Vignesh Tiruvannamalai is currently a junior at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) in Aurora, Illinois. His academic interests are in biology and chemistry, and he is currently in the Student Inquiry and Research program, researching cancer biology and natural solutions to diabetes. For the past 5 years, Vignesh has also been researching the health and environmental implications of water pollution and testing novel solutions, presenting annually to industry professionals at the Illinois Junior Academy of Science state expositions. He has been a Student Board member for IJAS since his sophomore year of high school. Vignesh is also a sustainability leader in his community; he is revamping the recycling system at IMSA as a Student Council sustainability project director, working with the D300 Food Pantry in his hometown of Carpentersville to divert extensive amounts of food waste from the landfill, and working with the City of Crystal Lake Sustainability Committee. Vignesh is also an avid runner on IMSA's Cross Country and Track and Field teams, a percussionist in the IMSA Wind Ensemble, and a violinist outside of school.