Four North Allegheny students are among a team of 18 other students in and around Western Pennsylvania who have made significant, meaningful achievements by the age of 18.
As honorees in the Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania’s 18 Under Eighteen for 2026, presented by EQT, the group will be celebrated at a banquet Feb. 3 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
“Junior Achievement created 18 Under Eighteen to make sure the remarkable off‑the‑field leadership of young people doesn’t go unnoticed,” said Patrice Matamoros, president of Junior Achievement. “In just five years, the program has already shaped the paths of 90 honorees, an experience that has been described as ‘life‑changing.’ It’s more than a single night of recognition; it’s a commitment to lifting the next generation of leaders who will strengthen the future of our region.”
Nominees must be 18 or younger and reside within one of the 56 counties that encompass JA’s coverage area in Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia, according to jawesternpa.org.
The four North Allegheny students who made the cut are:
Ronit Ginde
Junior Ronit Ginde, 17, is being honored for his work on raising opioid awareness and making lifesaving resources more accessible.
He founded an initiative focused on distributing naloxone to communities in need. The drug is used to reverse an opioid overdose.
Ginde has provided more than 300 naloxone kits in Pittsburgh and West Virginia so far.
“I was inspired to take action after seeing how deeply the opioid and drug overdose epidemic affected families in my community, often silently. It’s an issue that impacts people of all ages and backgrounds, and I felt a strong responsibility to get involved in this work. Knowing that even small efforts can save lives makes this work especially important to me,” he said.
He has raised more than $1,500 in kit funding.
Ginde, who also hosts “The Overdose Podcast,” plans to study biology in college while also focusing on work related to social services and overdose prevention, in hopes of supporting individuals and families affected by substance use.
“Being named one of JA’s 18 Under Eighteen is truly an honor. I’m incredibly grateful for the recognition, but, more importantly, I see it as a chance to amplify the work and causes I care deeply about,” said Ginde of McCandless.
Patricia Rae Shanahan
Senior Patricia Rae Shanahan is the founder of Heart and Hem, a nonprofit that benefits survivors of domestic abuse through apparel she designs and sells online.
So far, she has raised more than $500 for the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh.
“I feel incredibly honored to be recognized by Junior Achievement. Having access to a community of like-minded individuals who are dedicated to making an impact has provided me with a wealth of inspiration and strong new friendships,” said Shanahan of Franklin Park.
She appreciates that Heart and Hem has been given this platform, with an increased reach and investment.
“I hope to further the business and continue giving back to survivors in my community,” said Shanahan, who has plans to become an OB/GYN with a focus on health and advocacy.
Shanahan also plays basketball for North Allegheny, is a lead facilitator for the NA GOLD program, publicity director for the National Math Honors Society, social chair for the National Honors Society and a Tiger Thon captain.
She also is a distinguished member of Key Club and enjoys playing the guitar.
Shaurya Walia
Working to bring medical opportunities to students, Shaurya Walia, 17, serves as chief operating officer of the nonprofit Future Physicians.
Reaching more than 1,300 students, Walia oversees operations and strategic growth for the global medical network and has helped raise more than $7,000 for the nonprofit.
The senior says he joined Future Physicians because it created “a supportive organization for students interested in medicine to learn, collaborate and serve the community. I wanted to help grow something that made medicine feel more accessible.”
Walia also is director of Crohn’s Care Alliance, which focuses on supporting individuals and families affected by Crohn’s disease through awareness, education and advocacy. And he volunteers at Haven for Immigrants, which supports immigrant communities by providing resources, assistance and a safe environment for families navigating resettlement and access to services.
Walia is honored to be recognized by Junior Achievement.
“It means a lot to have my work and involvement recognized, especially because it reflects things I genuinely care about — service, leadership and helping others,” said Walia of Marshall.
He enjoys learning about “basically anything,” watching and playing basketball and tennis, and spending time with friends. He also participates in school and community-based organizations such as DECA, Health Occupational Students of America and the North Allegheny Model United Nations club.
Walia is interested in pursuing a career in medicine or health care. He plans to study a science-related field in college and continue gaining clinical and research experience.
Audrey Zheng
Senior Audrey Zheng, 17, is focused on helping combat food insecurity, with an additional focus on making food available to those with allergies.
Zheng founded Food Lounge Pittsburgh, a student-led nonprofit that tackles food insecurity in the local community. Working with organizations, such as the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, the students assist in setting up food distributions that allow people to choose groceries best suited to their dietary needs and preferences.
“Although the food bank receives a large volume of donations, distributing food quickly enough can be challenging. Our efforts help ensure donated food reaches families in need before it goes to waste,” she said.
Food Lounge also participates in meal preparation and service events, such as cooking and serving hot meals at community kitchens for families in need.
“One of the initiatives that has been especially meaningful to me involves organizing volunteers to make wontons for seniors at a local senior living center,” said the Franklin Park resident.
“Working closely with these communities helped me become more aware of challenges that are often overlooked, particularly how food allergies and food safety concerns can limit access to meals,” said Zheng, leading her to design a portable food allergen detector that enables individuals to determine whether food is safe to consume quickly.
The current version is designed to detect a specific protein in peanuts and works similarly to a covid or pregnancy test: A small amount of liquid or crushed food is mixed with a buffer and applied to a test strip for analysis, she said.
While a U.S. patent for the device currently is pending, Zheng continues to refine the design to improve its sensitivity and reliability for real-world use, she said.
Zheng and fellow North Allegheny senior Sritej Sai Padmanabhan are finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2026, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors, according to a Jan. 23 social media post by the district.