Robotics, medical careers and baking have something in common at Fox Chapel Area High School and Shady Side Academy — students who are using each of these paths to promote change in their community.
Shady Side Academy students Kiran Tevar and Özge Ada Uzman, along with Fox Chapel Area’s Laila Golla, are among the high school students selected for Junior Achievement of Western PA’s 18 Under Eighteen honoree class. The award is presented by the EQT Foundation.
In its fourth year, the program highlights young people who are breaking barriers and driving innovation while showcasing what it takes to be the next generation of leaders.
“Influence isn’t just about being seen,” said Junior Achievement president Patrice Matamoros. “It’s about creating a ripple effect that inspires action and change.”
Matamoros said the honorees exemplify the power of purpose-driven leadership, showing that their voices and actions can shape the future in meaningful ways.
Founded in 1919, Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to teaching students of all ages the skills for economic success, such as financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship.
Nominations for 18 Under Eighteen were submitted from across Western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia.
“We are incredibly proud of Kiran and Özge for being named,” said Trixie Sabundayo, SSA head of the senior school. “Kiran’s leadership and commitment to charity and Özge’s advocacy and innovation in STEM exemplify the type of learning and action we seek to instill in every student: learning that moves beyond the classroom to create lasting impact.”
EQT Foundation president Ellen Rossi said this year’s class of students exemplifies what young adults across this region are working to build — a place where they can make an impact and a change in their communities.
The honorees are featured on billboards across Pittsburgh and were recognized during a Feb. 4 ceremony at Acrisure Stadium.
They are:
Kiran Tevar
The 16-year-old junior is the founder of MedPath, a group that works to expose underprivileged students to careers in medicine.
In just three years, Tevar has reached more than 2,500 students throughout the region with speaking engagements, workshops and hands-on programs. He recruits physician’s assistants, EMTs and physical therapists to share their stories.
“A lot of times, kids see a career in the medical field as daunting or expensive – too many obstacles,” said Tevar of Allison Park.
“We try to expose them to paths in that field where you can enter right out of high school or maybe after two years of school. We make a career in the medical field more accessible.”
MedPath recently was awarded a $12,000 grant through the Jewish Healthcare Foundation to expand efforts.
Tevar is working to get his program online for even greater reach to statewide students.
“It’s really nice to be honored by Junior Achievement,” he said. “It’s really fulfilling.”
At school, Tevar is president of the pre-med club and the campus photography club, participates in the mock trial team and plays varsity tennis.
During summer break, he runs a small business with others who teach high schoolers how to play different sports.
Tevar said he realized early on in high school that he is fortunate to be exposed to an array of career paths.
“Once I noticed that a lot of my peers didn’t think medicine was even an option, I took it as my responsibility to show them there are so many different paths available to them,” he said.
Laila Golla
As the founder of Cakes for Care, Golla parlays her passion for baking to uplift others.
“I wanted to use my talents to help others that were going through hardships that I can’t imagine,” the 16-year-old said.
“My mom’s club was providing dinner for the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, and she asked me to make dessert. I got such a sense of fulfillment that it just took off.”
Golla, a junior, launched her club in 2022 and is humbled by its quick growth to more than 40 students.
Together, they deliver eight dozen items a week to groups such as Meals on Wheels and Hearth, which helps victims of domestic violence.
“We try to do various groups so everyone gets that joy,” Golla said. “We bake as much as we can, but we also partner with Cares, a group for people with Down syndrome, and they are so generous in helping us meet our goal.”
Area churches also pitch in to help with distribution.
Golla’s specialty?
“There’s nothing like a warm brownie,” she said.
Cakes for Care has delivered more than 2,500 baked goods since its inception.
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Outside the kitchen, Golla volunteers as outreach coordinator for the Fox Chapel Wellness Council, delivering weekly messages of positivity at school. She also organized a World Kindness Day initiative and, as a member of the Teens in Health Creating Change Cohort, launched Inspiration Through Ink to deliver supportive messages to hospital patients.
Golla clocks more than 250 volunteer hours a year.
Of her 18 Under Eighteen award, Golla said it’s surreal.
“I got the recognition by email, and I was stunned,” she said. “It didn’t fully sink in until media day when I was with all these amazing people.
Özge Ada Uzman
The sophomore is a leader in robotics, having served as captain and lead programmer of an all-girls robotics team that took the top spot in the Core Values category at the global competition, FIRST Tech Challenge, in 2022.
As the lead autonomous programmer of her BrainSTEM Robotics Team, she contributed to the team’s victory in the division finals at the 2023 World Championships.
“I’m so excited by this honor from Junior Achievement,” said Uzman, of Hampton. “It’s gratifying to have this kind of award and meet so many amazing people. It’s nice to celebrate our achievements together.”
Uzman, 16, said her passion for programming led to her developing a vision-learning tool for children with neurological conditions and cortical visual impairment.
She launched the Child’s Reach Initiative through which her web-based app helps children learn to recognize what they see by using 3D-printed interfaces. It has clinical and at-home uses and has been recognized at medical and STEM conferences.
“Being on the robotics team has allowed me access to so many opportunities,” Uzman said. “A few years ago, we visited the Children’s Home of Pittsburgh to introduce the kids to robotics, and some of them were unable to interact due to motor disabilities.
“It became a problem-solving mission for me. Interacting with the kids gave me motivation.”
Uzman is committed to breaking down barriers for underrepresented groups in STEM. She has fundraised for future robotics teams and led social impact efforts through the #BreakTheBias movement, organizing STEM workshops and teaching coding to refugee children across the region.
She also obtained funding to donate Lego robots and trained future instructors to sustain programs in low-income communities.