Local teens raise almost $4,000 to fight gender inequalities

Local teenagers helped raise awareness of gender inequalities and women in need through their student-led nonprofit, Girls Impact for Tomorrow (GIFT).

Led by CEO and Sage Hill High School student Amy Qin, the organization recently hosted a small-business pop-up fair in Irvine and raised $3,807. Thirty small businesses, including 10 student businesses, participated in the event and donated a portion of the revenue.

The money benefits Radiant Futures and its new residential project to house 20 families escaping domestic abuse and human trafficking.

Sonar Technician (Surface) Seaman Apprentice Axel Garcia of Anaheim stands watch in the sonar control room during anti-submarine warfare drills aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69). Milius is assigned to Commander, Task Force 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force.
(Photo by U.S. Navy Mass Communication Spec. 1st Class Greg Johnson)

Sage Hill High School student and Girls Impact for Tomorrow CEO Amy Qin, left, delivers a check to Radiant Futures. GIFT recently hosted a small-business pop-up fair in Irvine and raised $3,807.
(Courtesy of Amy Qin)

Girls Impact for Tomorrow’s fundraising efforts benefit Radiant Futures and its new residential project to house 20 families escaping domestic abuse and human trafficking.
(Courtesy of Amy Qin)

Ashley Nguyen of Westminster won the inaugural Battelle Climate Challenge with her proposal, “Seed Bomb,” a cost-effective, sustainable, seed-based restoration method designed to increase the germination of eelgrasses along the coast.
(Courtesy of Battelle)

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Orange County student wins Battelle Climate Challenge with innovative proposal

Westminster resident Ashley Nguyen recently won the inaugural Battelle Climate Challenge with her proposal, “Seed Bomb.” The cost-effective, sustainable, seed-based restoration method is designed to increase the germination of eelgrasses to fight erosion along the California coast.

Nguyen also earned a $5,000 STEM grant to be split between the Westminster High School Environmental Club and the Westminster High School Mathematics Educated Resources Integrated Technology Science (MERITS) program.

“We are thrilled to recognize Ashley for her innovative thinking and dedication to solving one of the world’s toughest challenges,” said Wes Hall, vice president of philanthropy and education at Battelle. “We are proud to support students such as Ashley who are committed to leveraging STEM skills to better their local communities.”

The Battelle Climate Challenge encouraged and recognized high school students for sharing ideas for mitigating the effects of human-made climate change. For the challenge, students researched past and future impacts of climate-related hazards in their communities and developed proposed actions to help build more resilient communities.

Nguyen’s detailed proposal and proposals from other challenge finalists and semifinalists are posted at futureengineers.org/battelleclimatechallenge.

Battelle partnered with Future Engineers to launch the challenge as part of the company’s commitment to expanding quality STEM educational opportunities for all students and to developing climate solutions.

To hear about future STEM opportunities from Battelle, visit battelle.org/stem-education.

– Submitted by Battelle

9 Orange County Teens Selected for Carnegie Hall’s acclaimed national youth ensembles

Violin player Minjae Jaden Kim of Irvine is joining the NYO-USA roster.
(Courtesy of Carnegie Hall)

Violin player Rubi Lee of Irvine is joining the NYO-USA roster.
(Courtesy of Carnegie Hall)

Cello player Jiin Yun of Irvine is joining the NYO-USA roster.
(Courtesy of Carnegie Hall)

Violin player Daniel De La Cruz of Laguna Niguel is joining the NYO-USA roster.
(Courtesy of Carnegie Hall)

Cello player Natalie Kwok of Fullerton is joining the NYO2 roster.
(Courtesy of Carnegie Hall)

Violin player Jiyu Lee of Fullerton is joining the NYO2 roster.
(Courtesy of Carnegie Hall)

Viola player Kara Wong of Tustin is joining the NYO2 roster.
(Courtesy of Carnegie Hall)

Cello player Josephine Velez of Yorba Linda is joining the NYO2 roster.
(Courtesy of Carnegie Hall)

Bass player Paul Gong of Irvine is joining the NYO2 roster.
(Courtesy of Carnegie Hall)

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Nine musicians from Orange County were selected as some of the brightest young musicians from across the U.S. for the 2023 rosters of NYO-USA and NYO2 – two of Carnegie Hall’s national youth ensembles.

Their hard work has paid off, and for this 10th anniversary summer, they were invited to train with world-class musicians and perform at Carnegie Hall and on tour. Both ensembles undertake an intensive training residency at Purchase College, SUNY, just outside New York City.

This summer, NYO-USA embarked on a seven-city North American tour, ending in San Diego on July 28. Acclaimed conductor Sir Andrew Davis leads the orchestra. NYO-USA’s tour repertoire includes a new work written for the ensemble by Valerie Coleman, commissioned by Carnegie Hall; Berlioz’s “Symphonie fantastique”; and Barber’s and Tchaikovsky’s violin concertos.

Here is the list of the Orange County musicians:

NYO-USA

Minjae Jaden Kim, Violin (Irvine)

Rubi Lee, Violin (Irvine)

Jiin Yun, Cello (Irvine)

Daniel De La Cruz, Viola (Laguna Niguel)

NYO2

Natalie Kwok, Cello (Fullerton)

Jiyu Lee, Violin (Fullerton)

Kara Wong, Viola (Tustin)

Josephine Velez, Cello (Yorba Linda)

Paul Gong, Bass (Irvine)

– Submitted by Carnegie Hall

The Bravo! section highlights achievements of our residents and groups. Send news of achievements for consideration to ocrbravo@gmail.com.