Seniors Jovina Arulandu and Victoria Yu from Oakton High School have made a notable impact in Fairfax County through their nonprofit, ImagineHere, according to a May 22 statement. The two students have focused on promoting STEM education and raising awareness about hearing loss among younger children.
Their work includes organizing hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math programs for elementary students, publishing a children’s book about hearing safety titled “Hear that, Squiggle Squiggle?,” and fundraising to provide hearing aids for those in need. Arulandu’s personal experience with childhood hearing loss inspired the pair to address this issue directly.
Yu said, “When I was at Oakton Elementary, there were a lot of after-school programs, and it got me interested in engineering. I wanted to create something like that for other kids.” She expanded her outreach by teaching interactive classes across multiple schools in the county. Arulandu joined Yu’s efforts after they met as freshmen at Oakton High School. Together they transformed their initiative into ImagineHere with an expanded mission.
Reflecting on her own experience with hearing loss following surgery as a child, Arulandu said last year’s receipt of a hearing aid was life-changing: “The change was so dramatic and so much better.” Their book project aims to help children understand ear health through storytelling. Proceeds from the book helped fund a new hearing aid for another local student. “Afterwards, I got a video of her trying on the hearing aid for the first time, and it literally made me cry,” Arulandu said.
Both students credit support from Fairfax County Public Schools teachers and classmates as key factors in their success. Yu said she was inspired by her mother’s volunteer work: “I loved seeing that direct impact of service within a community.” Arulandu emphasized pursuing meaningful work: “If you do something you’re not personally passionate about, it doesn’t have the impact and potential it could.” Teachers also assisted them during the manuscript process.
Looking ahead, Arulandu will attend the University of California Berkeley studying biophysics with plans to become an ENT surgeon while participating in Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps; Yu will study electrical engineering at Rice University focusing on energy sustainability. Both hope future student volunteers continue ImagineHere’s outreach efforts throughout Fairfax County schools.