Group photo of the Prudential Winners with the challenge logo
A circular badge image in the Prudential Emerging Visionaries dark blue. Across the top is the Prudential logo and large white block text that reads "Emerging Visionaries". Underneath reads "Winners 2024".

MEET THE 2023 PRUDENTIAL
EMERGING VISIONARIES WINNERS

 

We are proud to celebrate these 25 young people from across the country for their inspiring commitment to improving the lives of others. These young changemakers are being recognized for creating meaningful change in their communities from teaching young people how to turn their passions into businesses to expanding access to mental health resources.

FINANCIAL
SOLUTIONS

Nikita Agrawal
Chicago, Illinois, 17

Nikita Agrawal, 17, of Chicago, Illinois, is the co-founder and president of “FinPro World,” an initiative that promotes financial literacy among middle and high school-aged students by teaching them computer programming skills.

Okezue Bell
Easton, Pennsylvania, 17

Okezue Bell, 17, of Easton, Pennsylvania, created “Fidutam,” an accessible mobile app that is expanding financial access to unbanked and low-income communities.

Aaryan Doshi
Cupertino, California, 16

Aaryan Doshi, 16, of Cupertino, California, leads “CirFin,” a global initiative that aims to inspire young people to use fintech to support and strengthen more sustainable economies.

Catherine Mellett Felix
New York, New York, 17

Catherine Mellett Felix, 17, of New York, New York, started a mobile app to address gender economic inequality by teaching young women how to manage and grow their personal finances.

Jordyn Wright
Rosharon, Texas, 15

Jordyn Wright, 15, of Rosharon, Texas, started a youth entrepreneurship program to teach young people how to identify their passions and use them as a launching point for creating innovative enterprises that serve their communities.

SOCIETAL
SOLUTIONS

Jack Bonneau
Broomfield, Colorado, 17

Jack Bonneau, 17, of Broomfield, Colorado, launched “Teen Hustl,” a start-up on a mission to create environmentally conscious opportunities for youth employment in today’s gig economy.

Varuni Chopra
North Royalton, Ohio, 18

Varuni Chopra, 17, of North Royalton, Ohio, is the founder of “Bridge the Gap Initiative,” a project that teaches digital literacy skills to senior citizens, boosting their connectivity and increasing their quality of life.

Sydnie Collins
La Plata, Maryland, 18

Sydnie Collins, 18, of La Plata, Maryland, is the founder of “It’s Perfect Timing,” an international podcast that promotes youth positivity by giving young people the space to celebrate their achievements and combat mental health stigmas.

Kean Dao
Winterville, North Carolina, 17

Kean Dao, 17, of Winterville, North Carolina, co-founded “Environmental Droners,” an initiative that utilizes technology to engage and educate the public on protecting the environment by identifying polluted areas in need of cleanup.

Mia Fritsch-Anderson
Chicago, Illinois, 18

Mia Fritsch-Anderson, 18, of Chicago, Illinois is the creator of “Choose to Breathe,” a movement to educate young people about asthma and reduce the stigma around using inhalers.

Kylee Hamamoto
Honolulu, Hawaii, 17

Kylee Hamamoto, 17, of Honolulu, Hawaii, created “WeGo! Hawaii” to foster strong and independent female leaders and create a community space for young women to pursue changemaking.

Zoya Haq
Dallas, Texas, 18

Zoya Haq, 18, of Dallas, Texas, leads “HiStory Retold,” a global initiative to promote inclusivity in history classrooms by encouraging community storytelling and new classroom policies and curriculum resources.

Lillian Hertel
St. Louis Park, Minnesota 17

Lillian Hertel, 17, of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, is the founder of “Students Stand Up,” an international program that provides young people with the necessary resources to get started in advocacy and grassroots organizing.

Shraman Kar
Louisville, Kentucky, 16

Shraman Kar, 16, of Louisville, Kentucky, co-founded “Community AI,” a nonprofit that trains youth in creating scalable technology products that better the world.

Sidney Keys III
Marietta, Georgia, 17

Sidney Keys III, 17, of Marietta, Georgia, founded “Books N Bros,” a book club that improves the relationship young Black men have with reading by amplifying African American stories and literature.

Isheta Kulshreshtha
Hockessin, Delaware, 16

Isheta Kulshreshtha, 16, of Hockessin, Delaware, is the founder of “Leveled Legislation,” an initiative that aims to increase gender parity around the world by advocating for equitable policies and increasing youth civic engagement.

Vaishnavi Kumbala
Metairie, Louisiana, 15

Vaishnavi Kumbala, 15, of Metairie, Louisiana, is the founder of a mobile app developed to improve teen mental health as well as expand access to mental wellness resources, particularly in disaster-prone areas.

Mark Leschinsky
Mahwah, New Jersey, 17

Mark Leschinsky, 17, of Mahwah, New Jersey, is the founder of “Student World Impact Film Festival,” a film competition that elevates the voices of young storytellers from underserved communities.

Aanand Mehta
Phoenix, Arizona, 17

Aanand Mehta, 17, of Phoenix, Arizona, co-founded “Magical Motors,” an assistive technology initiative to help children with mobility impairments regain autonomy by rewiring ride-on toy cars to be hand-controlled instead of foot-powered.

Joshua Oh
Gambrills, Maryland, 14

Joshua Oh, 14, of Gambrills, Maryland, co-founded an initiative to increase access to diapers across the United States through innovative distribution methods and lobbying to remove diaper taxes.

Rishan Patel
Atherton, California, 16

Rishan Patel, 16, of Atherton, California, leads “The Lending Locker,” which increases youth access to sports by providing free athletic gear year-round to underserved schools.

Riyah Patel
Concord, New Hampshire, 17

Riyah Patel, 17, of Concord, New Hampshire, started “New American Scholars” to close the achievement gap between students who are refugees and their American-born peers by providing academic support and educational resources.

Austin Picinich
Kirkland, Washington, 18

Austin Picinich, 17, of Kirkland, Washington, created the “Save Our Salmon Through Art” initiative, which stages public art projects that encourage community members to be stewards of local salmon to preserve their once-thriving populations and spawning streams in the greater Seattle area.

Siona (Dolly) Pramoda
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, 14

Siona (Dolly) Pramoda, 14, of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, is a leader of “SafeTeensOnline,” a peer-led and experience-sharing community that teaches young people online safety and privacy skills.

Kosha Upadhyay
Bellevue, Washington, 16

Kosha Upadhyay, 16, of Bellevue, Washington, started “Buzz Bowl," a quiz game that aims to elevate the percentage of female STEM graduates by giving 5th through 8th-grade girls access to an AP-level education in science and math subjects.