Pakistani among finalists for $100,000 Global Student Prize

Maha Nawaz, a 17-year-old student from Pakistan, has been selected as one of the top 10 finalists for the prestigious Global Student Prize 2024.

Chosen from over 11,000 applications spanning 176 countries, Maha’s innovative contributions in technology and education have earned her a place in the final round of the competition. The $100,000 prize will be awarded to one exceptional student who has made significant impacts on learning, society, and their peers.

Currently enrolled at Dubai College, UAE, Maha’s achievements include creating two prosthetic hands—one myoelectric and the other mind-controlled through machine learning.

Her research has been recognized at the International Conference on Control, Automation, Robotics, and Vision. Driven by personal experiences with her brother’s disabilities, Maha’s work focuses on brain-computer interfacing and engineering to aid individuals with disabilities.

Maha is also a TEDx speaker and volunteer with e-NABLE, an international organization that designs and donates 3D-printed prosthetic devices. Her volunteer work has helped provide prosthetic solutions to individuals with limb differences across multiple countries.

Additionally, Maha co-founded the largest national AI hackathon for education in the Middle East and launched an NGO in Pakistan, SheMakes, which designs robotic kits for underprivileged children.

SheMakes has reached over 600 children and improved healthcare in rural villages through remote monitoring systems, serving more than 400 patients daily.

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Her passion for expanding AI accessibility has been instrumental in bridging technological gaps in education, especially for students from low-income backgrounds. Maha's initiatives demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity and STEM diversity.

The Global Student Prize, launched in 2021 by Chegg.org in partnership with the Varkey Foundation, aims to recognize students who are reshaping the world through creativity, innovation, and leadership. The winner will be announced during the UN General Assembly week in New York later this month.

Other finalists for the prize include students from Canada, Mexico, Turkey, India, Argentina, Malaysia, Poland, Brazil, and the USA. The top ten students represent a wide array of fields, from environmental sustainability to artificial intelligence and public health, demonstrating the breadth of innovation coming from young minds around the world.

The Chegg.org Global Student Prize Academy, composed of prominent individuals, will choose the winner from the top 10 finalists. Last year’s prize went to South Sudanese refugee Nhial Deng, who empowered over 20,000 refugees through education and entrepreneurship programs.

This year’s winner will follow in the footsteps of previous honorees, including Ukrainian Igor Klymenko, who developed a mine-detecting drone, and Jeremiah Thoronka, whose startup provided free electricity to over 150 households in Sierra Leone.

In addition to the $100,000 prize, the Global Student Prize offers the finalists a platform to share their stories and connect with change-makers from across the globe.