Technology

EXPLR ANNOUNCES TOP STUDENT INNOVATORS NAMED NATIONAL STEM CHAMPIONS

Published

2 years ago

December 18, 2024

106 students will receive expense-paid trips to the National STEM Festival in Washington, D.C.
EXPLR is founded by Jenny Buccos and co-founded by Kari Byron (former Discovery Channel Mythbuster) and Andrew Zimmern (Bizarre Foods)

NEW YORK, Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — EXPLR announces the 106 students whose outstanding projects have earned them the title of National STEM Champions. These students will be recognized at the National STEM Festival in Washington, D.C., March 19-22, 2025.

Each student and a guardian will receive an expense-paid trip, including lodging and travel, to attend the Festival and showcase their projects to the public and business and government leaders. In addition, each National STEM Champion will receive free access to EXPLR’s educational streaming video and curriculum platform for the teacher of their choice.

EXPLR invited students in grades 7-12 from across the U.S. and its territories to conceive and submit STEM innovations, inventions, and research across six categories: Aerospace Innovation, Environmental Stewardship, Future Food, Health and Medicine, Powering the Planet, and Tech for Good.

“Congratulations to all the students selected as National STEM Champions! EXPLR created the National STEM Festival to spotlight the next generation of innovators—students who are bold thinkers, dynamic leaders, and creators with the power to make a real impact. I’m incredibly excited to welcome our STEM Champions to the Festival this spring, where their ideas will inspire us all,” said Jenny Buccos, Founder & CEO of EXPLR and Co-Director of the National STEM Festival.

In addition to being selected as National STEM Champions, select students were also recognized for the following special awards:

The AISES Indigenous Ingenuity Award recognizes the creativity, ingenuity, and technical prowess of the first scientists by honoring Indigenous students from North American tribes or the Pacific Islands who have developed research projects that answer burning questions or address real-world challenges from their communities.The Congressional Innovation Award recognizes the creativity, ingenuity, and technical prowess of students who have developed outstanding mobile and web applications that address real-world challenges.EXPLR Catalyst Award recognizes an outstanding entrant who demonstrates exceptional ingenuity and a commitment to solving real-world problems through innovative solutions. This award honors an individual whose project relentlessly pursues practical applications to address significant societal challenges with creativity and innovation.The Autodesk Design & Make Champion Award honors one 2025 National STEM Champion for exceptional creativity and innovation in completing a project that demonstrates outstanding skills throughout the entire design and make process.

The following students were named National STEM Champions:

ALABAMA
Aanchal Behara (Birmingham), Ashu Anand (Birmingham)

ALASKA
Sara DeVolld (Soldotna)

AMERICAN SAMOA
Amelie Chen (Pago Pago)

ARIZONA
Humberto Gil Villalobos (Yuma), Akshay Karthik (Chandler), Carmen Martinez (Yuma)

ARKANSAS
Harshith Guduru (Bentonville), Bennet Chen (Little Rock)

CALIFORNIA
David He (San Diego), Shriya Nedumaran (San Jose), Joanna Deng* (Orinda)
*Joanna Deng is also a recipient of the Congressional Innovation Award

COLORADO
Alexander Zhang (Boulder), Anirudh Rao (Highlands Ranch)

CONNECTICUT
Snigtha Mohanraj (New Haven), Tyler Malkin* (Greenwich)
*Tyler Malkin is also the recipient of the Alumni Award

DELAWARE
Cailyn Pan (Wilmington), Riddik Sri Satya Neetipalli (Wilmington)

FLORIDA
Carson Granese (St. Petersburg), Gabriella Weiner (Melbourne), Rudra Patel (Tampa)

GEORGIA
Daniel Li (Suwanee), Hannah Coley (Conyers)
From the NASEF Farmcraft team from Brookwood High School in Snellville: Nakariana Jones, Evie Moore, Sydney King, Indus Lewis, Layla Young, Wren Hall, Ella Foghis Myers

GUAM
Mitekshi Ghosh (Chalan Pago)

HAWAII
Liam Chattergy* (Honolulu), Jinghao Li (Kapolei)
*Liam Chattergy is also a recipient of the Congressional Innovation Award

ILLINOIS
Manaal Siddiqui (Naperville), Sammit Chidambaram (Dunlap)

INDIANA
Sophia Fu (Carmel), Rohan Bhosale (Carmel), Tara Kim (West Lafayette)

IOWA
Amal Eltayib (Iowa City), Ritvik Gupta (Johnston)

KANSAS
Elizabeth Barnes (Overland Park), Mahi Kohli (Olathe)

KENTUCKY
Lucy Teng (Louisville), Vallabh Ramesh (Louisville)

LOUISIANA
Abigail Qi (Baton Rouge), Gyeongyun Min (Lake Charles)
From the NASEF Farmcraft team from University View Academy in Baton Rouge: Alanna Piper, Elison Hebert, Diego Santana, Charles Steele

MAINE
Gabriel Kirmani (Limestone)

MARYLAND
Megan Yeager (Hanover), Bryan Hijam (Baltimore)

MASSACHUSETTS
Nichelle Thinagar (Shrewsbury), Sarah Wang (Andover)

MICHIGAN
Chikanma Okoisor (Midland), Elliot LeClair (Midland), Tanay Panja* (Ann Arbor)
* Tanay Panja is also a recipient of the Congressional Innovation Award

MINNESOTA
Tyler Clair (Minnetonka), Kevin Qiu (Plymouth), Surjosnato Dhar (Plymouth)

MISSISSIPPI
Celia Lane (Ridgeland), Pranav Reddy (Ridgeland)

MISSOURI
Elizabeth Saleeby (Saint Louis), Anikait Rawat (Manchester)

MONTANA
Akira Lanes (Bozeman)

NEBRASKA
Dakota Sage (Central City), Thanvi Bhat (Omaha)

NEVADA
Jordan Chong (Reno), Jayna Kim (Las Vegas)

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Viktor Osadsky (Exeter), Jiaxuan Dai (Exeter)

NEW JERSEY
Ishaan Kunwar (Edison), Krithik Alluri (Medford)

NEW MEXICO
Steven Xu (Roswell), Natashia Anderson* (Farmington)
* Natashia Anderson is also the recipient of the AISES Indigenous Ingenuity Award

NEW YORK
Tristan Burchett* (Brooklyn), Mai Tran (New York City), Isabella Wissa (Lincolndale), Chase Ende (Harrison)
*Tristan Burchett is also the recipient of the EXPLR Catalyst Award

NORTH CAROLINA
Sakhyata Gurram (Cary), Swayam Shah (Raleigh), Keertana Ramars Jillella Venkata* (Raleigh)
* Keertana Ramars Jillella Venkata is also a recipient of the Congressional Innovation Award

NORTH DAKOTA
Fatemeh Saeedi (Grand Forks)

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
Misha Kim (Northern Mariana Island, Saipan)

OHIO
Deepthisri Paruchuri (Columbus), Anuki Mudalige (Delaware)

OKLAHOMA
Caytie Couch* (Quapaw), Emma Zhang (Jenks)
* Caytie Couch is also the recipient of the AISES Indigenous Ingenuity Award

OREGON
Anisha Dhoot (Portland), Liam Aranda-Michel (Lake Oswego), Nidhi Yadalam (Portland)

PENNSYLVANIA
Aadi Deshmukh (Bethlehem), Audrey Rozea (West Chester), Dharunish Yugeswardeenoo (Warrington)

PUERTO RICO
Shanti Isaac (Guaynabo)

RHODE ISLAND
Jimin Shon (Portsmouth)

SOUTH CAROLINA
Karthik Arumugam (Mauldin), Sydney Poliakoff (Charleston)

SOUTH DAKOTA
Kambria Tamayo* (Lower Brule), Lila Vanderlei (Avon), Steven Swallow (Porcupine)
* Kambria Tamayo is also is also the recipient of the AISES Indigenous Ingenuity Award

TENNESSEE
Benjamin Taylor (Memphis), Shashank Lahoti (Mount Juliet)

TEXAS
Hasini Leo Jayaraj (Leander), Adel Sisy* (Manvel)
* Adel Sisy is also a recipient of the Congressional Innovation Award

UTAH
Aadhi Umamageswaran (Salt Lake City), Ian JakeKim (Salt Lake City)

VIRGINIA
Ashrita Gandhari (Alexandria), Ani Nishanian (Chantilly), Linda Pistun (Alexandria)

WASHINGTON
Lakshmi Agrawal (Bellevue), Matthew “Jerry” Yao* (Walla Walla)
*Matthew Yao is also the recipient of the Autodesk Design & Make Champion Award

WISCONSIN
Aditi Muduganti* (Onalaska), Ritisha Dey (Shorewood)
*Aditi Muduganti is also a recipient of the Congressional Innovation Award

WYOMING
Padmalakshmi Ramesh (Laramie), Teagan Thomas (Greybull)

The National STEM Festival, presented by EXPLR, is able to offer inspiring and engaging experiences to participants, both in Washington, D.C. and online, thanks to the support of co-presenting sponsors Autodesk and Broadcom Foundation, in addition to a number of supporting organizations that share a commitment to advancing innovation and STEM education. A full list of sponsors and supporters can be found on the National STEM Festival website.

For media and interview requests or inquiries about National STEM Festival coverage, please contact Skai Blue Media at teamexplr@skaibluemedia.com.

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SOURCE EXPLR

Technology

Medmovie’s Hx Heart Video Library Powers Patient Education at Cardiovascular Practices Worldwide

Published

26 minutes ago

June 22, 2026

Physician-validated, privately branded HD video helps heart patients understand their care.

BERKELEY, Calif., June 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Medmovie, Inc., a leader in cardiovascular medical visualization, today highlighted the global reach of its Hx Heart Video Library (HVL), a hosted patient-education solution licensed to clinics and hospital systems for more than a decade.

The HVL turns the cardiovascular conditions, diagnostic tests, procedures, and medications heart patients encounter into concise, accurate HD videos — helping clinicians spend less time explaining and more time connecting with their patients.

The HVL is a curated collection of clinician-reviewed cardiovascular videos. Practices and hospitals can license, brand, and embed it directly on their websites.

Users to-date span multiple continents, including hospitals in Australia and Germany, a national trade association, and cardiology practices in the United States and around the world.

Every video is reviewed and validated by Medmovie’s MD editorial board. The Hx Heart library is brought to you by the same creative developers of the CardioSmart Heart Explorer App, which was created and produced by Medmovie and distributed by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) through 2024.

Cardiovascular specialists who rely on Medmovie’s visual content have seen its impact firsthand.

“Over the past year, my clinic’s website, www.sukruakyuz.com, has attracted more than 100,000 unique visitors per month, and my YouTube videos have generated nearly 7 million views,” said Dr. Sukru Akyuz, interventional cardiologist in Turkey. “This level of reach and engagement would not have been possible without Medmovie’s exceptional medical animations and support. Thanks to their contributions, I have achieved my goal of becoming one of Turkey’s most recognized interventional cardiologists.”

From the point of care to a clinic’s online presence, Medmovie’s trusted visual content helps patients see and understand their own care. The Hx Heart Video Library is available now to cardiovascular practices, hospitals, and health systems worldwide.

See the library in action at medmovie.com/cvl — the same branded player can be customized with a practice’s or hospital’s logo and embedded on its website in a matter of days. Watch a sample, the CAD video on the hidden risks of coronary artery disease, at https://youtube.com/shorts/0Tt-k8XkrTk

Healthcare organizations and practices interested in licensing the Hx Heart Video Library can contact Medmovie at medmovie.com/contact.

About Medmovie, Inc.

Medmovie translates complex medical and life science information into accurate, easy-to-understand, strategically focused visual media. Our clients leverage our experience, validated animations, and interactive media to create cost-effective, innovative tools to help tell their stories. We are a team of trained Medical Illustrators and Animators who love our work and are passionate about our simple goal: we want our clients’ stories to be fully understood.

Media Contact

Sarrah Hussain
Director of Communications
Medmovie, Inc.
sarrah@medmovie.com

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SOURCE Medmovie, Inc.

Technology

Kevin Wheeler to Retire as Executive Chairman; President and CEO Stephen Shafer Named Chairman

Published

26 minutes ago

June 22, 2026

MILWAUKEE, June 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS), a global leader in water technology, announced today that Executive Chairman Kevin Wheeler will retire effective July 1. The company’s board of directors has elected Stephen Shafer, president and chief executive officer (CEO), as chairman upon Wheeler’s retirement. Wheeler will remain a member of the company’s board of directors.

“Kevin’s impact on A. O. Smith spans three decades,” said Chris Mapes, lead director of the board. “During his tenure, the company expanded its global footprint, strengthened its portfolio through multiple acquisitions and successfully navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining strong operational performance.”

Wheeler joined A. O. Smith in 1994 as a regional sales manager for the former Water Products Company and held various senior leadership roles across the business before becoming president and CEO in 2018 and chairman in 2020.

Shafer, who has served as president and CEO since July 2025, becomes the 11th CEO to assume the role of chairman in the company’s history. He joined A. O. Smith in 2024 as president and chief operating officer. As chairman, Shafer will lead the board of directors and continue to oversee the company’s global operations, strategic direction, profitability and shareholder return.

“Steve has demonstrated strong, strategic leadership and a deep understanding of our business and growth opportunities,” said Mapes. “His combined role as chairman and CEO will further strengthen alignment across our strategy, operations and long-term value creation.”

Before joining A. O. Smith, Shafer held roles of increasing responsibility at 3M Company across multiple business units in the U.S. and China. Earlier in his career, he worked at McKinsey & Co. and Ford Motor Company. Shafer serves on the boards of the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, as well as the Executive Advisory Board for WorkBoard Inc.

“As chairman, I will continue leading this outstanding company and team with focus and discipline,” said Shafer. “We remain committed to driving innovation, serving our customers and advancing our purpose to find a better way. I would also like to thank Kevin for his leadership and continued support through this transition and look forward to benefiting from his continued guidance as a member of our board going forward.”

About A. O. Smith

A. O. Smith Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a global leader applying innovative technology and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: AOS), the company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment and water management products. For more information, visit www.aosmith.com.

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SOURCE A. O. Smith Corporation

Technology

S&P Global Declares Third Quarter Dividend

Published

1 hour ago

June 22, 2026

NEW YORK, June 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Board of Directors of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) has approved a cash dividend on the Company’s common stock for the third quarter of 2026. The dividend of $0.97 is payable on September 10, 2026, to shareholders of record on August 26, 2026. The annualized dividend rate is $3.88 per share.

The Company has paid a dividend each year since 1937 and is one of fewer than 30 companies in the S&P 500® that has increased its dividend annually for more than 50 years.

About S&P Global:

S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) enables businesses, governments, and individuals with trusted data, expertise and technology to make decisions with conviction. We are Advancing Essential Intelligence through world-leading benchmarks, data, and insights that customers need in order to plan confidently, act decisively, and thrive economically in a rapidly changing global landscape.

From helping our customers assess new investments across the capital and commodities markets to guiding them through the energy expansion, acceleration of artificial intelligence, and evolution of public and private markets, we enable the world’s leading organizations to unlock opportunities, solve challenges, and plan for tomorrow – today.

Contacts:

Investor Relations:
Mark Grant
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer
Tel: + 1 347 640 1521

Media:
April Kabahar
Global Head of Corporate Communications
Tel: +1 212 438 7530

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SOURCE S&P Global