2024 winner
Leilani Valeria Morales Vázquez
Puerto Rico
Leilani is a Puerto Rican high schooler passionate about using technology to create sustainable solutions. Driven by her desire to address the energy crisis in her community, Leilani developed a passive cooling system for public schools in Puerto Rico. Her Rise project involved constructing an Earth Air Tunnel System using TinkerCad and analyzing its effectiveness in reducing temperatures. Through her research, Leilani has won prestigious awards, including the Yale Science & Engineering Association's Most Outstanding Exhibit Award. As a dedicated community advocate, her future plans include advocating for implementation in Puerto Rico’s schools to enhance educational environments and raise awareness about community-oriented technologies.