Our Bureau
Washington, DC
In honor of International Day of the Girl, First Lady Jill Biden on October 10, 2024, announced the names of four Indian American young women leaders, selected by the White House Gender Policy Council, who are leading change and shaping a brighter future in their communities across the United States. They are among the ten honorees selected for the award.
“These incredible honorees are meeting the challenges they see in the world by developing innovative new technologies, expanding access to education, erasing silence through the power of art and poetry and more. It is an honor to celebrate these young leaders at the White House and I hope that their courage and determination inspires the next generation,” said First Lady Jill Biden, an educator for more than 40 years.
Sreenidi Bala (Farmington, Connecticut)
Sreenidi Bala, age 16, is an advocate for the accessibility of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for students of all abilities. After recognizing a gap in STEM education for neurodivergent students in her school district, Sreenidi developed an elective to fill that gap called ASPIRE Adaptive STEM. Through partnerships with neurodiversity advocacy groups and local college access programs, Code for All Minds – a free online platform offering essential technology skills tailored for students with learning disabilities, founded by Sreenidi, has created and distributed adaptive STEM curriculums to schools across the country.
Pragathi Kasani-Akula (Cumming, Georgia)
Pragathi Kasani-Akula, age 17, is a scientist and innovator dedicated to developing novel solutions that make health care more accessible to people across the world. Following her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis, she developed a prototype for a low-cost, less invasive test to detect triple negative breast cancer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pragathi also worked with the ScioVirtual Foundation to teach an online course on epidemiology to students across the nation, including education on how to advance public health.
Meghna “Chili” and Siona “Dolly” Pramoda (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico)
Meghna “Chili” Pramoda, age 17, and Siona “Dolly” Pramoda, age 16, are advocates for digital safety for all. As co-founders of SafeTeensOnline (STO), the Pramoda sisters have educated and empowered over 5 million teens worldwide. STO’s work consists of year-round online awareness campaigns through social media and teen-led large-scale survey and research initiatives on topics such as internet usage and patterns of cyber incidents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, STO expanded from a teen-focused organization to one that also educates parents, teachers, and grandparents on safe digital practices and how to build judgment-free spaces online.
