2025 Convention Presentation Award Winners

Dana Meehan is the NEHS Chapter Advisor at the International School of Kigali, Rwanda. With a passion for teaching English language and literature, she hopes to inspire her students to explore the power of words and storytelling. Beyond the classroom, Dana enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, and broadening her global perspective.

Aya Samson Desie is a grade 10 student at the International School of Kigali (ISK) in Rwanda. Originally from Ethiopia, Aya has been living in Rwanda for the past few years. Aya joined NEHS this year and has been very active in organizing school wide activities and events, such as poetry competitions, shared reading between high school and elementary school and a bookmark design competition. Aside from her involvement with NEHS, she is the editor of the school newspaper, the secretary of the Student Council, a member of the debating team, and a member of the composting program. Aya is a hard-working student who is passionate about reading and writing.

Nora Kadiatou Diarrassouba is from Germany and has roots in Côte d’Ivoire and South Korea. Currently a junior in high school, she serves as President of the NEHS chapter at the International School of Kigali in Rwanda. Passionate about promoting literacy, Nora has been involved in a documentary project for NEHS, highlighting the transformative power of literature on individuals and communities. Alongside fellow NEHS members, she led a poetry competition for the whole school to spread literacy and build better community relationships. In her free time, Nora loves to write poetry and short stories, exploring the beauty of language for her project I Am Not Your Headline, which empowers individuals and communities through storytelling and art.

Inés de la Peña Thévenet is a teacher of Social Sciences and Literature at PrepaTec Eugenio Garza Sada in Monterrey, Mexico. She teaches the International Baccalaureate’s Language and Literature courses. She has also been an Advisor to her school’s NEHS chapter for two years and her students have received several awards. Her passion for literature led her to study a degree in Hispanic Language and Literature at the Tec de Monterrey and a master’s degree in Literary and Audiovisual Translation at the UPF in Barcelona. Apart from teaching, Inés is a freelance translator and subtitler. Her hobbies include cooking, watching TV series, and participating in a book club and a creative writing workshop.

Victoria López Aguilar is a 16-year-old Mexican teenager from Mérida, Yucatán. Her family is made up of her two parents, her twin sister, and her younger sister. She is currently in her junior year of high school at PrepaTec Eugenio Garza Sada, in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Victoria is known for her active, determined, friendly, and humble personality. During the week, in the morning she focuses on her classes, intending to maintain high grades, and in the afternoons, she dedicates her time to training with her high school volleyball team. Over the weekend, she further enriches her skills by taking Japanese classes and continues with her volleyball practice. Victoria also enjoys listening to music, drawing, reading, and exploring new interests. She firmly believes that her future is determined by her effort, which drives her commitment to personal improvement without forgetting to enjoy life.

Valentina López Aguilar is currently a junior at PrepaTec Garza Sada, where she is in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Known for her dedication to her studies, Valentina consistently achieves excellent grades, reflecting her commitment to academic success. Outside of school, Valentina enjoys archery and watching movies, hobbies that allow her to balance her active academic life with personal interests. Humble and generous, she is always ready to help those around her, making her a well-respected member of her school community. Valentina also has a twin, with whom she shares a close connection. As she continues her education, she is focused on growing both academically and personally, always looking for excellence in everything she does. With her strong work ethic and kind nature, Valentina is prepared to achieve great things in the future.

Emma Stankiewicz is an English teacher at Danbury High School in Danbury, CT, where she also serves as the Chapter Advisor for NEHS. She takes pride in helping students develop a love for language and empowering them to use their voices to make a difference. Watching students become passionate advocates for literature and discovering its relevance to their lives is one of the greatest rewards of her teaching career. As an educator, she strives to foster a learning environment that encourages creativity, critical thinking, and personal growth through the exploration of language and literature.

Shea Moore is a senior at Danbury High School and has been a member of NEHS for three years. Shea has enjoyed writing for her peers at DHS on the student newspaper the Hatters’ Herald. Shea is passionate about literature and writing and hopes that she can have a career as a journalist. Shea hopes to be able to be an investigative journalist discussing environmental and political policy. Outside of school, Shea enjoys baking and trying new recipes, such as perfecting her signature chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Riya Pharsiyawar is currently a senior at Danbury High School. She is president of her school’s NEHS chapter and loves working with a wonderful group of students who share her love for English. In her free time, she enjoys reading, learning new languages, and cheering for Ferrari while watching Formula 1 races. She hopes to spend a lifetime traveling the world as she pursues a career in international relations.

Glorivette Anibarro is an educator with 30 years of experience teaching English in Puerto Rico, offering courses ranging from elementary to university level. She is the Head of the English Department at Colegio Católico Notre Dame, in Caguas, and an adjunct professor of English at Ana G. Méndez University, Gurabo and Online Campus. She has also been an adjunct professor at University of the Sacred Heart and the University of Puerto Rico, Bayamón Campus. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Loyola University in New Orleans and a master’s degree in literature from University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras. Additionally, she earned a PhD in Second Language Research from Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Ponce Campus.

Born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Ariana Flores Miranda is a 16-year-old with a passion for the English language. Since she was very little, she has loved anything related to literature, especially poetry. She has been able to travel and experience English outside of her home island, where the main language is Spanish. She has attended a bilingual school all her life, further fomenting her passion for the humanities. Today, she nurtures her passion for the humanities via live theater, writing, reading, and painting. Ariana thrives in deep literary and philosophical conversations and debates, always eager to explore new cultures and perspectives through art. She currently writes for a monthly newsletter entitled Youngster’s Perspective, which allows her to publish her work. She is happiest strolling through the local arts museum with friends and family after a good cup of boricua coffee.

Zahíra Rodríguez Velázquez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Since she was a little girl, she saw everything that surrounded her from an artistic point of view. Singing, drawing, and literature are just some of her hobbies that allow her to find beauty in what is normal. She started her education in Plaza Kids, before moving to Colegio Católico Notre Dame, where she is now an excellent student in the 11th grade. A responsible honors student with a 4.0 GPA, Zahíra received the Student of the Year award in 10th grade. However, her academic excellence does not prevent her from further developing her creative skills: she likes to write stories reflecting her bright imagination and actively participates in the choir and theater communities.

A love of language has been one of the constants in Rodrigo Ponciano Ojeda’s life; whether it be curling up with a book until dawn, or helping others find their voice in debate and public speaking activities, language (particularly English!) has been a central aspect of most of the activities Rodrigo has dedicated time to. This lifetime passion led Rodrigo to pursue an undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature, giving him the ability to argue for hours on end that F. Scott Fitzgerald’s debut novel (This Side of Paradise) is tragically undervalued, and the opportunity to select a profession where appreciation for language could be fostered in others. Currently, Rodrigo is a secondary teacher at St. Nicholas School, Alphaville in the state of São Paulo in Brazil.

Francesca Piazza Crestani is the current NEHS Chapter President at her school. In the future, she aims to advocate for environmental causes, and to bring about higher levels of awareness and care on this issue. She is determined to reach her goals of working at the United Nations, and is interested in extracurricular activities related to this, such as attending and organizing Model UN Conferences. She is the co-founder of a newly formed organization called the SeaCycle Project, where she works on cleaning the beaches of São Paulo and providing wheelchairs for those in need. Francesca is constantly learning, overcoming challenges, and trying new things.

Leticia Mello is determined to make a difference in the world and wants to work at UNICEF. A dancer since the age of two, she faced significant challenges when she received a knee injury. After surgery in 2022, she felt hopeful, but a year later, she suffered her fifth knee injury. Despite this obstacle, Leticia found strength in the support of amazing doctors, friends, and family members who guided her through recovery. Now, she dances in three advanced styles and loves life with renewed joy and purpose. Her journey embraces the power of resilience and the ability to overcome challenges while helping others.

Kelsey Bierling is a dedicated educator with over 30 years of experience teaching everything from English 9 to AP Literature and has served as English Department Chair since 2009. In 2012, she founded UDHS’s Royal Oak Chapter of the National English Honor Society (NEHS), fostering a love of literature and service among students. Beyond the classroom, she has impacted student-athletes as a Track & Field and Cross-Country coach for 34 years. Kelsey spends summers expanding students’ learning by leading trips to Europe to explore cultural and historical landmarks. Back home, she and her husband embrace the open road together on their motorcycle. A proud mother of six and grandmother to three, Kelsey treasures family time. Her passions include reading, gardening, and discovering new destinations. Her dynamic career and vibrant personal life exemplify her commitment to growth, exploration, and inspiring those around her.

Khandakar Mahin, a junior, serves as the President of The Royal Oak—Upper Darby High School’s chapter of the National English Honor Society. His passion for English literature has been evident since his early days in elementary school, where he began screenwriting for video games. He firmly believes that storytelling is one of the greatest creative outlets and recognizes the importance of media as a force of ideas. Khandakar’s favorite fiction author is Stephen King, although his favorite novel is George Orwell’s 1984. Khandakar also enjoys research, policy, and ethics, particularly in artificial intelligence. He is an AI Changemaker affiliated with Princeton University. In 2024, under the advisory of Deputy CTO Edward Felten, Khandakar worked with White House staff to examine the role of AI in policy. He has spearheaded the founding of his school’s AI community, which aims to increase diversity and education in AI.

Cierra Brown, a junior, serves as one of the Secretaries of the Royal Oak– Upper Darby High School’s chapter of the National English Honor Society. Writing’s transformative effect on her life has made English an integral part of her academic identity. Her belief that writing can be the greatest medium for change has driven her toward a life of activism and criminal justice reform. Under this guise, during summer 2023 Cierra worked at the Delaware County Courthouse with several diversionary programs on dignity-centered initiatives that prioritize rehabilitative practices. In the future, she plans to study criminal justice and sociology on the path to becoming a public defender serving vulnerable communities. Cierra’s favorite book is The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander, which discusses the parallels between America’s correctional system and the Reconstruction Era. She hopes to continue to use English as an avenue to foster global systemic change.