Meet the Team

DIRECTOR OF BISHOP’S CHAPTER

Grace Yao is co-founder of Project ARISE and a senior at The Bishop’s School. From hiking to surfing, she has always been an avid enjoyer of the outdoors, especially the local wildlife and beaches of San Diego. In addition to using AI to protect the environment, she is exploring applications of programming and AI in biotechnology, especially healthcare. In her downtime, Grace can often be found reading, playing piano or violin, and (always) listening to Taylor Swift.

DIRECTOR OF BISHOP’S CHAPTER

Sydney Whitman is currently a junior at the Bishops School. She’s taken many courses surrounding environmental research, most recently enrolling in a marine biology class. There, she was first introduced to invasive species and their impact on wildlife and natural ecosystems. After hearing about ARISE, Sydney was drawn to the aspect of learning more about controlling invasive species. She’s collaborated with the other ARISE team members to supply a better understanding of the impact of invasive species on both our lives and the lives of other living creatures. Apart from school, she likes to spend her free time drawing/painting, listening to music, and playing with her cats.

DIRECTOR OF TORREY PINES CHAPTER

Betty Xie is a sophomore at Torrey Pines High School. She enjoys hiking in nature and learning new things about the plants and animals she sees. She joined Project ARISE to help raise awareness of environmental issues in the community. In her free time, she loves spending time to bake, making wooden projects, and fencing.

DIRECTOR OF WESTVIEW CHAPTER

Jade Peters is a senior at Westview High School. She's been amazed San Diego's wildlife and nature during camping and backpacking trips with her family, and mountain biking since childhood. Recently, mobile app and game development have become her main interests. She joined Project ARISE to help protect the beautiful environment through designing and programming the app.

DIRECTOR OF WESTVIEW CHAPTER

Tanya Mandyam is a senior at Westview High School. She loves coding and basically anything to do with computer science, and recently creating apps has become one of her hobbies. She also enjoys graphic design. She joined Project ARISE to help our society as invasive species was something she took interest in.

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION — CALIFORNIA

Michelle is a junior at The Bishop’s School. She loves going on road trips (minus the driving) to national parks, her favorite being Yellowstone for its beautiful wildlife. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, cuddling her dog Stella, and reading a wide range of books, from classic literature to contemporary novels. Michelle joined Project ARISE as Co-Director of Education to create engaging, accessible lessons that inspire curiosity and spread awareness about environmental issues. She hopes that she can make a lasting impact by empowering others to care deeply about the natural world around them!

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION — CALIFORNIA

Aska Enomoto is a sophomore at The Bishop’s School who has a strong passion for environmental advocacy. Her interest began early when she learned about ecosystems, quickly leading her to volunteer work aimed at raising awareness. After discovering ARISE, she gained a new perspective on environmental action, focusing on reducing invasive species! She especially enjoys working with children and inspiring them to become the next generation of environmental leaders. Aska is excited to collaborate with other passionate communities that share her vision. In her free time, she likes to volunteer, connecting with her local community, and expressing her creativity through sketching.

DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT

Noan Cheng, a senior at the Bishop's School, has a vivid interest in the rehabilitation of native plants. Enthralled by aquatic life since a young age, that he would turn his attentions and apply his services towards the conservation of our local ecosystems at large was nigh inevitable. As a member of Project ARISE, he finds much glee in making resilient San Diego's environment, be it by the removal of malignant strains or the positive growth of native plants. He enjoys reading and running, and will often be found performatively doing math problems.

DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT

Leslie Cheng, sophomore at La Jolla High, has always been a nature enthusiast that yearns to learn more about the wildlife. She has always wanted to put her hands onto helping climate change, and starting with an amazing opportunity to come help the local ecosystem with Project ARISE has been a great experience to have. Her passion of expanding knowledge in the field is growing only stronger with each service opportunity. In her free time, she will be found competitively gaming or at an ice rink figure skating.

DIRECTOR OF SHERMAN CHAPTER

Lakshya Jain is an environmental specialist who believes and strives to preserve the biodiversity of the ecological system as well as restore it. He also helped the conservation, and the effectiveness of such conservation strategies relies on science. He is deeply interested in nature and driven by this intimate personal connection he makes it a regular practice to seek out a variety of environments by doing a lot of traveling and visiting national parks to learn more about the dynamics of healthy ecosystems and the issues they have to deal with. His work is directed by the fact that he believes that rebuilding natural systems is not only necessary to support the health of our planet but to support the health of all life that relies upon it. During his leisure time, Lakshya loves to be physically active through cricket and basketball playing to help him strike a balance and give energy in his personal and professional life.

DIRECTOR OF POLICY ADVOCACY — GEORGIA

Ever since she was little, she's been that person stopping to admire a leaf, taking photographs on hikes, writing poems and short paragraphs of what she felt and experienced whenever she's outside. She has always been dreaming of a world where nature would stay the same...abundant and beautiful. During COVID-19, as ecosystems suffered, she wanted to do more for the world that she has always admired. She has studied synthetic biology, environmental science, and clean technology (AI specifically). She has created posts on Substack, participated in organizations, and wrote short stories. She has always loved writing about the nature around her and potential possibilities of a greener Earth.

PRESIDENT OF TUNISIA CHAPTER

Razen Naoui is a senior at Gabès's Pioneer High School, Tunisia. She's passionate about technology, STEM, human rights, and the environment. Since early childhood she dreamt of creating a world where human comfort does not come at the cost of Mother Earth. She thinks technology was never the issues and innovation doesn't have to mean destruction or pollution, but it's our perspective and priorities that make the difference. Seeing her city suffer from environmental issues and biodiversity threats, Razen decided she wants to do something to educate the community and take action. She loves all kinds of art from music to cinema, so she dedicates a lot of her time painting, singing and crafting.

VICE PRESIDENT OF TUNISIA CHAPTER

Mustapha Amine Kraiem is a sophomore at Gabes's Pioneer High School in Tunisia, with a deep passion for astrophysics, human rights, and the natural world,especially the mysteries of marine life. Growing up near the Gulf of Gabes, he has witnessed firsthand the alarming environmental decline in the region. This critical situation has inspired him to take action. He is also passionate about the arts, enjoys playing music, and loves learning about the wonders of the universe.

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION — TUNISIA

Mayssem Ghanney is a sophomore at Pioneer High School in Gabes, Tunisia. She’s into science, education, and taking on roles that let her connect with people in real ways. She joined Project ARISE because caring for the environment isn’t just an idea, it’s something we all share, and even small actions can make a difference. When she’s off projects, you’ll find her cooking up something new, watching movies, blasting music, digging in the garden, or adding to her ever-growing tote bag collection.

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION — CAMBODIA

Say "Sousdei" to Winna, an enthusiastic advocate who's all about making our colorful planet shine brighter! With a heart deeply rooted in her Cambodian heritage, she's a champion for connecting communities, especially between kids and teens, to the magic of conservation through education. Winna is on a mission to raise a whole generation of Earth-loving heroes with the warmest, most genuine spirit around. And when she's not out sparking environmental passion, you might catch her chilling in her room, painting up a storm, or having an epic movie night with her little sister.

PRESIDENT OF CAMEROON CHAPTER

Ngoran Awiyii Blaise is an environmental advocate and community leader dedicated to promoting sustainability and youth engagement in Cameroon. As the Founder & Executive Director of Eco Friends Cameroon, he leads programs focused on plastic waste reduction, environmental education, and coastal cleanups — especially in the Limbe area. Through local and international partnerships, Blaise works to raise awareness, inspire action, and support community-driven solutions for a cleaner, greener future.

VICE PRESIDENT OF CAMEROON CHAPTER

Ekuri is an environmental educator from Cameroon who uses educational media such as art, workshops, film, and outdoor education programs to promote sustainability literacy among young people in Cameroon. His journey began in 2018 when his teacher challenged the class to take action against plastic pollution along Cameroon’s west coast. Ekuri began volunteering at beach cleanups and tree-planting initiatives to protect water catchments. He later realized that education was the most effective way to engage young people, inspire action, and create a connection with nature. In his free time, he enjoys traveling to the west coast and reading about geopolitics. Ekuri is optimistic about the future of our planet, given the growing number of young people taking action and making waves.

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION — CAMEROON

Chu Benjamin Chi is a dedicated postgraduate researcher in the Department of Plant Science at the University of Buea. Born in Esu Fongum, Menchum Division of Cameroon’s Northwest Region, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Biodiversity and Nature Conservation. His research focuses on tropical ecosystem management, mangrove restoration, and pangolin conservation within Bakossi National Park. Benjamin is passionate about integrating community-based approaches into biodiversity protection and promoting sustainable environmental policies across Africa and beyond.

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION — CAMEROON

Ahone Ngome Minette is passionate about environmental conservation and serves as a volunteer at Eco Friends. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communication.

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Njoshu Lionel is a graduate of the University of Bamenda with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Development Studies. As Someone who likes environmental sustainability and community empowerment, I bring a strong background in outreach and public engagement to Project ARISE. I work to bridge the gap between technology and local action, helping raise awareness, inspire participation, and support the mission of restoring biodiversity through innovation and education.