ROSHNI ANEJA | Congressman Frank Pallone

Hometown: Iselin

Roshni Aneja currently attends John F. Kennedy Memorial High School and will be entering her third year of high school. She is active in her school's Junior State of America, Marching Band, JV Tennis, Robotics Team, Wind Ensemble, and Academic Team. She has founded and is the chair of her local chapter of High School Democrats of America. She currently resides in her hometown of Iselin.

Her career aspirations include combining her interests in political and computer science to develop advocacy software that helps stimulate and influence change in public policy. She is also interested in baking, reading, and practicing her clarinet in her free time. Roshni decided to apply to be a New Jersey Leadership Program Summer Fellow because of her interest in learning about how social justice can be achieved through our intricate government. She also hopes to educate and activate her peers through the knowledge gained through this program.

VAISHNAVI BHALLA | Assemblyman Sterley Stanley

Hometown: Belle Mead

Vaishnavi Bhalla currently attends Princeton Day School and will be entering her third year of high school. She is active in Spokesman (the newspaper), Model Un, Mock Trial, a capella, Hindustani classical music, and holds a leadership position in the "Hear Our Voices" magazine for Asian-American high schoolers. She currently resides in Belle Mead, Montgomery.

Her career aspirations include a career in law. She is also interested in reading, singing, and binge watching Netflix. Vaishnavi decided to apply to be a New Jersey Leadership Program Summer Fellowship because she wanted to gain new skills to eventually induce change in her community. She also wanted to develop her knowledge on the local government and how policies are carried out.

PRIYANKA DAS | Princeton Public Affairs Group

Hometown: East Windsor

Priyanka Das currently attends Hightstown High School and will be starting her junior year next fall. She is part of Red Cross, Key Club, and is the lead snare and drumline captain for her Marching Band. She also takes great pride in Assistant Directing her school productions, and her local theater shows run by The Impact Project. She holds leadership positions as the Student Production Manager for Drama Club and also serves as the Director of Events for the HHS Student Council.

Priyanka's career aspirations include working for United States intelligence agencies to promote and protect national security. She hopes to pursue a double major in International Relations and Economics. She is also interested in advocacy, and learning the intricacies of foreign politics, particularly in Russia and the Middle East. Priyanka decided to apply to be a New Jersey Leadership Program Summer Fellow because she has come to recognize the lack of South Asian representation in NJ politics, and was so excited to have the opportunity to work alongside her peers to work towards tackling this issue, while also gaining strong legislative experience. She is extremely grateful to be part of this program and hopes to not only understand the nuances of government, but use the skills learned to continue serving her community.

LAASYA GADIYARAM | Senator Joe Lagana

Hometown: Princeton

Laasya Gadiyaram currently attends Princeton High School and will be entering her fourth year of high school. She is the captain of her school's Mock Trial team, Director of Expansion for the Mid Atlantic State of the Junior State of America as well as the Vice President of her school's JSA Chapter, Opinions Section Editor of her school's newspaper, the Tower, Director of Public Relations of her school's art and literature magazine, the Ivy, an active member of her school's student-run art gallery, the Numina Gallery, and a student in her school's research program. She is currently conducting a nation-wide political science experiment which studies the voter behavior of 500 American voters, and next year she plans to begin an art history independent study on Muslim and Hindu art. She currently resides in her hometown of Cranbury.

Her career aspirations change basically every week, and can range from advising public policy, writing novels, curating art museums, to maybe even founding a nonprofit. She is also interested in reading anything by Sally Rooney, watching early-2000s sitcoms, and listening to country-turned-pop princesses (especially Taylor Swift and Kacey Musgraves!) Laasya decided to apply to be a New Jersey Leadership Program Summer Fellow because she is eager to learn about a new aspect of local government that she has never been exposed to. She believes that being an informed citizen is the most important role one can fill, and hopes to embody that idea to its fullest extent.

ANIKA GANESH | Assemblyman Raj Mukherji

Hometown: Edison

Anika Ganesh currently attends Rutgers Prep and will be entering her third year of high school. She is active in Pom Sqaud, theatre productions, dance, varsity softball, and Congressman Frank Pallone's Youth Advisory Council. She currently resides in her hometown of Edison.

Her career aspirations include attending a service academy and working as an intelligence officer. After leading Americans from all walks of life, she hopes to be better informed on the issues that pertain to a wide range of people, and use this knowledge to run a successful senatorial campaign. She is also interested in powerlifting and gymnastics. Anika decided to apply to be a New Jersey Leadership Program Summer Fellow because she wanted to take the first step towards a more diverse and just government as a youth, and hopefully inspire many more to come along. She believes that young people like her must get involved in any way they can, as they are the future of this nation.

ZOYA KHURRAM | Office of the Governor

Hometown: Princeton

Zoya Khurram currently attends South Brunswick High School and will be entering her first year of college. She is active in Model UN and Mock Trial, and holds leadership positions in Student Council as Board of Education Representative, Viking Volunteers as vice president, and Law Club as vice president. She currently resides in South Brunswick.

Her long-term career aspirations include becoming a part of the legislative process as either a policy advisor or an elected official. In the near future, she looks forward to starting her own business. She is interested in baking, playing basketball, and reading in her free time. She decided to apply to be a New Jersey Leadership Program Summer fellow because she wanted to gain first-hand experience working with the people who help run our country. Furthermore, she wanted to learn and grow alongside AAPI youth who are passionate about government.

DURVA PATEL | Senator Vin Gopal

Hometown: Iselin

Durva Patel currently attends John F. Kennedy Memorial High School and will be entering her fourth year of high school. She is active in her school's student council, key club, Junior Students of America chapter, American Cancer Society, and the Women Inspiring Strengths and Empowerment club. She is also involved in her local JAGGO chapter which works to empower women of all races and backgrounds. She holds leadership positions by volunteering as a tutor and helping kids learn how to read, she also works as one of the representatives for the WISE club in her school. She currently resides in Woodbridge.

Her career aspirations are to pursue law through law school and become an environmental lawyer. She hopes to give back to the environment and work towards policies that are just as helpful towards the earth as they may be to the people that are affected. She is also interested in reading, watching movies, and cooking in her free time. She decided to apply to be a New Jersey Leadership Program Summer Fellow because she wanted to be a part of something that would allow her to gain more experience in the inner workings of government and understand the complexities through firsthand experience. Durva also hopes to be able to work with the community through the program and become an active member working towards solving the issues that many face. Representation is important to her, and to be part of a program that emphasizes the involvement of minorities in politics is a key step in achieving future incorporation and acceptance.

VIGNESH PRAKASH | Quest Diagnostics Government Affairs

Hometown: Edison

Vignesh Prakash currently attends J.P Stevens High school and will be entering his fourth year of high school. Vignesh is a multi-instrument percussionist who plays both western and classical drums and has a comprehensive background in live and recorded performances. He is part of his school’s Jazz Band, Marching Band and Wind Ensemble and is an all-state CJMEA percussionist in the state of New Jersey. He is a passionate writer and is part of the school newspaper club--JPS Hawkeye--and a political/opinion piece writer for the Report Outlook Newspaper. He writes for the First Days Project with the South Asian American Digital Archive(SAADA). Vignesh is a panel member of the Juvenile Conference Committee of NJCourts. He is a certified Income Tax Preparer (VITA) and volunteers his time to file and prepare tax returns for low-to-moderate-income residents across New Jersey. He has worked as a legislative intern this past summer with New Jersey-based Assemblyman and Councilman. He actively phone-banked for the Biden Campaign as a part of the AAPI Outreach group and recently has picked up with the Murphy campaign. Vignesh holds leadership positions as a Policy Engagement Lead in the New Jersey Student Climate Advocates(Princeton University) and as a Communication Lead of the HumanWho.Inc. Edison Chapter. He currently resides in Edison, New Jersey.

His career aspirations include pursuing a double major in Finance and Journalism and later attend law school to become a lawyer in the litigation department. He is extremely passionate about pro bono immigration work, public policies and civil advocacy. Additionally, he loves composing music, reading, and running in his free time. Vignesh applied to be a New Jersey Leadership Program Summer Fellow because this program offers him first-hand experience working among state legislators and representatives through which he wishes to grow himself both intellectually and practically to work in this field. He aims to explore the intricate system of our local government and expand his communication skills, leadership qualities, and build valuable connections across the state of New Jersey.

ANNIKA VASAGIRI | Assemblyman Daniel R. Benson

Hometown: Belle Mead

Annika Vasagiri currently attends Montgomery High School and will be entering her fourth year of high school. She is active in her school’s Model UN, Youth and Government, Speech and Debate, and National Honor Society programs, and holds a leadership position as a Board Member in Model UN. She currently resides in her hometown of Belle Mead.

Her career aspirations include working at the Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer representing Americans abroad, or for a nonprofit centered around global development. She is also interested in grassroots activism, Netflix documentaries, and art from around the world. Annika decided to apply to be a New Jersey Leadership Program Summer Fellow because she wanted to gain a better understanding of how political offices operate and how political change is implemented on a daily basis. She is also excited about the opportunities the program offered to meet and learn from people who actually work in politics, as well as her own peers with interests in the field. She hopes that the knowledge she gains in this program will make her a better leader and teach her the skills she will need to advocate for change in the future.