Outstanding Young Citizen Awardees

 

2025 Outstanding Young Citizens

Congratulations to our Outstanding Young Citizens!

 

Diya Shrishrimal

Shady Side Academy, 11
Parent(s)/Guardian(s):

Rashmi Yadav

Academic Achievement

Stephen Michael Shenkan Memorial Award (By vote of the faculty there is added to the plaque in Rowe Hall the name of that member of the FOURTH FORM who most exemplifies the spirit of friendly cooperation, measureless effort, and constructive leadership that was shown by Stephen Michael Shenkan at Shady Side Academy from 1955 to 1958.), Recipient – 1 Year
Best Advocate Award in Mock Trial (2024 and 2025), Recipient – 2 Years
Parkin Fellowship (Parkin Fellowships award travel grant money each summer to assist students in completing service or environmental projects around the globe. These experiences make an impact not only through the direct service or environmental improvements that students engage in, but also through the stories students share upon their return, stories that enrich the Shady Side community while inspiring others to make a difference in the world. I went on a service trip to India where I volunteered at Access Life, treating young children with cancer)., Recipient – 1 Year
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards (1 Silver Key and 7 Honorable Mentions), Recipient – 2 Years
Carson Scholar (The Carson Scholars Fund awards $1,000 college scholarships to students in grades 4-11 who excel academically and are dedicated to serving their communities.), Recipient – 1 Year

Extracurricular Activities

Writer for The Penn Franklin (Report on the Murrysville Council Meetings, community stories, and new businesses in the area), Writer – 1 Year
Mock Trial (Organized a field trip to the PA Superior Court, Scrimmages, and overall led the team in practice and trials), President – 3 Years
School Newspaper, called The Bulldog Bugle. Serve as the editor for the Community section., Chief Editor – 3 Years
Asian Student Union, Member – 1 Year
Varsity Girls Tennis, Member – 3 Years

Community Involvement

Murrysville Teen Advisory Board (Began in 8th grade and am currently serving my second term as the president.), President – 4 Years
Shady Side Academy Mentoring Program (Volunteer 1 hour every other week to assist in mentoring a member of our elementary school. I also help co-lead this program to ensure that the program has longevity and a larger reach), President – 3 Years
Humane Action Pittsburgh Youth Steering Internship ( worked for animal and environmental welfare, advocacy, and volunteerism), Intern – 1 Year
Service Learning Club (Attend weekly meetings, volunteer at Family House and Food Drive Collections, and organize Christmas present drives and a food drive for a nearby Catholic Church), Member – 3 Years
Science and English Tutor (assist in essays of all grades, chemistry, and physics), Tutor – 2 Years

Plans

I hope to attend university and pursue for a career in law that includes my love for medicine. I plan to continue to write, contributing to the university’s newspaper and any English assistance programs. As for in the near future, I will be doing research this summer at the Gau Lab where I will be researching the role of the mitochondria’s structure and how it regulates different diseases and health issues, specifically cancer.