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2025 Winner Announced!
With over 60 entries, it was hard to find a winner.
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California is the land of opportunity. Simply put, the curiosity and innovation-based culture we foster within our state is something to be proud of. While many people from other states boast about how many companies leave California for their better tax havens, they are missing the point. California has an export none of them have; companies. We create more companies every year and rank number one in the USA with over 800 “unicorn companies” with New York and Massachusetts being a distant second and third. Our state’s culture is centered on its support of science, free speech, and very distinct separation of church and state allowing us to foster an environment that births so many global innovation giants that benefit the rest of the citizens in our great nation. In a capitalistic society, scientific innovation is the core of driving the health and wellness of its population and nothing should stop us from speaking up about this critical link to our economic success as a country.
You see, America’s culture of innovation is under attack from the current administration’s effort to cut research funding, reduce its support of science, and most importantly their incessant desire to bring God into our classroom and government. Our founding fathers were quite clear in their interest to keep the church and state separated. By its very nature, it is easy to draw a straight line between this concept and why the freedom for science to invent innovations is so critical. California is the frontier for this battle for our country’s roots in innovation. To do this, science must be the foundation of all things. Scientific thought is the center of bursting the boundaries of what is possible. Being able to say and do what we think only supports this level of cultural creativity and making sure the restrictive thinking that occurs when church thought mixes with how our government runs is critical to resist. The link between scientific fact, the ability to free think, and the state to operate free of religious bias is critical to continue to allow our state to pump out its greatest innovations; the companies that change how we live our lives and bring us into the future.
My passion for these topics is why I speak up against the tyranny of what is happening in our country right now. Facts are under attack and so is science. In a world, where the bottom line often speaks, linking a culture of science to economic expansion is what we must focus on to beat back the attack science is facing. Freedom to resist is linked to our right to speak up and resist these lies. While I may repeat myself, the evidence the church is restrictive to this end is found in the simple example of how stem cell research was under attack yet birthed the mRNA vaccines that saved lives during the COVID-19 epidemic. No research, no innovation, and a lot more death.
Why is this hill to die on? Because science and innovation is a funny thing. If you don’t do it, someone will. Our foundations in free speech and separation of church and state are something that birthed America’s culture of innovation. And with its roots being ripped out by people taking us into the past, I find my ideas are what will speak to those only interested in the bottom lines. Think of it as merging our capitalistic culture with our need to maintain our global innovation edge. Give me innovation or give me death should be the new rallying cry to protect America against the antiquated thinking that has overtaken the Christian Nationalistic rights movement that is ever-expanding.
You see, America’s culture of innovation is under attack from the current administration’s effort to cut research funding, reduce its support of science, and most importantly their incessant desire to bring God into our classroom and government. Our founding fathers were quite clear in their interest to keep the church and state separated. By its very nature, it is easy to draw a straight line between this concept and why the freedom for science to invent innovations is so critical. California is the frontier for this battle for our country’s roots in innovation. To do this, science must be the foundation of all things. Scientific thought is the center of bursting the boundaries of what is possible. Being able to say and do what we think only supports this level of cultural creativity and making sure the restrictive thinking that occurs when church thought mixes with how our government runs is critical to resist. The link between scientific fact, the ability to free think, and the state to operate free of religious bias is critical to continue to allow our state to pump out its greatest innovations; the companies that change how we live our lives and bring us into the future.
My passion for these topics is why I speak up against the tyranny of what is happening in our country right now. Facts are under attack and so is science. In a world, where the bottom line often speaks, linking a culture of science to economic expansion is what we must focus on to beat back the attack science is facing. Freedom to resist is linked to our right to speak up and resist these lies. While I may repeat myself, the evidence the church is restrictive to this end is found in the simple example of how stem cell research was under attack yet birthed the mRNA vaccines that saved lives during the COVID-19 epidemic. No research, no innovation, and a lot more death.
Why is this hill to die on? Because science and innovation is a funny thing. If you don’t do it, someone will. Our foundations in free speech and separation of church and state are something that birthed America’s culture of innovation. And with its roots being ripped out by people taking us into the past, I find my ideas are what will speak to those only interested in the bottom lines. Think of it as merging our capitalistic culture with our need to maintain our global innovation edge. Give me innovation or give me death should be the new rallying cry to protect America against the antiquated thinking that has overtaken the Christian Nationalistic rights movement that is ever-expanding.
Liana De Leo
Pleasanton, CA
UC Santa Cruz
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Liana is a freshman at UC Santa Cruz majoring in cognitive science. As someone passionate about helping neurodivergent individuals, she aspires to become a Ph.D. neuropsychologist to be an advocate for those struggling with emotional and neurological conditions. Her passion for this fields stems from her own experiences growing up as someone who is both biracial and neurodivergent.
Having grown up in an educationally, culturally, and religiously diverse home, Liana's personal goals are centered on fighting for those who need both a partner and advocate on their journey. Understanding others' struggles is core to who she is and has become a part of her personal path as she begins making her mark on the world.
📅 Liana will read her winning essay on Sunday in the early-afternoon and at our Fundraising Reception.
Having grown up in an educationally, culturally, and religiously diverse home, Liana's personal goals are centered on fighting for those who need both a partner and advocate on their journey. Understanding others' struggles is core to who she is and has become a part of her personal path as she begins making her mark on the world.
📅 Liana will read her winning essay on Sunday in the early-afternoon and at our Fundraising Reception.