JAX awards $10K scholarships to future biomedical leaders

(Farmington, Conn., Bar Harbor, Maine and Sacramento, Calif. – July 9, 2025) -- Three high school seniors from Maine, Connecticut, and greater Sacramento have been selected as recipients of the 2025 JAX College Scholarship Program, which awards $10,000 to students from underserved backgrounds pursuing biomedical careers.

“These students represent the future of STEM,” said Sarah Wojiski, director of Education at JAX. “We are proud to support them not just financially, but with mentorship, internships, and a lasting network.

In addition to the scholarship, JAX provides career guidance, hosts annual campus visits, and facilitates internships throughout the students’ college journey. Since 2018, the JAX Genomic Education team has awarded a total of $230,000 to bright students who aspire to enter STEM careers. Of the eight awardees who have now graduated college, all are now working in biomedical or healthcare research, with two continuing their education: one working towards a Master of Public Health and the other an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

This year, the awardees – Chris Irankunda of Maine, Luis Asanza of Connecticut, and Hunter Jiang of California – embody the JAX College Scholarship’s quest to uplift students from underserved communities who are passionate about improving human health. From advancing global health equity to addressing chronic diseases and driving biomedical innovation, each student brings a unique vision for a healthier future – and the drive to make it a reality.

2025 Maine JAX College Scholarship Awardee: Chris Irankunda

Irankunda will use his JAX College Scholarship to pursue a pre-med degree in integrated biology at Harvard University. Originally from Rwanda, his aspirations reach far beyond becoming a physician—he envisions creating a global foundation that funds medical education and ensures equitable access to resources for aspiring healthcare professionals around the world. “I will effectively hone my skills and gain the tools to bridge the gap between young, talented people and their medical goals,” he wrote in his application. “My foundation will be a pillar of hope, driving progress and fostering change within small communities like mine—and beyond.” Irankunda’s passion for medicine was sparked by his high school running career, which led him to explore the science of performance and recovery in sports. At Yarmouth High School, he not only excelled as an athlete but also immersed himself in healthcare-related experiences—volunteering at MaineHealth Medical Center, participating in the Tufts Inside Medicine Program, and competing in the Science Bowl, among many other activities.

2025 Connecticut JAX College Scholarship Awardee: Luis Asanza

Asanza will attend Western Connecticut State University, where he’ll use his JAX College Scholarship to pursue a pre-med degree in biology. Driven by a deep commitment to health equity, he plans to focus his future medical or biomedical research career on addressing health disparities and advancing preventative care in underserved communities. In his application, Asanza shared his desire to tackle chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease—ailments that disproportionately affect individuals in lower-income areas. “My ultimate aim is to be part of the solution—to help build health systems that are fair, sustainable, and designed to promote the common good,” he wrote. At Danbury High School, he distinguished himself as a peer tutor, founder and president of the Multilingual Book Club, and a research leader with the Housatonic Valley Association. He also took a hands-on step toward his medical goals by earning his Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification.

2025 California JAX College Scholarship Awardee: Hunter Jiang

Jiang will attend UC San Diego, where he’ll use his JAX College Scholarship to study engineering with aspirations of entering the fields of pharmacological chemistry or biomedical engineering. His goal is to make a meaningful impact on vulnerable communities by improving access to medicine and preventative care, ultimately working to reduce, and even eliminate, chronic illness. “I want to help push the frontiers of medication for common illnesses, to give all families—but low-income families in particular—one less problem to worry about,” he wrote in his application. “I sincerely believe that one day, the world will be free of disease and sickness, and I am determined to be in that race toward a better world.” At West Campus High School, Jiang was a dedicated student and community member. He volunteered with a Mandarin summer school program, tutored peers in chemistry and AP biology, and served as both vice president and treasurer of the school’s breakdancing club.

The Jackson Laboratory College Scholarship Program

To date, the JAX College Scholarship Program has awarded a total of $230,000 in scholarships to students in Maine, Connecticut and Sacramento County, California. This program supports students whose goals align with JAX’s mission to discover precise genomic solutions for disease.

JAX Genomic Education’s initiatives aim to ignite the passion of future scientists, advance careers and inform the public about the unfolding promise of genetics and genomics. In addition to the JAX College Scholarship Program, the Genomic Education team hosts and sponsors the Summer Student Program, Teaching the Genome Generation, the Maine State Science Fair, STEM Open Houses in Maine and Connecticut, and additional programs.