Kevin Si
Project Pyxis,
Founder
Kevin Si is a Chinese-American student who channels his passion for helping others and logical, hands-on STEM to pursue biomedical engineering and medicine, aspiring to lead innovation and social change through his experiences in leadership and philosophy.
He has always viewed his high school years as an opportunity to satisfy his intellectual curiosity but more importantly as an avenue to grow as a young adult in the intricate dynamics of modern society. One of his most enduring and impactful lessons came during a sleep-away camp. He vividly remembers his initial emotions of loneliness and vulnerability, and how meaningful it was for him to be accepted into a group of his peers. Most importantly, Kevin remembers how a friend of his was shunned, bullied, and even harassed by the very community he was a part of. Kevin cherishes the courage and commitment he took to defend his friend and hold those once close to him accountable for being bystanders and bullies. He takes these qualities of accountability, comradery, and courage into his endeavors as he strives to be a better leader, student, and friend.
In school, Kevin takes immense pride serving as his school’s student government schoolwide vice president. He envisioned and executed his school’s first inaugural International Night event, drawing in over five hundred participants and over a dozen student-led performances. He also serves as his school’s Science Olympiad club president, leading over sixty of his peers to top placements in the state of Maryland, along with hosting middle-school tournaments for hundreds of young scientists.
Kevin spends the remainder of his time contributing to his non-government organization, Project Pyxis. Pyxis, Latin for an ancient mariner’s compass, has been reborn as a new guiding light. In the darkness of the modern fentanyl epidemic, Kevin and his peers aim to reshape the current educational systems and stigmas on the development of addiction while also creating local communities of students, parents, and staff who accept and care for each other. He believes that the fentanyl epidemic sweeping much of America’s most vulnerable youth is only a small symptom of a larger, underlying issue that, because of its stigmatized nature, has been largely ignored by local leaders and politicians.
His journey to accomplishing this customized yet widespread educational program that directly incites meaningful and empathetic conversation about the drug epidemic has involved many steps. Firstly, he focuses on gauging feedback and insight from other leaders and professionals in his field. In April of 2024, he was invited to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) x Ban Ki-Moon Foundation Youth Event where he not only connected with other young world leaders on their most passionate issues but also gained valuable lessons and philosophies from their accomplishments and struggles. Thus, from May of that year onwards, he began the process of building a network of capable and experienced associates, from other student leaders across the world to professionals with decades of experience in combating the opioid epidemic. Working with these leaders from MarylandROPTA, a research-based and educational-focused nonprofit, he is beginning to develop curriculums which not only present the science to students but also in a way that captivates and properly conveys the gravity of the current epidemic. Today, he works with many local leaders like Mike Durso, a former president of the school board, chief of staff, and high school principal who boasts decades of policy and leadership experience. Similarly he works with Dr. Alan Cheung, a former elected school board member and biotech executive. He is so excited about leading this intergenerational movement towards a future that prioritizes open discussion and collaboration for the wellbeing of all.
Throughout his life, Kevin has always thrived in a culture of learning composed of similarly curious and diverse individuals such as himself. He moves forward today with not just innovation and science in the forefront, but also with empathy and community. With his experiences across the academics, leadership, and Project Pyxis, he is confident in his role in creating a better future for all.