Meet The 2025 Cohort
Crystal Aghanya
Crystal Aghanya is a teenage girl with big dreams worth being heard and seen, currently a junior and an uprising senior attending Gardena Senior High. Crystal brings her vibrant energy and cultural roots as a young African woman into everything she does, her cheerful, charismatic and joyful personality uplifts people around her. Crystal's love for healthcare and children has led to an inspiring career as a Pediatric surgeon.
Crystal is also known for her creative and imaginative mind which has led to her promising outcome of her ongoing research on Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
She is currently conducting research on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), focusing on the over expression of the cancer stem cell marker CD44 within this aggressive breast cancer subtype. With big dreams and a bold vision, Crystal is determined to make a meaningful impact through science, culture, and community.
Irys Casey
Future veterinarian, Irys Casey was born in England and moved to California at 7 years old. She is currently a rising senior at El Segundo High School where she is on the varsity swim team and also pursues her passion for science in the biomedical pathway.
During her internship at USC, she has focused on learning how lizard tail regeneration could help advance the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine.
Irys spends her weekends volunteering at the animal hospital, where she gains experience interacting with pet owners and caring for their animals. Outside of academics, she enjoys making ceramics, dancing, and playing instruments.
Sebastian Gaytan D'Amico
Driven by a deep passion for biology, Sebastian Gaytan D'Amico is an outgoing young man dedicated to biomedical engineering. He often enjoys long walks in the outdoors as well as drumming and making comics.
Sebastian is a true collaborator who is always open to new perspectives and ideas. He also maintains a solution-oriented mindset and is constantly looking for ways to improve.
Currently, Sebastian is working on Fetal T21 Intestinal Tissue with the Lundquist Institute. Overall, Sebastian is driven to succeed in the sciences and is dedicated to reaching his utmost potential.
Jaila Magee
Jaila Magee is a dedicated ExStRM intern and aspiring dental professional passionate about biology, healthcare, and community wellness. She currently shadows at a dental clinic, gaining firsthand experience in patient care and clinical operations while deepening her commitment to the dental field.
Jaila is on track to graduate in 2026 with a high school diploma and three associate degrees in Teacher Preparation: Liberal Arts, Behavioral & Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences: Liberal Arts. Her academic background reflects both interdisciplinary strength and a strong foundation in the sciences.
With a deep interest in improving access to quality dental care, Jaila plans to pursue dental school and become a practicing dentist. She hopes to serve diverse communities and make a meaningful impact in oral health.
Samantha Mendez
A curious and determined girl who loves music, tennis, reading, and so much more, that’s who Samantha Mendez is. She’s a rising senior at King/Drew Magnet High School and is involved in a wide range of extracurriculars. She’s the Captain of the Varsity Tennis team, Vice President of the Mock Trial club and the Cards for Hospitalized Kids club, President of the All Animals Society club, and helps lead school events through her school’s Associated Student Body. She knows that she wants to help better the world and is always looking for opportunities to make that happen.
That’s why, when she heard about the ExStRM Program, she knew she wanted to be a part of it. She was given the opportunity to spend the summer working on research about cancer. Her specific research is on the Luminal A subtype breast cancer, and she’s investigating the difference in gene expression based on the presence of specific biomarkers. She hopes that her research can one day help other researchers further their own studies on the same or similar topics.
Ogbu Okpan
Ogbu Okpan is a 17 year old Black teen with a love for music and science. He has 3 siblings, two sisters and one brother, and he has a very high affinity for music and playing instruments.
He attends VHTPA and is currently a rising senior. He has solved his time at his high school, where he will be graduating with his high school diploma and 3 AAs.
Ogbu’s experience at ExStRM has been incredible, he’s learned how to pipette, culture cells, perform RNA extraction, and how to handle safe and volatile chemicals. Every day he goes to the lab to learns new things and he absolutely loves it.
Walter Peña
Walter Peña is a rising senior passionate about biochemistry and regenerative medicine. As a participant in the ExStRM program at Charles Drew University, he is conducting research on the role of Merlin protein in adipocytes and its contribution to tumor progression.
He also interns at St. Mary’s Medical Center and has completed over 300 hours of community service. His love for chemistry and dedication to understanding biological systems drive his commitment to scientific discovery and innovation.
Walter plans to continue pursuing research in breast cancer to help advance innovative approaches in regenerative medicine and cancer treatment.
Huey Tran
Huey Tran is a rising senior at Long Beach Polytechnic High School. Huey is kind and compassionate, always putting his best foot forward in helping others.
He has a passion for cooking and enjoys curating new recipes to share with friends and family, using food as a way to express his creativity and care for others. Huey’s current goal is to attend his dream school, UC San Diego, where he plans to pursue pre-medicine.
As part of the 2025 ExStRM Cohort, Huey is conducting research on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer under the mentorship of Dr. Wu, with the goal of helping underserved communities.
Jeanelle Tweneboah
Jeanelle Tweneboah is a highly motivated high school student with a strong passion for science, medicine, and helping others. Known for her dedication and strong work ethic, she is committed to academic excellence while preparing for a future career as a doctor.
Jeanelle is currently enrolled in several advanced courses, including AP Chemistry, AP Calculus AB, AP Physics, and AP English Literature, demonstrating her drive to challenge herself and grow intellectually.
Beyond the classroom, she actively participates in extracurricular activities and seeks out opportunities to learn more about the healthcare field. Focused, hardworking, and compassionate, Jeanelle is determined to make a meaningful impact in the world of medicine.
Estefani Cruz
Estefani Cruz attends El Segundo High School. This summer she worked alongside researchers at The Lundquist Institute.