Canada's Kenisha Arora Makes Final Ten For A $100,000 Global Student Prize
MISSISSAUGA:: Kenisha Arora, a 19-year-old student from Mississauga, Ontario, has been named a top 10 finalist for the Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2022, a $100,000 award to be given to one exceptional student that has made a real impact on learning, the lives of their peers and on society beyond.
Kenisha, currently studying medical sciences at Western University, Ontario, was selected from over 7,000 nominations and applications from 150 countries around the world.
The Varkey Foundation partnered with Chegg.org to launch the Global Student Prize last year, a sister award to its $1 million Global Teacher Prize. It was established to create a powerful new platform that shines a light on the efforts of extraordinary students everywhere who, together, are reshaping our world for the better. The prize is open to all students who are at least 16 years old and enrolled in an academic institution or training and skills program. Part-time students as well as students enrolled in online courses are also eligible for the prize.
Kenisha studies medical sciences at Western University in Canada, and is working towards becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon. She is passionate about making a positive impact on society and does so through her involvement in UNESCO, student government, and various philanthropic endeavours. This includes founding HopeSisters, the non-profit she launched with her sister, Alisha. Together, they write cards of encouragement for seniors in long-term care and retirement homes. This has turned into a widespread movement of hope, with over 5,000 HopeSpreaders across more than 50 school chapters. The charity spawned HopeBags, small care packages providing books, toys, blankets and treats for children in foster care.
Kenisha is also Senator at her University and Chair of the Student Senate, enacting sustainability reform at her university as well as passing a provision to provide free menstrual hygiene products in the Peel District School Board. This inspired the Minister of Education to invest in free menstrual hygiene products in all School Boards across the province. Kenisha also produced a TV show called "Let's Talk Politics" with Tehlka TV, North America’s largest South Asian media network, and was elected as UNESCO's Youth Representative for N. America and Europe.
Dan Rosensweig, CEO and president 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 Kenisha 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.”
Sunny Varkey, founder of the Varkey Foundation, said: “I extend my warmest congratulations to Kenisha. Her story is a testament to the crucial role that education plays in building a better tomorrow for us all. It is the key to solving humanity’s greatest challenges, from war and conflict to climate change to growing inequality. As time runs out to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, it is more important than ever to prioritize education so we can face the future with confidence.”
The other top 10 finalists for the Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2022 are Alesyah Asa, from Malaysia; Anagha Rajesh, from India; Gitanjali Rao, from the US; Igor Klymenko, from Ukraine; Lucas Tejedor, from Brazil; Mathias Charles Yabe, from Ghana; Maya Bridgman, from the UAE; Nathan Nguyen, from Australia; and Nicolás Alberto Monzón, from Argentina. The winner is expected to be announced later this month during UN General Assembly week in New York.
Applications and nominations for this year’s Global Student Prize opened on Thursday 27 January and closed on Sunday 1 May. Students are being assessed on their academic achievement, impact on their peers, how they make a difference in their community and beyond, how they overcome the odds to achieve, how they demonstrate creativity and innovation, and how they operate as global citizens.
To join the conversation online follow @cheggdotorg