Three Indians among top 50 shortlisted for 2022 Global Student Prize

THREE young Indians have been selected from around 7,000 applications across 150 countries for the 2022 Global Student Prize shortlist, an annual $100,000 (£83,020) award given to talented students for making an impact across diverse areas.

Anagha Rajesh, a 20-year-old student at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Goa; Oshin Puri, a 22-year-old student at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh and Shreya Hegde, a 19-year-old high school graduate from Bangalore, are among this year’s top 50 in the running for the prize by Chegg.org – the nonprofit arm of education technology company Chegg.

The prize, partnered by UKheadquartered Varkey Foundation, is open to students who are at least 16 years old and enrolled in an academic institution or training and skills programme. Part-time students as well as students doing online courses are also eligible for the prize.

The 2022 finalists have been selected for making an impact across diverse areas.

Rajesh, a researcher, storyteller and community builder, works on multiple projects ranging from nutrition and nuclear tech, to mental health advocacy and entrepreneurship. Puri is an award-winning physician-scientist in training and has taken part in volunteer work and public health initiatives and is also chief editor of the Journal of Asian Medical Students Association.

The third Indian finalist, Hegde, was just 17 when admitted to the MIT Entrepreneurship Programme, doing original research in gravitational waves, paleobiology, and computer graphics, and received stipends or full scholarships.

She was involved in donation drives, conducting surveys, and teaching students in Indian villages English, math, and mentored them on projects.

Dan Rosensweig, the CEO of Chegg, said, “Since its launch last year, the Global Student Prize has given incredible students all over the world a chance to share their stories, connect with each other, and reach influencers in education and beyond.

“Now, more than ever, students like Anagha, Oshin, and Shreya deserve to have their stories told and have their voices heard. After all, we need to harness their dreams, their insights, and their creativity to tackle the daunting and urgent challenges facing our world.”

The top 10 finalists of this year’s Global Student Prize are expected to be announced in August this year and the winner will be chosen by the Global Student Prize Academy, made up of prominent individuals.

Last year’s winner was Jeremiah Thoronka, a 21-year-old student from Sierra Leone, who launched a start-up called Optim Energy that transforms vibrations from vehicles and pedestrian footfall on roads into an electric current.