Distinguished Finalist

Eshaan Vakil, 17, of Las Vegas, Nev., a junior at Ed W. Clark High School, launched “The Alliance for Academic Quiz Bowl (AAQB),” an initiative that hosts coaching and competition events for elementary and middle schoolers where they answer challenging questions on a variety of subjects. Eshaan’s program, which aims to promote academic engagement and high school preparation, has reached more than 400 participants so far.