Three outstanding students from the UAE have been shortlisted for the prestigious Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2024, an annual award of $100,000 given to a student who has made a significant impact on learning, the lives of their peers, and society.
The students, selected from over 11,000 nominations from 176 countries, are Maha Nawaz, Faris Saadaat Bajwa, and Mohammad Erfan Firouzi.
Maha Nawaz, a 17-year-old student at Dubai College, excels in Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Inspired by her brother’s needs, she has innovated in brain-computer interfacing and engineering to assist those with disabilities. Her projects include two prosthetic hands: one Arduino-based and another controlled by the mind using machine learning.
Nawaz is also a TEDx speaker and a volunteer with e-NABLE, providing 3D-printed prosthetics to individuals with limb differences. Academically, she achieved top GCSE scores with three world distinctions. She leads the Computer Science Society at her school, hosts workshops, mentors in 3D printing and coding, and has founded an NGO in Pakistan that creates robotics kits for underprivileged girls and improves healthcare in rural villages with a remote patient monitoring system.
Faris Saadaat Bajwa, an Environmental Sciences student at Dubai College, has been passionate about wildlife and climate change since childhood. He has interned with international conservation organizations like WWF and IUCN and joined the Oxford Climate Society. Bajwa won the Creativity for Sustainability Competition at the Local Conference of Youth 2023 and was selected as the UAE Youth Ambassador for Nature.
He led multiple environmental initiatives, including the Mangrove Escape Room at COP28. His dedication to environmental conservation led him to create “Yalla Mangroves,” an online platform aiming to plant 100,000 mangroves to combat climate change.
Mohammad Erfan Firouzi, a 20-year-old Biology student at The Westminster School, Dubai, began his research in biodiversity and conservation at the age of 10. He authored “The Year Earth Changed” and founded THE WILDLIFE FOCUS, leading environmental campaigns and workshops.
Firouzi has been recognized globally, speaking at forums like COP28 and earning accolades such as the Round Table Global Youth Award. He creates educational content through THE WILDLIFE FOCUS YouTube channel and “The Nature Talks” podcast, engaging communities worldwide in fostering environmental awareness and sustainable practices.
The Chegg.org Global Student Prize, launched in 2021 in partnership with the Varkey Foundation, aims to highlight the efforts of extraordinary students who are reshaping the world for the better. It is open to students aged 16 and older who are enrolled in academic institutions or training programs, including part-time and online students.
Heather Hatlo Porter, Chegg’s Chief Communications Officer, congratulated the students, saying, “Chegg celebrates your achievements and the endless possibilities when young minds are driven by a passion for change. The top 50 Global Student Prize finalists deserve the opportunity to have their stories told and their voices heard.”
Sunny Varkey, Founder of the Varkey Foundation, added, “Maha Nawaz, Faris Saadaat Bajwa, and Mohammad Erfan Firouzi’s stories highlight the crucial role of education in building a better world. As we strive to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, prioritizing education is more important than ever.”
UAE students have a history of excelling in the Global Student Prize, with previous nominees and finalists demonstrating the nation’s commitment to fostering exceptional talent and dedication to education.
