Teen Excellence
Teens in Motion
Empowered teens demonstrating greatness through their exceptional accomplishments and activities. Highlighting teen excellence and their amazing creations. These stories serve to encourage and inspire you to aim for the stars. Remember that you are unique; TV and social media do not define you.
Business & Entrepreneurship
Jay’Shun Mathews
As the Founder and Executive Director of the Black Youth Empowerment Network (BYEN), Jay’Shun works to uplift and empower Black youth through leadership development, entrepreneurship, and creative expression. His nonprofit provides mentorship, leadership training via educational workshops, and networking opportunities to help Black individuals grow confidence to excel personally and professionally.
Education & Empowerment
Dasia Taylor
At just 17 years old, Dasia Taylor became a nationally recognized scientist by creating color changing sutures that detect infection. Dasia’s invention was centered around equity — her main career focus — and making this life-saving medical technology accessible to everyone. Dasia’s research project landed her among the top 40 finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search – the country’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. She is currently seeking a patent for her invention and plans to continue her research to ensure these life-saving sutures help people. Dasia recently graduated from Iowa City West High School in Iowa City and will be attending the University of Iowa in the fall.
Dasia Taylor - Nationally recognized Scientist
Kahlil Greene
Nicknamed the “Gen Z Historian,” Kahlil’s mission is to make his generation more politically, socially, and culturally aware by uncovering and sharing “hidden history.” An education advocate, he discusses colonization, conflicts, and culture in his video content with the aim of keeping his audience informed. In addition to being elected Yale’s first Black student body president in the school’s 318-year history, Kahlil also is working on a video series with National Geographic! Check out his tiktok channel.
Health & Mental Wellness
Heman Bekele
Named TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year, Heman is a young inventor and researcher who developed a soap prototype designed to deliver cancer-fighting treatments. His interest in cancer research began when he was just 11-years-old after playing with chemistry sets and drawing on memories living in Ethiopia where laborers work with high levels of sun exposure and minimal protections. With the hope that his Melanoma Treating Soap (MTS) could one day treat and prevent skin cancers, Heman’s goal is to get his invention FDA approved and start a nonprofit that distributes this soap by 2028.
