Leigh Carter
Rising Star 2025
She/Her/Hers
Leigh Carter is a George Stevens Academy student from Blue Hill, Maine in the class of 2026, and participated in the Rising Stars Internship program in the winter of 2025. Her favorite part of being in the lab was learning how intellectual disabilities can affect the human body and its cells. Outside of school, Leigh likes to read, bake and cook, and spend time with her family. She is interested in pursuing a career in medicine.
Anais Meza-Elhert
Rising Star 2025
She/Her/Hers
Anais Meza-Elhert is a High Tech High Media Arts student in the class of 2026 and participated in the Rising Stars Internship Program in the winter of 2025. During her time in the lab, her favorite part was observing what being a scientist looks like on a daily basis. She is interested in pursuing a career in medicine. Outside of school Anais loves to try new foods and go on hikes.
Naijalee Vargas
Rising Star 2025
She/Her/Hers
Naijalee Vargas is a High Tech High Media Arts student in the class of 2026 and participated in The Rising Stars Internship Program in the winter of 2025. Her favorite part of her time in the lab was being able to see the process of how the brain is examined on a macro-to-micro level and making connections while gaining hands-on experience. She is interested in pursuing a career in medicine. Outside of school, she likes to draw, compose music, and spend time with loved ones including her dog Bear.
Daniela Ramirez
Rising Star 2024
She/Her/Hers
Daniela Ramirez is a High Tech High student in the class of 2025 and participated in the Rising Stars Internship Program in the spring of 2024. Her favorite time in the lab was learning about the choroid plexus and its functions, and being hands on in the lab during experiments. She is interested in pursuing a career in anesthesia and medicine. Outside of school she loves shopping and taking walks.
Isabella Ritz
Rising Star 2024
She/Her/Hers
Isabella is a High Tech High student in the class of 2025 and participated in the Rising Stars Internship Program in the spring of 2024. Her favorite part of her time in the lab was learning about the functions of microglia and how they impact neurodevelopment. She is interested in pursuing a career in neuroscience. Outside of school Isabella loves to bake, go to the beach and hang out with friends!
Sadie Han
Rising Star 2024
She/Her/Hers
Sadie is a High Tech High Media Arts student in the class of 2025 and participated in the Rising Stars Internship Program in the winter of 2024. Her favorite part of her time in the lab was seeing what the day-to-day of a scientist looks like and the variety of tasks each day holds. After experiencing a full month of genetics and neuroscience research she hopes to continue her path toward a career in neurobiology and genetics. Outside of school Sadie loves to craft, read and make fun earrings!
Jaeanaca Villagomez
Rising Star 2024
She/Her/Hers
Jaeanaca is a High Tech High Media Arts Student in the class of 2025 and participated in the Rising Stars Internship Program in the winter of 2024. Her favorite part of her internship was staining brain organoids for neural progenitor cell markers and looking at them under the confocal microscope. She is interested in pursuing a career in medicine and outside of school she likes to do jiu jitsu, hang out with her family, and come up with eccentric would-you-rather questions to ask her labmates!