gaming platform that allows people to access popular online games anywhere - even behind school firewalls.
Giovanni’s fascination with technology started early. In elementary school, he was already tinkering with servers and code, creating ‘secret folders’ full of games for friends. By age 13, that curiosity evolved into a mission: build a safe, virus-free alternative to the sketchy, malware-ridden bypass sites students often used to circumvent school restrictions. “I wanted a site where kids could play games without the risk of getting hacked,” Giovanni explains.
Using YouTube tutorials, AI tools like Claude, and his own relentless trial-and-error approach, Giovanni taught himself to code by examining websites line by line, learning what each function did, and rebuilding features from scratch. His technical skill combined with entrepreneurial instincts quickly set Void Network apart. The platform now features a curated library of kid-friendly games, 24/7 moderation, and a Discord-based support system complete with AI monitoring bots - coded by Giovanni himself - to handle service tickets and user safety.
And it’s not just students taking notice. Giovanni has received partnership requests and successfully monetized the platform, all while staying anonymous online to ward off hacking attempts. He even created a ‘Hall of Clowns’ to call out those who try to misuse the platform, blending humor with a clear message about online integrity.
School administrators, unsurprisingly, tried to shut down Void Network when it began spreading rapidly through student circles. Yet even teachers have privately praised Giovanni for creating a safer alternative to typical bypass sites and for building an entrepreneurial endeavor at such a young age.
When he’s not coding late into the night, Giovanni volunteers his IT skills for local organizations, including the Pound Ridge Working Moms Group and the Pound Ridge Community Church. He’s also experimenting with a new ChatGPT alternative and additional AI projects, using Void Network as a testing ground for innovations.
Giovanni plans to dive into business courses when he enters Fox Lane High School this fall, aiming to merge his technical talent with entrepreneurial savvy. “I’m always inventing and trying new things,” he says. “If I have an idea, I code it immediately.”
Wise beyond his years, Giovanni is smart, funny, and cool under pressure; traits that have helped him thrive in the competitive, sometimes cutthroat world of coding and gaming. And with his combination of technical genius, entrepreneurial mindset, and ability to stay grounded, one thing is certain: Giovanni Raniola is just getting started.