ASPIRATION Awards & Recognition

The 2026 ASPIRATION Program brought together high school students and research mentors for an eight-week summer experience centered on scientific exploration, critical thinking, and research communication. Students worked in teams under the guidance of mentors to explore biomedical research topics, discuss scientific literature, develop their ideas, and communicate what they learned through public summaries, posters, and oral presentations.

Throughout the program, students were encouraged not only to complete their research projects, but also to ask questions, contribute to discussions, exchange ideas, support their teammates, and actively engage with mentors and peers. Their summer experience culminated in the 2026 High School Student Symposium, where students had the opportunity to present their work to a broader scientific and educational community.

This page celebrates achievement in its many forms—from outstanding oral and poster presentations to individual and team engagement, collaboration, and leadership. We are especially proud to see returning students grow from participants into peer mentors and leaders who now help support the next generation of ASPIRATION students.

2026 ASPIRATION Student Awards & Recognition

Congratulations to our students and their mentors! The following awards recognize excellence in scientific research and communication, sustained engagement, teamwork, and leadership throughout the 2026 ASPIRATION Program and High School Student Symposium.

🏆 Outstanding ASPIRATION Oral Presentation

Evania John, Peter Kim & Ridhi Venna
Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions • Obra D. Tompkins High School • Elkins High School
Mentor: My Nguyen

Evelyn Zhang, Hanlin Li, Joshua Meng, Olivia Chu, Shaopan Gao & Richard Keck
Carnegie Vanguard High School • Glenda Dawson High School • William P. Clements High School • Shadow Creek High School
Mentor: Tolulope Adebusuyi

Elysse Wu & Aashmit Chandra
Whitney High School • Dulles High School
Mentor: Dr. Xingyao Li

Abigail Chu, Harshil Aradhya & Joshua Wang
The Woodlands High School • Glenda Dawson High School • Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
Mentor: Cheng-En Shen

🏆 Outstanding ASPIRATION Poster Presentation

Yejin Lee, Lucas Osborne & Kanha Singh
Glenda Dawson High School • Liberal Arts & Science Academy • Jordan High School
Mentor: Eric Chang

Rachael Clark, Adarsh Mohanty & Yu Wang
William P. Clements High School • Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions • Glenda Dawson High School
Mentor: Sophia Huang

Lillian Ho, Lipi Hegde & Avyukth Venganti
Carnegie Vanguard High School • William P. Clements High School • Coppell High School
Mentor: Emily Pratt

🌟 ASPIRATION Engagement & TEAM Excellence Awards

Recognizing ASPIRATION individual students and teams for their outstanding engagement and active participation throughout the 8-week summer ASPIRATION Program. Students were encouraged to speak up, contribute to discussions, ask questions, share ideas, and engage with instructors and peers during each session.

These awards recognize those who demonstrated consistent initiative and participation across the program, celebrating both individual contributions and the collective engagement of teams throughout the eight-week experience.

🥇 First Place — Team 5

Anvita Duvvuri • Venkata Sai Ruthvik Bommisetty • Eshal Khan • Eleanor Brunsell
Mentor: Danchen He

🥈 Second Place — Team 3

Abigail Chu • Nikhil (Nik) Kini • Joshua Wang • Harshil Aradhya
Mentor: Cheng-En Shen

🥉 Third Place — Team 12

Sabrina Tam • Grace Odeyomi • Kathy Sapon Say • Benjamin Hao
Mentor: Dr. Song Gao

🌟 Individual ASPIRATION Excellence Award in Engagement

Recognizing students for their outstanding engagement and participation throughout the 8-week summer ASPIRATION Program.

🥇 First Place

Abigail Chu
The Woodlands High School

🥈 Second Place

Venkata Sai Ruthvik Bommisetty
High school to be added

🥉 Third Place

Evania John
Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions

From Participants to Leaders

One of the most rewarding outcomes of the ASPIRATION Program is seeing students grow with the program and return to support the next generation. These students participated in ASPIRATION for three consecutive years, from 2024–2026, and have taken on leadership roles as peer mentors.

Abigail Chu
The Woodlands High School
ASPIRATION Participant, 2024–2026 • Peer Mentor

Connor Chu
Bellaire High School
ASPIRATION Participant, 2024–2026 • Peer Mentor

Sophie Zhang
The Awty International School
ASPIRATION Co-organizer, 2024–2026 • Co-organizer & Peer Mentor 

Through their continued involvement, they have progressed from program participants to student leaders—sharing their experience, encouraging younger students, and helping build a supportive ASPIRATION community.

Celebrating Growth, Engagement & Leadership

The accomplishments recognized here represent much more than individual awards. Over the course of the summer, students learned to read critically, ask questions, communicate scientific ideas, work collaboratively, and find the confidence to contribute their own voices to scientific conversations.

We are deeply grateful to our mentors and peer mentors for the time, guidance, and encouragement they provided throughout the program. We are equally proud of the students who returned year after year and progressed from participants to leaders, helping create a community in which students learn not only from their mentors, but also from and with one another.

Many ASPIRATION students also distinguished themselves through their active participation at the 2026 High School Student Symposium, earning Symposium Scientific Engagement Awards by asking questions and engaging with keynote speakers, student presenters, and career panelists.

See the complete list of symposium awardees and event highlights on the SYMPOSIUM — Highlights & Awards page.

Congratulations to all of our ASPIRATION students, awardees, peer mentors, and mentors—and thank you for making the 2026 program a community of curiosity, collaboration, and scientific discovery.