Helena’s portfolio of scholarly work has uniquely positioned her as a changemaker in multiple fields.  Using the social science research methodology of autoethnography, in which one writes from their own intersectional identities to bring insight into larger issues, Helena has emerged as a national and global award-winning scholar and activist.  She has presented at STEM conferences, written about women in STEM, and published a science article on “Vaccines Then and Now” for a girl-power magazine.  She boldly networks with leading scientists in the field to inform and enrich classroom work, purposefully creating opportunities and building meaningful relationships with global figures in the fields of glaciology, nuclear astrophysics, astronomy, and physics, among others.

Helena employs the power of filmmaking to create video-shorts that expand and demonstrate her grasp of scientific concepts, often sharing strategies and resources with her peers at school.  Always connecting her scholarship with personal experience and identities, Helena has become an outspoken advocate for Disability Justice because of her own learning disabilities, which she proudly refers to as her “academic super powers.”  Never one to miss an opportunity to look at something through a scientific lens, Helena digs deeply into neurodiversity as both Scientist and Activist.  “My goal is more frequent conversations about learning differences in all learning spaces so that everyone understands that learning differently is not a deficit, and certainly nothing to be ashamed about at all.”

Elliott Tanner (13)

Minneapolis, MN

A real-live “Young Sheldon” who finished college at 13 and is now in a Ph.D. program to be a theoretical physicist.

Sanjith Udupa (16)

Novi, MI

A tech genius who uses a love for teaching and tech to minimize food waste and aid underserved communities.

Sydney Vaughn (16)

San Jose, CA

Leads a project to study and tackle medical care for the homeless.

Kavya Venkatesan (15)

Old Bridge, NJ

A national ambassador for the Society of Women Engineers and is dedicated to building a female STEM workforce pipeline.

Samuel Woods (13)

Atlanta, GA

A self-taught programmer who programmed the “Atom Playground,” which animates the periodic table.

Teacher and Champion

About The 74

Helena wishes every student could have a teacher like Mrs. Kristin Warnick, her Science teacher.  Mrs. Warnick is a veteran teacher who inspires a deeper love of science in Helena.  “Thank you, Mrs. Warnick, for being my champion!”