Outstanding Young Citizen Awardees

Freshwater, Ivy

Montour High School, 12

I will be starting at Seton Hill University in the fall with a major in Secondary English Education and a minor in Theatre with a focus in Design and Technology.

Gilliard, Kennedy

Pittsburgh Obama (The Barack Obama Academy of International Studies), 11

I’m working hard to graduate as valedictorian and set myself up for a successful future. I plan to attend a four-year college and major in nursing because I’m passionate about healthcare, and I’m considering a minor in psychology, business, or marine biology. In the future, I’d love to own a business and be involved in my community, using my success to help and inspire others while always continuing to learn and grow!

Gupta, Kriti

Upper St. Clair High School, 12

I’m a passionate student leader with a strong interest in leadership, music, empathy, and community service. As the founder of a nonprofit, I focus on youth leadership and mental health advocacy. With awards like the Thomas Jefferson Book Award and 18 Under 18 Award, I aim to pursue social sciences and entrepreneurship to use my skills to create positive change and make an impact on underserved communities.

Hagen, Abby

Mars High School, 12

I am fully committed to Grove City College, majoring in Design and Innovation and planning to pursue a business-related minor. I am excited to get involved with college life and community. I look forward to eventually persuing a career where I can use my God given gifts and talents.

Hahl, Charles

Fox Chapel Area High School, 11

I plan to study civil engineering in college, and hope to one day become a forensic structural engineer. Wherever I go to college, I plan to play the cello in the orchestra and chamber groups. I also plan to serve a two-year mission for my church during my college years.

Harrell, Himani

Freeport Senior High School, 11

I plan on attending a four-year university to pursue a double major in political science and journalism. I intend to become a voice for underrepresented communities through journalism. I have always been passionate about creating an informed electorate, which I believe starts with strong reporting.

Horne, Justin

Fox Chapel Area High School, 12

After high school I plan on continuing my academics at the University of Pittsburgh and majoring in mechanical engineering. I am currently a competitive rock climber and plan on continuing this athletic passion of mine throughout college.

Janeda, Reese

Montour High School, 12

In the fall, I will be attending the College of Charleston, located in Charleston, South Carolina, to continue on with my academics, and hopefully my athletic career as well! My major is currently Undecided, but I am leaning towards going into Communications to eventually get into Sports Reporting/Broadcasting! I also hope to make their Division 1 Equestrian Team, as I will tryout the first weekend I am on campus!

Johnson, Khiyah

Springdale Junior/Senior High School, 12

I plan on going to either CCAC for their Electrical or Mechatronics programs, or Rosedale Technical College for their Electrical program. I’ve found that I enjoy working with my hands and using my creativity skills the most. Furthermore, practicing a trade would help me continue to help those around me.

Kalpatthi, Havisha

North Allegheny Senior High School, 11

I am determined to become a physician-scientist who will drive the nation’s health policy in the coming decades. I want to broaden my understanding, using what I have learned in my diverse classes as a foundation for the next step in my education. I will build my skills by getting a degree in both medicine and public health policy. I believe in empowering the younger generation and will continue expanding my reach to them through initiatives to enrich their physical and psychological health.

Kilgore, Eve

The Ellis School, 11

My future 5-year goals are centered around pursuing higher education, starting with college and continuing to further my studies in a specialized field. I am passionate about both medicine and politics, and I aspire to build a career in one of these areas. In each of these fields, I aim to make a meaningful impact, contribute to advancements, and drive positive change in my community. Through dedication and hard work, I hope to help shape the future and make a difference in the lives of others.

Kronk, Hunter

Quaker Valley High School, 11

My future plans include attending college as an economics major. I am specifically interested in studying ESG (environmental, social, governance) topics as they relate to economics and social entrepreneurship.

Krummert, Elena

Oakland Catholic High School, 11

I plan to continue volunteering at my church, altar serving. This summer I plan on getting a job in addition to babysitting. I would also like to volunteer at a local Nursing Home or Hospital.

Kudis, Nora

Thomas Jefferson High School, 12

In the fall I will be attending Saint Vincent College, participating in the Honors Program while majoring in History and earning my certificate in Secondary Education. I play the trumpet, and plan to join the marching band at Saint Vincent to continue my passion for music. After college, I aim to become a high school history teacher, where I can share my love for history with students in the same way that my teachers did so for me. I would also enjoy mentoring clubs or assisting the band.

Landsbaugh, Jenna

New Brighton High School, 12

I plan to attend Grove City College for a major in Early Education.

Lasek, Sienna

Hampton High School, 12

Over the next four years, I plan to dual major in biology and physics as well as participate in undergraduate research so that I can develop a deep knowledge of the subjects and their applications to lab-based research. Afterward, I plan to pursue a PhD in a related field. My ultimate goal is to lead my own research lab focusing on solving the issue of antibiotic resistance in bacteria so that I may make a positive impact and help others.

Lecker, Riley

Bishop Canevin Catholic High School, 12

Building on the experience of having a significant injury with surgery followed by physical therapy, my future plans are to pursue a career as a Physical Therapist, focusing on helping dancers and others prevent / return from injury. I will be attending a 3 year undergraduate / 3 year doctoral program leading to achievement of this goal.

Li, Andrew

North Allegheny Senior High School, 12

I will be attending the University of Pennsylvania and studying biology on a pre-med track. In the future, I hope to blend research and medicine into a career as a physician scientist. I really enjoy interacting with people and being able to care for them, but also want to help find permanent solutions to their problems through research, specifically computational biology and bioinformatics. I will continue to play the piano and involve myself in the community.

Lynch, Gavin

Fox Chapel Area High School, 11

I am excited to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Engineering after high school with the hope of working to fix the Energy and Climate Crises. I will most likely go to Graduate School for a Master’s Degree. I am excited to attend classes taught by professionals in my field of interest and to get involved on campus and in the community with research and internships.

Mathanachandran, Kesahi

Upper St. Clair High School, 12

I plan to continue serving people from all walks of life throughout my lifetime.
I will continue to share my passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) by fostering the STEM interests of the younger community.
I will also continue to share my passion for music with my community. Continuing to play piano for senior citizens and teaching Bharatanatyam dance to students allows me to serve my purpose of cultivating positivity in others’ lives.

Mathieu, Kaleb

Pine-Richland High School, 12

After graduating high school, I will attend a college or university to earn a business degree with a possible minor in biblical studies. While earning the degree, I hope to continue volunteering in various ways within the community and at school. After graduating college, I aspire to either start a business or join the Air Force to serve our country.

Miklavic, Erik

Montour High School, 12

After graduating from Montour High School, I will attend West Virginia University to study in their school of medicine and major in Immunology and Medical Microbiology with the ultimate goal of attending medical school and becoming a Physician of Emergency Medicine. In addition to my degree, I wish to conduct research in neuroimmunology and monoclonal antibody development to add to the ever growing field of medicine and to fuel my deep commitment to serve my community.

Motha, Aditi

North Allegheny Senior High School, 11

Throughout the rest of my high school journey, I will continue mentoring students in computer science and business while expanding my efforts in cancer research, awareness and education through CARE. After graduating from North Allegheny, I look to pursue an undergraduate degree in a field related to STEM and/or Business while staying active in community service, potentially joining organizations such as American Cancer Society and/or Code.org.

Murray, Caelyn

Chartiers Valley High School, 12

I plan to pursue a degree in mechanical and manufacturing engineering, followed by a master’s in engineering management and construction management. As a leader on the Horsepower 4991 FRC team and organizer of the Women of Pittsburgh event, I’ve strengthened my leadership and event-planning skills. My passion for engineering deepened through hands-on experiences in class, robotics, and in the shop, pushing me to continually challenge myself, learn, and grow in the field.

Murray, Caelyn

Agora Cyber Charter School, 12

I plan to pursue a degree in mechanical and manufacturing engineering, followed by a master’s in engineering management and construction management. As a leader on the Horsepower 4991 FRC team and organizer of the Women of Pittsburgh event, I’ve developed strong leadership and event-planning skills. My passion for engineering has grown through hands-on experiences in class, robotics, and in the shop, constantly pushing me to challenge myself, improve, and expand my abilities in these fields.