Aidan Whitedeer is the Founder and CEO of NIJE. He is an advocate and activist for Indigenous rights as well as an avid coder and mathematics enthusiast. He currently attends the University of Pennsylvania where he aspires to major in Artificial Intelligence, with an emphasis on Data/Society. He is interested in the intersection of technology, law, and Native American Studies.
Colin O'Reilly is a Jane Street UNBOXED Scholar, Pinterest Engage Scholar, COO of NIJE, and a Great Issues Scholar at Dartmouth College, where he is pursuing degrees in Computer Science, Economics, and Native American & Indigenous Studies. He graduated as Valedictorian of his high school with a 4.0 unweighted GPA and was accepted to 12 colleges, securing over $500,000 in scholarships. As a passionate advocate for Indigenous education, Colin is dedicated to creating new opportunities and advancing educational equity within Indigenous communities.
Gary Gao is a Benjamin Franklin Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania. In high school, he conducted award-winning research, took 14 APs, scored 1560 on the SAT, and graduated as a Cum Laude inductee. He now hopes to make a positive impact on the Indigenous community by bridging it with technology.
Ryder Cuch is a DJ, writer, and has a deep interest in politics, history, and sustainability. Ryder is particularly focused on sustainable development, climate change, data analysis, and aiming to drive progressive change.
Vincent Castillo, a Lenfest Scholar and International Baccalaureate Diploma recipient from a rural community, maintained a 4.0 unweighted GPA in high school while participating in various clubs and activities. Dedicated to serving systemically marginalized communities, Vincent hopes to bring inclusion and equal opportunities across the professional and academic world, especially to those of Indigenous, African, and Hispanic backgrounds.
Josh Kim is currently a Senior at Monarch High School and takes dual enrollment classes at CU Boulder. He maintains a 4.0 unweighted GPA and plans to pursue computer science or artificial intelligence in college. Josh Kim is a skilled coder, varsity tennis player, and dedicated Denver Nuggets fan. He is passionate about making computer science more equitable in the communities he is a part of, and has piloted a district-wide coding mentorship program for elementary school students.
Indigenous learning for the 21st century