The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has chosen 49 high school students from across the state for its 14th annual Teen Leaders class.
These students will visit OMRF monthly throughout the 2026-27 school year to meet with philanthropic leaders from Oklahoma City and surrounding areas. They also will spend time in OMRF’s labs, learn about how nonprofit organizations function, and develop an understanding of the impact charitable giving makes on a community.
The 2026-27 class includes 16 returning students from last year’s class who will function as an advisory council.
Applications are accepted from high school students across Oklahoma. Each must submit a written application and a letter of reference to qualify and then participate in an interview process.
The teens will work on team-building and fundraising projects tailored to teach the basics of philanthropy, networking, fundraising and board service. Prior classes have organized community-wide events to raise money for disease research at OMRF.
“We’ve had many previous Teen Leaders return and tell us how their OMRF experience gave them confidence and propelled their outreach and leadership capabilities,” said OMRF’s Katherine Jackson, who coordinates the program. “Their feedback tells us we are providing the skills and the knowledge they need to make an impact in their communities.”
Listed by high school, below are OMRF’s 2026-27 Teen Leaders.
- Bishop McGuiness: Paige Ihrig, Gabriella Kunnath, Kinley Randolph, Kiona Wadmia
- Casady: Dhiya Jeevanantham, Chloe Kim, Maya Kumar, Nathan Lee, Rishika Shah
- Classen School of Advanced Studies: Uma Geng, Monicalian Mawi, Ved Pakala, Sreekar Vajjha, Sailesh Swamidurai
- Deer Creek: Siya Pasula, Claire Hopkins, Nadhi Rajendrakumar
- Edmond Memorial: Marissa Bruner
- Edmond North: Nina Hsu
- Edmond Santa Fe: Akshaj Dalavayi, Pari Mattewada, Pavithra Raghavendiran
- Heritage Hall: Sophia Albiek, Adam Hamadeh, Kimberly Phan, Hunter Trudgeon
- Homeschool: Shalom Vasantha
- Jenks: Greyson Francy
- Kingfisher: Callie Blair, Lily Voth
- Mercy School Institute: Jana Jawhari
- Mustang High School: Hayden Kim
- Norman: Charlotte Lee Hamilton, Beckett Tiffany, Ava Wade
- Norman North: Taylor Covey, Erin Paik, Anaya Patel, Arjun Prasad
- Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics: Elina Ji, Erin Mathiesen, Abrielle Vanderschans
- Piedmont: Jacob Lam
- Putnam City: Andries Nguyen
- Southmoore: Aubrey Conley, Mira Patel
- Stillwater: Bahera Alneama
- Western Heights: Anh Ho
- Yukon: Abigail Mathai
