Meet the Class of 2030:  

Debra-Jul Akanmu from Dallas, Texas, is the recipient of the Texas Exes Dallas Chapter Forty Acres Scholarship. While attending Frontier STEM Academy, Akanmu served as president of her school's HOSA chapter, president of the National Honor Society, and co-founder of a non-profit organization supporting the education of school-aged girls in Nigeria. She has obtained her phlebotomy certification, patient care technician certification, and pharmacy technician certification. She also obtained the AP Scholar with distinction award and interned at John Peter Smith hospital where she utilized her phlebotomy and patient care technician skills on the Med-Surg floors, admissions holding unit, and Urgent care. During her senior year, she also interned at Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic and Spine hospital, where she shadowed orthopedic surgeries, pain procedures, observed radiology testing, shadowed CRNA's, orthopedic surgeons, and registered nurses. In her free time, she has been volunteering with hospice patients since 8th grade, plays piano for her church, and loves to knit. Akanmu plans to major in Nursing Honors with interest in pursuing the Social Inequality, Health, and Policy certificate. She is the daughter of Dorcas and Oludele Akanmu.

Caroline Best from Chevy Chase, Maryland, is the recipient of the Moore Family Forty Acres Scholarship. While attending the Holton-Arms School, Best served as the Communications and Sports Media Intern at the University of Maryland. She was the only high school student selected to intern with the University of Maryland Athletic Department. She was a community engagement representative where she was selected by peers to serve as the primary liaison for community service initiatives for her grade, recognized for exceptional commitment to service and leadership. As well as a Global Scholar Award Recipient where she was one of only fifteen students in the senior class selected for this distinction, recognizing exceptional engagement with global issues and international affairs. Her awards and recognitions include Volunteer of the Year for National Center for Children and Families, for commitment to mission and ensuring every child gets to experience joy, safety, and wonder that every child deserves. She also received a Certificate of Social Entrepreneurship where she was a selected participant in a competitive entrepreneurship and community innovation program. She also received Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, being awarded two Silver Keys and three honorable mentions for paintings and drawings. Her and her family have visited 44 states on road trips, and she has collected a license plate from each one. She’s hoping to get to all 50. She has also always been involved in the arts, whether in theatre, advanced drawing and painting, or as a graphic designer for her grade. Best plans to major in Communications and Leadership. She is considering double majoring in either Advertising or Marketing at McCombs, and/or minoring in Sports Media or Communicating Social Issues. She is the daughter of Kristen and Stephen Best.

Caroline Bonner from Houston, Texas, is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by Lisette and Jim Kaper. While attending Memorial Senior High School, Bonner was valedictorian and served as the president of National Spanish Honor Society as well as philanthropy chair on student council her senior year, helping to organize and lead the annual student council Canned Food Drive. She turned it into a school wide sports and fine arts competition and brought in a record amount of donations—roughly 36,000 cans—which were donated to nine food pantries across Houston. She also played varsity tennis in school, and every summer she swam and coached kids on her neighborhood pool's swim team, which she has been a part of for 13 years. Her awards and recognitions include National Merit Scholar, The President's Volunteer Service Award, AP Scholar with Distinction as well as a recipient of her school's Outstanding Pre-Calculus Award, AP Statistics Award, and AP Language and Composition award. She enjoys gardening, journaling, playing piano, and any kind of sport. She was voted by her class of 2026 fellow seniors as most likely to win a Nobel Peace Prize. She also holds the MSBSC MOC 200 Free Relay Record for 15-18 Girls. Bonner plans to major in Environmental Engineering in the Engineering Honors Program and Plan II Honors with a possible minor in Spanish. She is the daughter of Heather and Robert Bonner.

Elliott Day from Austin, Texas, is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by Jenny and Adam Saphier. While attending Stephen F. Austin High School, Day served as president of Mu Alpha Theta, Editor-in-Chief of The Maroon, and was a mathematics researcher in the University of Texas at Austin Experimental Geometry Lab, where he developed a computational tool to model Lie algebra cohomology through independent research under the mentorship of a UT-Austin PhD researcher. His awards and recognitions include AP Scholar with Distinction, National Merit Commended Scholar, and Austin Independent School District Trustee Scholar Award (four-year recipient). He loved spending part of his high school summers in rural Kentucky with the Appalachia Service Project (ASP), assisting families with home repairs and community projects. Day plans on majoring in Mathematics and Plan II Honors with a minor in Business. He is the son of Kristen and Aaron Day.

Graciela Garcia from Arlington, Texas, is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by Gregory Nance Moore in memory of Kathleen Cavanagh Moore. While attending Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy, Garcia was a National Youth Ambassador for the Tourette Association of America and leader of the Dallas/Fort Worth support group for youth with Tourette's, founder and president of Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy's LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) Council and State Youth President for LULAC Texas, and on the City of Grand Prairie Mayor's Teen Council. Her awards and recognitions include AP Scholar with Distinction, Grand Prairie ISD Student of Character Award, and a Seal of Biliteracy Award. She is a goalkeeper for the Atletico Dallas Soccer Club on an ECNL RL NTX team. She says she is excited to take her gloves and cleats to UT to play in intramurals. Garcia plans to major in Public Affairs and Spanish. She is the daughter of Kari and Sandro Garcia.

Jacob George from Pearland, Texas, is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by Kevin Cumming. While attending Shadow Creek High School, George was a Rice University Computational Photonics Lab Intern where he built a python model that uses matrix multiplication to predict and graph the behavior of light waves in solid materials. He served as Model United Nations Club President, organizing inter-school Model United Nations conferences for both local high schools and middle schools. He also volunteered at the NASA Space Center Houston where he educated international guests about NASA missions and Space Center exhibits through interactive activities and presentations. His awards and recognitions include being a National Merit $2500 Award recipient and a perfect score on the AP Computer Principles AP Exam. As part of the exam, he built and received full credit on a computer program that compares international air pollution levels. He also received the Houston Area Model United Nations XLIX "Best Delegate" Award from the oldest Model United Nations Conference in the Southwest region of the United States. In his free time, he enjoys playing competitive soccer and experimenting in the kitchen, where he creates and shares new food recipes. He plans to major in Honors Electrical and Computer Engineering and Canfield Business Honors with a Computational Science and Engineering Certificate. He is the son of Goldy and Joseph George.

Sara Guedez from Mission, Texas, is the recipient of the Inman Foundation Forty Acres Scholarship. While attending Sharyland High School, Guedez was co-founder of Bridge Builders for Refugees, a nonprofit that has supported over 300 families at the Rio Grande Valley border by providing essential supplies and creating bilingual resources for immigrant communities. She was also a three-year section leader for the Sharyland High School Marching Band, where she led the clarinet section, organizing specialized rehearsals, providing individualized support to members, and teaching 120 students marching fundamentals, contributing to the band’s growth and success. During concert season, she earned a chair in the top wind ensemble all four years. She also served as an officer in SkillsUSA, where she helped organize fundraisers that raised more than $2,000 and supported student participation in competitions, leadership workshops, and career development opportunities. Her awards and recognitions include National Merit Commended Scholar, a two-time SkillsUSA District Champion in Electrical Code, and a Business Professionals of America State Finalist in Economic Research. She is currently an intern at GMG Design and Construction, shadowing an architect across client meetings, design development, and project site visits, gaining firsthand exposure to the full building process. Guedez plans to major in Architecture. Her first project site visit was at the age of two. She would also like to explore business and engineering, with a possible Business Foundations Minor and/or the Humanitarian Engineering Certificate. She is the daughter of Claudia Garcia de Guedez and Gustavo Guedez.

Syrus Gupta from Dallas, Texas, is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by Julie and Don Judson. While attending the Greenhill School, Gupta served as captain of the Greenhill Improv Troupe, selected through a competitive process to lead rehearsals and mentor new members and performed in 20+ live shows for audiences of up to 300. He also served as president of the Junior Classical League Club where he led meetings and coordinated events celebrating Latin language and culture; prepared members for regional and state competitions, earning multiple awards across academic and artistic categories. He was also head of special events for Greenhill Arts Board where he planned and executed major arts programming, including schoolwide showcases, screenings, and coffeehouses. His awards and recognitions include earning several awards and nominations from film festivals around the world, including Best Film at the Pegasus Film Festival and Best Music Video at the All-American High School Film Festival, and an English Department Book Award, recognized by the Greenhill English Department for excellence in literary analysis, writing, and engagement with the curriculum. He was also a National Merit Commended Scholar. He founded and led the development of a mobile app startup called Eventify, focused on streamlining the event planning process, to pitch to his school's VC fund panel, securing $2,000 in seed funding. He has also performed in nearly 10 theater productions since he was a kid, even traveling abroad to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the world’s largest arts festival. His favorite role was Kevin G. in Mean Girls. Gupta plans to major in Radio-Television-Film and Plan II Honors with a Minor in the McComb's School of Business or Minor in Media and Entertainment Industries. He is the son of Boski Sharma and Sharad Gupta.

Corinne Hampton from Austin, Texas, is the recipient of the Mike A. Myers Forty Acres Scholarship. While attending McCallum High School, Hampton served as a McCallum Dance Fine Arts Ambassador, was the co-founder and president of the McCallum Mindfulness Organization, seeking to promote the social-emotional well-being of students, and served as a communications director on student council. Her awards and recognitions include African American Senior Scholar Award recipient, AP Scholar with Distinction, and a member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. She is also the co-artistic director of her school's fully student-led dance production. Hampton plans to major in Dance with interests to major in Psychology, as she is very interested in sports psychology. She also plans to pursue a pilates certification. She is the daughter of Elizabeth and Craig Hampton.

Anirudh Medicherla from Denton, Texas, is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by Andrea and Dan Ellinor. While attending the Texas Academy of Math and Science, Medicherla was an exercise physiology researcher at UNT Applied Physiology Laboratory where he conducted human performance testing on elite athletes and co-authored research presentations for the International Journal of Strength and Conditioning. He was also executive board member of HOPE (Helping Other People Everywhere) where he supervised 17 volunteer committees providing weekly service opportunities, helped raise over $65,000 for charities including Save the Children and Project HOPE, and organized blood drives collecting 800 units of blood and saving 2,400 lives. Finally, he was founder of Science-Based Fitness Education Platform where he built an online platform with over 17,000 followers translating exercise physiology and sports science research into clear, evidence-based guidance on training and recovery for a diverse audience. His awards and recognitions include an Undergraduate Research Fellowship, the University of North Texas, awarded $4,500 through a competitive faculty selection process to conduct research under Dr. Jakob Vingren; presented findings on alcohol biomarker variability at UNT Scholars Day 2026; International Biology Battle 9th Place Worldwide, placed 9th globally for advanced problem-solving in biology and human physiology; International Logic Olympiad, Gold Scholar, awarded to the top 5% globally for excellence in symbolic logic and deductive reasoning. Medicherla plans to major in Exercise Science. His other interests are Human Physiology and research in sports medicine and high-performance athletics, with interests in athlete care, injury prevention, and health communication, with plans to pursue a minor in Analytics and the Business of Sports. He is the son of Rajani Adapa and Murthy Medicherla.

Kendall Miltonberger from Austin, Texas, is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by Lana Jones O'Hara and Will O'Hara. While attending Vandegrift High School, Miltonberger was a member of the Vandegrift High School cheer program for four years and served as varsity co-captain during her senior season. She was also an officer for the PALS program where she mentored elementary and middle school students and volunteered with several philanthropies throughout Austin, focusing on supporting individuals with mental and physical disabilities. Outside of school, she served as president of her National Charity League class, where she led and organized meetings, and oversaw and supported board members in planning service events. Her awards and recognitions include the Bronze Presidential Service Award through the National Charity League for completing more than 50 hours of community service in one year as well as the Vandy Perf Award from the Vandegrift cheer program, recognizing her work ethic, leadership, and commitment to being a great ambassador for the program. Additionally, Miltonberger was named an AP Scholar with Honor by the College Board for strong academic achievement across multiple Advanced Placement exams. She is also a triplet and will be a member of the Texas All-Girl Cheerleading team next year. Miltonberger plans to major in Social Work with hopes to pursue a minor in Government. She is the daughter of Melissa and Neil Miltonberger.

Ava Newbury from Frisco, Texas, is the recipient of the Karen and Charles Matthews, Jr. Forty Acres Scholarship. While attending Rick Reedt High School, Newbury served two years as competition officer in DECA, onboarding new members, coaching written events, and judging school competitions competed at the international level. She served as vice president of philanthropy in National Charity League, where she connected members with service opportunities and supported local non-profits through volunteering. She is also a dual German American citizen passionate about languages and cultures and completed a marketing internship in Germany. She served as a member of the National Spanish Honor Society and Spanish liaison for Refresh NTX, supporting non-English-speaking families in accessing essential services. Her awards and recognitions include National Merit Scholar, DECA three time TX State Champion and qualified three times for the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) and a two time International Finalist in the categories Integrated Marketing Campaign and Professional Selling, and Presidential Volunteer Service Awards in Gold and Bronze. She is passionate about music, whether it’s listening or playing. She is a classically trained pianist and last year had an amazing opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall with her studio. She plans to major in Canfield Business Honors with a minor in International Business Certificate in German. She is the daughter of Anja and Karsten Newbury.

Ifeoluwa Oladimeji from Mckinney, Texas, is the recipient of the Edith and E.B. Sutton Memorial Forty Acres Scholarship. While attending Heritage High School, Oladimeji was the co-founder and co-president of the school’s Model United Nations club, where she organized conferences and educated students on global humanitarian challenges. She also interned at Whalen Law Office, where she contributed to trial preparation and conducted legal research in criminal defense. Oladimeji also researched human rights education pedagogies for the NGO Human Rights Education Associates, analyzing teaching methods and their applications in university and law school settings. Her awards and recognitions include being named an Outstanding Advocate Qualifier for Texas High School Mock Trial Region 10, ranking among the top 15 attorneys, earning the College Board African American Recognition Award, and being recognized as an AP Scholar with Distinction. Oladimeji plans to major in International Relations and Global Studies with a minor in History and a Bridging Disciplines Program (BDP) certificate in Human Rights and Social Justice. She is the daughter of Bunmi and Joseph Oladimeji.

Kaosisochukwu Sonia Onyeagba from Houston, Texas, is the recipient of the AIM Foundation Forty Acres Scholarship. While attending KIPP Houston High School, Onyeagba was the founder and president of KIPP Houston High School H.O.S.A Chapter, founder and CEO of "SlayedbySony" Hair Business, and a four-year varsity volleyball starter. Her awards and recognitions include Top 5% of graduating class, National Spanish Association Gold Medalist, KIPP McGregor Scholarship Award Recipient, and AP Scholar. She is also a first-generation Nigerian American. Onyeagba plans to major in Neuroscience with a Minor in Public Health, Certificate in Spanish, and a Certificate in Finance. She is the daughter of Stella and Ikechukwu Onyeagba.

Rori Reynolds from Austin, Texas, is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by Reba and Ralph Ferrell. While attending Lake Travis High School, Reynolds was student body president of her 4000-person high school, founder and executive director of LTHS Ripple Effect (TEDx), and sole high school summer intern for Austin-based startup Senseye Inc., an AI-driven medical diagnostics company. Her awards and recognitions include College Board National Merit Commended Scholar and AP Capstone Diploma recipient, AP Scholar with Distinction, as well as an Ivy Golf Institute True-U Award–winning varsity golf captain and seven-time golf tournament champion. Rori loves music and has learned to play several instruments, including the recorder, ukulele, piano, and guitar. This interest has grown into a passion for Broadway theater and attending music festivals like Austin City Limits. She is interested in pursuing a career at the intersection of artificial intelligence and real-world impact, particularly in how it is transforming financial systems, smart cities, and healthcare. Reynolds plans to major in Texas Honors Electrical and Computer Engineering & Business with a minor in Robotics and a minor in International Business. She is the daughter of Gina Sandon and Rob Reynolds.

Aniruddh Subramanian from Flower Mound, Texas, is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by Carolyn and Peyton Townsend. While attending Flower Mound High School, Subramanian was the valedictorian and the president of the national student organization Nightingale Advocacy, pushing policymakers toward progressive healthcare reform. He served four years on the speech and debate team, competing in elimination rounds of the Texas Forensic Association State Tournament and the National Speech and Debate Tournament. He was also captain of Flower Mound HS Model United Nations team. His awards and recognitions include National Merit Finalist, Editorial Writing UIL State finalist 2025, holds a degree of premier distinction in the National Speech and Debate Association, awarded to less than 4% of competitors nationwide. He is also a politics junkie and can't go a day without completing the New York Times’ Connections and Wordle games. Subramanian plans to major in Civics Honors & Plan II Honors with Minors in Business and Public Policy or Economics. He is the son of Meenakshi Umapathy and Chandra Subramanian.

Abigail Trahan from Tyler, Texas, is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by Jamie and Jeremy Saylor. While attending Robert E. Lee High School, Trahan was a Tyler Legacy Key Club Webmaster, Camp Mystic Tonkawa Tribe Captain, and the Young Life President. Her awards and recognitions include Academic All-District for volleyball, THSCA Academic All-State for volleyball, and National Honor Society. She is also the social media manager for Tyler Legacy Football. Trahan plans to major in Public Relations with hopes of exploring Sports Management. She is the daughter of Dr. Lauren and Mr. Beau Trahan.

Annie Tsang from Bellaire, Texas, is the recipient of the Texas Exes Baytown Chapter Forty Acres Scholarship. While attending Bellaire High School, Tsang was a physical therapy intern at Pace Chiropractic and Physical Therapy where she guided patients through exercises and assisted with treatments, gaining hands-on experience in physical therapy. She was also vice president of the Crochet and Knitting Club where she coordinated lessons at senior homes and elementary schools and led weekly meetings that included instruction and community service projects, such as overseeing the creation of 15 crochet blankets and care packages for hospitalized patients. And finally, was marketing chief of the Bellaire Carillon Yearbook where she managed marketing campaigns and collaborated with team members to raise over $55,000 through sponsorships across three years for yearbook production. Her awards and recognitions include AP Scholar with Distinction, National History Day Senior Group Website: Third Place, and the Gee Family Association Education Fund: Jane Gee Memorial Scholarship, awarded for leadership and service in the community. In her free time, she loves baking and sharing treats with her friends and family. A big perk of being the president of Dessert Club is getting to see everyone enjoy the treats they make. Tsang plans to major in Exercise Science with an Ethics & Leadership in Health Care Certificate and Business Foundations Minor. She is the daughter of Vantanee Pornkittichotcharoen and Chak Tsang.

Daniel Vassiliev from Houston, Texas, is the recipient of the Fred A. Gottesman Forty Acres Scholarship. While attending Clear Lake High School, Vassiliev served as the National Honor Society and DECA President, was a varsity basketball and tennis player, and the STEM Siblings President, leading high school mentors delivering hands-on STEM programs across the district. His awards and recognitions include International DECA finalist, First in District and Third in Houston Science Fair (Aerospace Engineering), National Merit Commended Scholar, and an AP Scholar with Distinction. He has also advocated for NASA in D.C. with Citizens for Space Exploration, competed in FIRST Robotics and mentored VEX students to Worlds, interned at UT’s Center for Space Research, co-owns Next Level Entertainment, a photo booth business, and is fluent in Russian. Vassiliev plans to major in Electrical & Computer Engineering and Business Honors with hopes to also explore finance. He is the son of Olga and Nikolai Vassiliev.

Cole Wakefield from Mckinney, Texas, is the recipient of the Chris Cartwright Forty Acres Scholarship. While attending Mckinney Boyd High School, Wakefield was valedictorian and served on the Samaritan Inn Homeless Shelter's Teen Action Council where he had the opportunity to tutor the shelter's incredible children and coordinated both teen and family service day events. He served as the president for the Young Men's Service League McKinney Chapter where he had the opportunity to write a chapter in the "Giving the Ultimate Gift" (Stovall) book, describing the organization's work serving the Shiloh Place shelter for domestic abuse. He also served as the president of McKinney Boyd's National Honor Society. His awards and recognitions include National Merit Finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, and he was a recipient of the McKinney Boyd High School Outstanding Leadership Award. He also worked on a year-long project researching real estate development in the Dallas area and played on the McKinney Boyd tennis team for all four years in high school. Wakefield plans to major in Canfield Business Honors and Plan II Honors with a potential major in Accounting or Finance. He is the son of Heather and Brian Wakefield.

Aaron Wu from Houston, Texas, is the recipient of the Sarah M. and Charles E. Seay Forty Acres Scholarship; Marilyn Marshall White Enrichment Award. While attending the St. John’s School, Wu served as Chair of City of Houston's Mayor's Youth Council where he chaired monthly general assembly meetings and virtual/ad-hoc meetings to develop initiatives that promote youth voices, representation, and civic engagement in Houston. He was co-chair of CommServe board, where he launched his school’s first ever “Red & Black Gives Back Week,” a week devoted to schoolwide service which consisted of 10 service events, a forum, and a donation drive in one week. He also served as secretary-general/president of the Model United Nations Team. His awards and recognitions include the Mayor’s Next Generation Award honored by Mayor John Whitmire for his service efforts within Houston, and the Excellence in Community Service award recognized by St. John's School for demonstrating a sustained commitment to service and leadership. He is also an AP Scholar with Distinction. In his free time, he enjoys cooking for his family during Thanksgiving, cookouts with friends, and volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House. He likes anything outdoors such as hikes and running. He also plays the clarinet. Wu plans to major in Canfield Business Honors and Plan II Honors. He is the son of Pinli Ma and Shunxing Wu.

Eli Yorio from Austin, Texas, is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by Amanda and Ford Albritton in honor of C. Lamar Norsworthy III. While attending St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, Yorio was co-valedictorian and founded 26 for 26, a campaign in partnership with Undue Medical Debt that has eliminated over $6.3 million in outstanding medical debt for 5,688 Austinites, built the Trial Tracker app to help doctors and research staff identify available clinical trials for patients, and was a four-year varsity golfer. His awards and recognitions include a City of Austin proclamation for the impact made by 26 for 26, KVUE 5 Who Care Award for making a difference in the Austin community, and he was a National Merit Finalist. His fun fact is that he once paddle boarded the full 21 miles of Lake Austin from dam to dam. Yorio plans to major in Plan II Honors and Biology while in the Health Science Scholars Honors Program. He is the son of Andi and Jeff Yorio.