Hi everyone, my name is Nimi Patel and I am a freshman majoring in Public Health Sciences at UC Irvine. As President and an aspiring physician, my drive behind creating Sparkling Hearts Foundation was definitely my passion for the medical field and my lifelong goal of assisting my community. The biggest mission of this foundation is its intention to improve the well-being of pediatrics patients in their journeys to recovery. This year, I look forward to working with a team of like-minded individuals who also share this goal with me. A fun fact about me is that I enjoy baking and traveling!

Hi everyone! My name is Carissa Osterhoudt, and I am a Business Administration major at the University of California, Irvine. As the vice president of Sparkling Hearts Foundation, I am extremely passionate about this organization and have a strong desire to help patients in hospitals. Even with all of the accomplishments our organization has had thus far, I look forward to bringing smiles to even more patients this year and seeing our organization further expand. A fun fact about myself is that I really enjoy graphic design and I have recently got more into baking!

Hi everyone! I’m Vivian Vu and I’m a freshman at UC Berkeley. What attracted me to help start this foundation was that our mission was focused on helping patients during their most vulnerable times. I think that this project is a great initiative to get involved with if you are passionate about giving back to your community!

Hi! My name is Emily Choi and I am a senior at Beckman High School! At school, I am involved in many clubs including NHS and CSF. I have been on the track and field team since freshman year, and I am also playing flag football for the first time this upcoming season. Outside of school, I enjoy going to the beach and baking from scratch. As an aspiring neonatal nurse, I admire the mindset of improvement that Sparkling Hearts Foundation exhibits as well as their willingness to put others first, which is what every healthcare professional does. SHF is an incredible organization, and I am looking forward to a great year with all of you!

Hi! My name is Aminah Rangwala and I am a freshman at UCI, majoring in Biomedical Engineering on the pre-med track. I aspire to work in the clinical laboratory setting perhaps as a clinical scientist or physician. I have a passion for working with people and have worked with hospice for over seven years, as I sewed pillows and therapy mats for patients to make their end of life journey as relaxing as possible. Aside from my career-driven activities, I enjoy painting, meeting new people, listening to music, and trying new cuisines. As project manager of SHF, I hope to search for opportunities to grow my interests in the healthcare field alongside aiding others through the process.

Hello! My name is Sophia Wen and I am a senior at Beckman High School. As I’ve always held a strong passion for the medical field, Sparkling Hearts Foundation quickly became an interest of mine, especially since I wanted to immerse myself more in the field and to help improve patient care and well-being. I am so grateful to be a part of this wonderful community and to help further this organization’s mission! In my free time, I love spending time with my family and friends, along with my dog, Hailey. I also enjoy cooking, baking, photography, playing classical piano, and volunteering. I am so excited to see where this new school year takes us!

Hi, I’m Adithi and I’m a second year at UCI majoring in Public Health Sciences. I really enjoyed being part of the Sparkling Hearts Foundation as a member of the Advertising Team and I’m so happy to be back as Advertising Team Manager. As an aspiring healthcare professional, the mission of SHF and the ability for me to be involved in the medical field garnered my interest. The impact that communities have on health and the healthcare system is so vital which is also why SHF was so interesting to me. Some of my hobbies include traveling, hanging out with friends, and going on hikes/outdoor adventures. I’m looking forward to being on the board this year and can’t wait to meet everyone and start working!

Hello! My name is Anika Iyer, and I am a freshman at UCI. Currently, I am majoring in Chemistry with the hopes of entering biomedical research or becoming a gynecologist. Some of my extracurricular interests include parliamentary debate, mock trial, and music. Outside of school, I enjoy reading classics, going to the beach, connecting with new people, and experiencing spontaneous moments. With this amazing organization, I hope to learn a great deal about the perspective of patients and expand my knowledge of the medical industry, while contributing to the wellbeing of others. 

Hello everyone! My name is Maracelle, and I am approaching my senior year at UCI. I am majoring in Psychological Science and am following the premed track with the goal of pursuing a career as a physician in the near future. As a medical assistant, I am highly passionate about patient-centered care. Additionally, I have cultivated a deep appreciation for community service, which has now led me to take on the role of Treasurer within the Sparkling Hearts Foundation! Outside of my academic pursuits, I enjoy traveling, going to the beach, hiking, photography, and painting. I am thrilled to be a part of this incredible organization and am looking forward to the year ahead with you all!