Lagatar24 Desk
London, July 19: Five students from India are among the top 50 finalists for the $100,000 Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2023, which was chosen from 3,851 submissions from 122 different countries.
One extraordinary student who has had a significant influence on learning, the lives of their peers and society at large receives the prize each year.
The candidates from India this year are Gladson Vaghela, a 25-year-old medical student at Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society Medical College, Gandhinagar, Gujarat; Padmaksh Khandelwal, a 17-year-old computer science student at Sir Padampat Singhania School, Kota, Rajasthan; Namya Joshi, a 16-year-old student at Sat Paul Mittal School, Ludhiana, Punjab; Vinisha Umashankar, a 16-year-old student at SKP Vanitha International School, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu and Ravinder Bishnoi, a 20-year-old information technology student at Chandigarh Engineering College, Landran, Mohali, Punjab.
“Chegg not only celebrates your achievements but also the endless possibilities that exist when young minds are driven by a passion for change,” said Heather Hatlo Porter, Head of Chegg.org and Chief Communications Officer of Chegg.
“The top 50 Global Student Prize finalists deserve the opportunity to have their stories told and have their voices heard. Their dreams, wisdom, and inventive spirit will illuminate a more hopeful future for everyone,” she said.
Joshi, a global teacher and the “Top Tech Savvy Student in India” at the age of 16, became addicted to Minecraft after learning that it can be utilized as an educational tool.
She continued to build a virtual library of Minecraft tutorials, which has grown to 500+ and is now accessible on her website and YouTube channel.
Math and science have always been Umashankar’s favourite subjects in school. She is also an artist, TEDx speaker, innovator and environmentalist.
When she was 12 years old, she started her innovation career by creating the prestigious “Solar Ironing Cart” and a power-saving “Smart Ceiling Fan.” Since then, she has taken part in numerous scientific and innovation competitions and has won international, national, and state awards.
Vaghela, a medical student, participates in healthcare outreach programmes in marginalised communities and advocates for healthcare equity and accessibility for all. He has contributed to the creation of a database of providers of mental health services for more than 150 nations and has been a Youth Advisor to YuWaah (Generation Unlimited) at UNICEF India.
Khandelwal started the current homeschooling model of the Mogya Education Programme for kids with the help of the NGO Tiger Watch. He also works to prevent student suicide and is an anti-poaching campaigner.
Bishnoi used his travels to cybercafes to learn about robotics, electronics, design and other engineering specialities. Over the past ten years, he has invented numerous devices, robots, exoskeletons, portable water filters, and other tools to aid the less fortunate.
As a sister prize to its yearly USD $1 million Global Teacher Prize, the Varkey Foundation teamed up with Chegg.org to introduce the Global Student Prize in 2021.
The goal was to develop a brand-new platform that highlights the achievements of exceptional students worldwide. All students who are at least 16 years old and registered in an academic institution or training and skills programme are eligible to win the prize. The reward is also open to students taking online courses and part-time students.
“As time runs out to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is more important than ever to prioritise education so we can face the future with confidence,” said Sunny Varkey, the Kerala-born founder of the Varkey Foundation.
By the end of next month, the top 10 finalists for this year’s Global Student Prize are anticipated to be revealed.
The Global Student Prize Academy, made up of well-known people, will select the winner from the top 10 finalists, who will be revealed later in the year.
