PROJECT INVENT ANNUAL COMMUNITY AWARDS
An archive of the exceptional individuals recognized annually for their outstanding contributions to student success. Here, you'll find profiles of our current and past winners, showcasing their unwavering dedication, innovative spirit, and impactful mentorship.
Explore the inspiring stories of those who have shaped and supported the next generation of creative thinkers and change-makers.
2024
Diane Rosenthal
Emerging Fellow of the Year
Diane has been a teacher at Presentation High School for the last 25 years. Presentation is an all girl school where she has the privilege to teach and encourage them in both Physics and Engineering. Project invent made teaching engineering this year so exciting.
Wendy Kennedy
Emerging Fellow of the Year
Wendy has been teaching at Presentation High School for 10 years. She teaches physics, earth science, and environmental science.
Wendy is the moderator of both the Student Environmental Action Society and the Backyard Botanics student garden club. She enjoys engaging students with their community through the environment.
Josephine Crisostomo
COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE YEAR
As the director of education, training, and advocacy, Josephine Crisostomo is responsible for advancing LifeWay Network’s educational and advocacy initiatives. Before joining LifeWay, Josephine worked at the New York City Mayor’s Office implementing social-emotional and trauma-informed crisis management programming for youth, parents, and educators.
Suzanne Masso
COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE YEAR
Suzanne Masso, an Early Childhood Educator for over 30 years and author of a children’s book entitled, “My Grammy Shakes. Does Yours?”. Suzanne began her Parkinson’s journey in 2017. She is on the board of directors and a member of an on-line virtual platform called MISSION PD. She is also a mentor in a program which pairs together Parkinson’s patients in need of support with other Parkinson’s patients willingly to provide support.
Alden Harwood
Volunteer of the Year
Alden is a Staff Software Engineer for the Burlingame-based Venture Capital firm Goodwater Capital. He studied Biomedical Engineering and Electrical Engineering in college, where he fell in love with engineering design. Over the past year, he has been working with Project Invent to pay it forward and foster the same love for engineering and design in others.
Dr. Dawn Fichera
Fellow of the Year
Dr. Dawn Fichera is an innovative educator with a doctorate in education and a passion for design thinking and ethical AI use in education. As an EdSafeAI fellow, she develops guidelines for responsible AI use, emphasizing transparency and equity. Her motto is “Embrace Chaos”.
Delia Gallardo
Champion of the year
Awarded for being bold and championing the launch of Project Invent across Bostonia Global Middle School’s 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Delia’s leadership and support of educators in making this possible is beyond inspiring. Helping us transform schools into innovative solutions centers nationally!
2023
SHELLY LOOSE
COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE YEAR
Shelly is President of Ms. Wheelchair America, where she empowers women wheelchair users to advocate for individuals with disabilities. She has also facilitated Project Invent team presentations at Ms. Wheelchair America events, creating opportunities for collaborative innovation.
KILLIAN EVERS
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Killian, with experience leading UX teams at Google, Oracle, and PayPal, has shared her expertise through mentorship and advisory roles. Her dedication to recruiting new volunteers and providing nearly 30 hours of mentorship has significantly impacted student growth.
TAIWO TOGUN
FELLOW OF THE YEAR
Taiwo, an educator at Pierrepont School in Westport, CT, inspires students to recognize their strengths and build close-knit, empathetic teams through Project Invent. As a member of the Project Invent Educator Steering Committee, he helps guide strategic direction and program development.
FLOR REKANI
Emerging fellow of the year
Flor, in her first year as a Project Invent Fellow at Bostonia Global in El Cajon, CA, embodies resilience, curiosity, ambition, and empathy. She has created an environment where her middle school students view failure as a stepping stone to success while challenging assumptions and nurturing their creative confidence.
2022
jimmy uharriet
community partner of the year
Jimmy Uharriet has been with Project Invent since its inception, playing a pivotal role in shaping the program's vision. He collaborated with our inaugural students to create the Stria Belt, showcasing how communities and classrooms can unite to develop innovative solutions.
mike cahill
volunteer of the year
Mike Cahill, a Chief Technology Officer, dedicates significant time to mentoring Project Invent teams, providing invaluable feedback that helps students refine their invention ideas from concept to prototype. He also serves as a connector by recruiting talented volunteers to join the community and support student growth.
SEAN GLANTZ
fellow of the year
Sean Glantz, a computer science teacher at Da Vinci Junior High School, secured state-wide approval for Project Invent to be included as an official CTE course in California. He has also enhanced Project Invent programming, striving to deepen innovation beyond the Fellowship.