Honoring a Legacy: Announcing the 2026 Hebestreit Award Winners

Devansh Das is a student at the International School of Kigali, Rwanda, with a strong passion for computer science, coding, and public speaking. He has actively led the chess club and computer science club, demonstrating both teamwork and leadership skills. Beyond academics, Devansh volunteers in his community and organizes initiatives to raise funds and support dogs in Rwanda. He enjoys exploring new technologies, solving challenging problems, and sharing knowledge with peers. Devansh is committed to academic excellence, leadership, and personal growth, striving to make meaningful contributions wherever he can. He aspires to pursue a career that will create a positive impact on both his local community and the broader world.

Karla Mariana Macías Delgado was born in Toluca, Mexico. Her parents have been a vital part of her personal growth, along with my brothers. When she was eight years old, she moved from Toluca to Monterrey. Although the change was not easy at first, it taught her that adaptation is essential to move forward and build a better future. She has participated in many social impact events and activities, participating as a volunteer coordinator in community initiatives. In high school, she is a very active student. She is part of three student groups. One focuses on leadership, where she manages finances. Another is dedicated to student participation, where she handles public relations. The third is an academic group, where she acts as president.

Alex Neff is a senior from York, PA. He attends Central York High School and has been a Central York Panther his entire life. He has enjoyed writing from a young age, but his great passion has always been fiction writing. Science fiction and short horror stories are his favorite kinds of writing, but he also enjoys a good argumentative nonfiction essay on a topic he’s passionate about. Outside of academics, he’s a soccer player for Keystone FC MLS Next. He enjoys hanging out with his friends, hiking, going to the gym, and driving around listening to music. When he’s at home, he likes to unwind by either reading, watching TV, or chilling with his two cats.

Ana Towns is a writer, and educator. She serves as Academic Director of Languages and Humanities at PrepaTec Campus Laguna. Alongside her professional work, she explores her own voice through fiction. Her writing often focuses on themes such as memory, identity, and emotional ambiguity, frequently using symbolic elements to represent internal conflicts. She is particularly interested in stories where characters navigate uncertainty and transformation. Through both her teaching and writing, she seeks to bring literature closer to others, not only as a subject of study, but as a space for creation and reflection.

Michael DeCarolis is a father, husband, writer, and high school English teacher living in Navarre, FL. His favorite way to travel these days is by book, but he’s also been known to explore by foot, boat, rail, thumb, and wing. He loves poking around in the outdoors just as much as in bookstores. Before teaching high school in Florida, Michael taught middle school English in Maryland; before that, he taught English as a foreign language in Thailand. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in English from the United States Naval Academy and his Master’s Degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University.

José Enrique Gutiérrez Escalante is an experienced language educator and project leader with over two decades of multicultural teaching expertise. Having studied in Montreal, he brings a global perspective to his work, emphasizing innovation, collaboration, and human-centered learning. He currently teaches English and French at the high school level, designing engaging, real-world activities that foster communication and critical thinking. As the creator of various training programs and educational initiatives, he is passionate about curriculum development, teacher training, and the integration of digital tools. A father of three and a storytelling enthusiast, Henry, as his students call him, combines creativity with structure to inspire his students and colleagues, always striving to build meaningful learning experiences that prepare learners for a globalized world.