Award, now in its second year, recognizes extraordinary achievements of young change-makers from around the world
Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Ontario – July 21, 2022 – Kenisha Arora, a 19-year-old student from Mississauga, currently studying Medical Sciences at Western University, Ontario, Canada, and working towards becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon, has been included in the top 50 shortlist for the Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2022, an annual $100,000 award to be given to one exceptional student that has made a real impact on learning, the lives of their peers and on society beyond.
Kenisha Arora was selected from almost 7,000 nominations and applications from 150 countries.
The Varkey Foundation launched the Chegg.org Global Student Prize last year, a sister award to its $1 million Global Teacher Prize, to create a powerful new platform that shines a light on the efforts of extraordinary students everywhere who, together, are reshaping our world for the better. The prize is open to all students who are at least 16 years old and enrolled in an academic institution or training and skills program. Part-time students as well as students enrolled in online courses are also eligible for the prize.
Kenisha Arora studies Medical Sciences at Western University in Canada. She is passionate about making a positive impact on society and does so through her involvement in UNESCO, student government, and various philanthropic endeavours. This includes founding HopeSisters, a non-profit with over 5000 HopeSpreaders and more than 50 school chapters that is dedicated towards uplifting vulnerable members of the community by spreading hope and positivity and empowering others to do the same. The project was awarded the prestigious Princess Diana Award.
Kenisha is also Senator at her University and Chair of the Student Senate, enacting sustainability reform at her university as well as passing a provision to provide free menstrual hygiene products in the Peel District School Board which inspired the Minister of Education to invest in free menstrual hygiene products in all School Boards across the province. Kenisha also produced a TV show called “Let’s Talk Politics” with Tehlka TV, North America’s largest South Asian media network and was elected as UNESCO’s Youth Representative for North America and Europe.
Dan Rosensweig, CEO of Chegg, said:
“Since its launch last year, the Global Student Prize has given incredible students all over the world a chance to share their stories, connect with each other, and reach influencers in education and beyond. Now, more than ever, students like Kenisha deserve to have their stories told and have their voices heard. After all, we need to harness their dreams, their insights, and their creativity to tackle the daunting and urgent challenges facing our world.
“Our finalists this year have made a huge impact in areas from the environment to equality and justice, from health and wellbeing to education and skills, from youth empowerment to ending poverty. I can’t wait to see how this year’s inspiring cohort of changemakers use this platform to make their voices louder, and their work lift up even more lives”
Sunny Varkey, founder of the Varkey Foundation, said:
“I extend my warmest congratulations to Kenisha. Her story is a testament to the crucial role that education plays in building a better tomorrow for us all. It is the key to solving humanity’s greatest challenges, from war and conflict to climate change to growing inequality. As time runs out to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, it is more important than ever to prioritize education so we can face the future with confidence.”
Applications and nominations for this year’s Global Student Prize opened on Thursday 27 January and closed on Sunday 1 May. Students are being assessed on their academic achievement, impact on their peers, how they make a difference in their community and beyond, how they overcome the odds to achieve, how they demonstrate creativity and innovation, and how they operate as global citizens.
Last year’s winner was Jeremiah Thoronka, a 21-year-old student from Sierra Leone, who launched a start-up called Optim Energy that transforms vibrations from vehicles and pedestrian footfall on roads into an electric current. With just two devices, the start-up provided free electricity to 150 households comprising around 1,500 citizens, as well as 15 schools where more than 9,000 students attend.
The top 10 finalists of the Global Student Prize are expected to be announced in August this year. The winner, who will be announced later in the year, will be chosen from the top 10 finalists by the Global Student Prize Academy, made up of prominent individuals.
If students were nominated, the person nominating them was asked to write a brief description online explaining why. The student being nominated was then sent an email inviting them to apply for the prize. Applicants were able to apply in English, Mandarin, Arabic, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian. To join the conversation online follow @cheggdotorg
