Lara Rahman, served on the Teen Board 2021-2022, 2022-2023 and as President 2023-2024
Lara presented her Global Scholar Thesis at Park Tudor prior to graduating in May 2024. The title was: Radiant Hope – Illuminating the Mechanisms and Morality of Pediatric Cancer Radiation Therapy. View her presentation here.
Her involvement with our Teen Board, furthered her love of pediatric cancer research. In August 2024 she began her freshman year at Harvard University studying economics on the pre-med track. As of March 2025, she is beginning ophthalmology AI research at Mass Gen Eye and Ear. She writes for the Harvard Undergraduate Research Journal and the Harvard Undergraduate Health Policy Review. She is also a part of the Harvard Undergraduate Research Association, where she connects with local professors to speak
Ella Self, served on the Teen Board 2021-2022 and as President 2022-2023
Ella is currently a sophomore at Indiana University, studying Marketing & Business Analytics. She will be interning with Eli Lilly and Co. during summer 2025.
So far during her time at IU, she has put all her time into Indiana University Dance Marathon- the second largest student-led organization in the world.
In 2025, she is serving as the Director of Public Relations on the Executive Council, overseeing all external communications for IUDM, such as social media, the website, media and campus relations, and new this year the newsletter and podcast. Being a part of the Teen Board sent her on this incredible journey.
Gabe Mervis, served on the Teen Board 2020-2021, 2021-2022
In the summer of 2024, Gabe applied for a Wells Summer Internship Program through IU School of Medicine. He was accepted to the program that lasted eight weeks, with about 40 hours per week for 8 weeks in the Caroline Symmes Laboratory at the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research. His research focused on the growth and metastasis of osteosarcoma.
In July 2024, Gabe gave a presentation of his research findings to Dr. Karen Pollok, researchers in her specific lab and researchers at the Herman B Wells Center. You can view it here.
He is hoping to continue working in Dr. Pollok’s lab next summer to continue his research.
Ryan Miller, served on the Teen Board 2020-2021, 2021-2022
Ryan will be graduating from Indiana State University in May 2026. Starting in 2023, she became a resident assistant and became involved in student affairs at Indiana State. Through this she has been able to further the message of cancer research all around residential life (pediatric and adult) and help promote inclusivity.
She is a legal studies major and is going back and forth between medical malpractice and criminal law. She believes that the law can help promote change. In residential life, she is on the student staff advisory board advocating for change in the residence halls.
Emma Vermilion, served on the inaugural Teen Board 2019-2020 along with 2020-2021, 2021-2022
Emma will be graduating in May 2026 from the University of Alabama and as a junior is studying psychology and neuroscience. She is on the Honors College Assembly and a part of Generation Action, the campuses’ planned parenthood chapter. After she graduates, Emma plans to get her Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate and moving to Asia to teach English.
Jess Cooper, served on the Teen Board 2020-2021
Jess will be graduating from Indiana University in May of 2025 with her Bachelor in Social Work and Nonprofit Management. She has been working a practicum at Monroe County Court Appointee Special Advocates, advocating for abused and neglected children in juvenile court. After she graduates in May, she will begin grad school to receive her Masters in Social Work.
During her years of undergrad at IU she was a summer intern with the Endowment along with providing social media and graphic support. She also assisted the teen board in the planning of their first Day of Hope in February 2023.
Khloe Young, served on the inaugural Teen Board 2019-2020 and 2020-2021
Khloe will be graduating in May 2025 from the University of Dayton with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and with a certification in Human Sexuality Education. After she graduates in May, she will be earning her Master’s of Public Health at DePaul University in Chicago.
During her undergrad years at University of Dayton, she was a summer intern with the Endowment, lived in Washington DC working on the hills, worked as a camp counselor and has been doing advocacy work with sexual violence prevention. Her goal is to get her MPH and continue working on violence prevention education and intervention for kids.
Meggan Dew, served on the inaugural Teen Board 2019-2020 and 2020-2021
After Meggan graduated from Franklin Central High School in 2022, she received her RBT certification (Registered Behavioral Therapist). She worked in a center for a year and a half and is now doing in home therapy. She works with children who are diagnosed with Autism to learn daily living skills, communication skills, and decrease maladaptive behaviors. She loves what she does and every client and family she works with.
Megan Long, served on the inaugural Teen Board 2019-2020 and 2020-2021
Megan will be graduating from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in May 2025. At CWRU, she has been involved in her community as the Vice President of her sorority, Phi Mu, and through her pre-med fraternity PhiDE, volunteering at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s, caring for terminally ill patients as a Heartland Hospice volunteer, conducting research in an immunology laboratory, and supporting fellow students as a teaching assistant. She will be attending CWRU School of Medicine next year!
Max Melrose, President of the inaugural Teen Board, 2019-2020
Max graduated from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University in May of 2024 majoring in Finance. As of March 2025, he currently working with a startup alcohol business in South Florida, looking forward to a launch towards the end of this year!
Anna Gummere, served on the inaugural Teen Board, 2019-2020
Anna graduated from Indiana University in May 2024, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health. As of March 2025, she is pursuing her Master’s in Healthcare Administration at the University of Kentucky and working for the Kentucky Children’s Hospital.
Lexi Calvert, served on the inaugural Teen Board, 2019-2020
Lexi graduated from Indiana University in May 2024 and returned home to Carmel, Indiana to start a full-time job. She has been working as the Operations Manager at a startup M&A advisory firm, where they help privately owned healthcare practices sell their businesses to PE-backed consolidators. She has had an amazing year filled with both personal and professional growth!
