Dublin, CA, November 5, 2025 – Each year, the Tri-Valley business community convenes to celebrate the creativity, courage, and tenacity of young innovators from the Tri-Valley school districts, the Tri-Valley Regional Occupational Program (TVROP), and Las Positas College. From diagnostic healthcare tools to climate mitigation to intercultural tech, this year’s winners have already begun to contribute solutions to society, each setting a standard for what’s possible through dedication and vision.

This year’s event, held over breakfast on Thursday, November 20th at 8:30am at Dublin’s Shannon Community Center, will highlight how Tri-Valley students are influencing regional movements, the innovation economy, and our quality of life with a commitment to solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Tickets are available at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/15th-annual-dreammakers-risktakers-awards-tickets-1636921870379?aff=oddtdtcreator

Congratulations to the 2025 Honorees, each driving impact from right here in the Tri-Valley.

Dublin Unified School District 

Krishiv Jaini – Advanced GIS Maps – Krishiv used NASA’s ECOSTRESS satellite data to create advanced GIS maps that track temperature, drought stress, and wildfires across the Tri-Valley and beyond. His innovative work earned recognition on NASA’s website—an exceptional accomplishment for a high school student. By layering data to show how wildfires start and spread, Krishiv’s maps serve as valuable tools for fire prevention, resource planning, and climate resilience. Through his creativity and technical skill, he transforms scientific data into solutions that inspire change. Krishiv is a DreamMaker for his vision of a safer, more sustainable future, and a RiskTaker for tackling complex challenges with determination and insight.

Las Positas College 

Sidhant Parashar- AI Mentoring Program – Sidhant embodies the DreamMaker and RiskTaker spirit through his innovative leadership and dedication to community impact. He is leading the creation of a collegewide mentorship program that uses AI and machine learning to match students with mentors aligned to their goals—offering vital support for international and community college students. His research spans social justice and mathematics, from analyzing unjust immigration policies to developing a new model that makes investing more accessible. Sidhant’s outstanding work has earned national recognition, with invitations to present at prestigious conferences including UC Berkeley, UPenn, UC Riverside, and MSU Denver.

Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District 

Aadya Huddar – ALS Detecting Tool – Aadya exemplifies the spirit of a DreamMaker and RiskTaker through her leadership, innovation, and initiative. She is developing an AI diagnostic tool to help detect ALS, collaborating with a fellow high school student under the guidance of a UCLA mentor and PhD student—a connection she established while attending COSMOS (selective STEM summer program) at UCLA. As president and founder of her school’s Coding Club, Aadya has independently organized, fundraised, and registered 12 students for the American Computer Science League (ACSL) competitions in both 2023–24 and 2024–25, and is leading efforts for this year’s team.

Pleasanton Unified School District 

Aarush Tahiliani – Website Development for ELL – Aarush demonstrates the spirit of a DreamMaker and RiskTaker through his innovation, technical skill, and dedication to community impact. He has worked on numerous websites for local Pleasanton businesses, modernizing their online presence, and is currently building a custom website for the PUSD Culinary Department to meet their unique catering needs. His greatest contributions, however, have been for English Language Learners (ELL), where he volunteered as a TA and leveraged his advanced Spanish skills to help students grasp computer science concepts. Aarush is developing a website that makes English learning more accessible and enhances both teaching and learning experiences—an effort already refined through feedback from multiple schools and potentially expanding to Amador.

San Ramon Valley Unified School District

Jacob Trentini – Autonomous Drone Platform – A true innovator and leader, this DreamMaker and RiskTaker is a core engineer at FireBot Labs, helping develop the first autonomous drone platform for emergency response. His quick problem-solving during a live demo helped secure $20 million in funding. As a lead instructor for Kids Teach Tech, he inspires the next generation of innovators through robotics and coding. His first-author research, presented at the IEEE/ACM ICPC 2025 Conference, was the only paper accepted from a high school student and is now used by major AI companies. As Lead Engineer for FRC Team 8033, his work propelled the team to top global rankings.

San Ramon Valley Unified School District 

Sriyan Daggubati – NeuroGuidance – Sriyan is an inspiring young leader dedicated to empowering neurodivergent students through innovation and compassion. As the Founder and CEO of NeuroGuidance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, he has made STEM education more accessible for youth around the world—mentoring over 2,000 students across 20 countries. Under his leadership, NeuroGuidance has raised more than $10,000 to expand outreach, partnered with leading institutions such as Stanford and Duke, and reached a global audience of 100,000+ through educational podcasts. A humble, people-first leader, Sriyan exemplifies the spirit of a DreamMaker and RiskTaker by turning vision into meaningful impact.

Tri-Valley ROP 

Cadence Alexia – Entrepreneur – Cadence Alexia Machicado embodies the spirit of a DreamMaker and RiskTaker through her creativity, perseverance, and entrepreneurial drive. Inspired by her mother, she began exploring business ideas at age 12 and has since launched her luxury candle company, Cadence Alexia. When initial plans for body butters faced shipping challenges, Cadence pivoted to candles, carefully developing unique, allergy-friendly scents made with clean-burning wax and wicks. She tested her market with family, selling her first batch in less than 10 days, and has continued to grow her business with meticulous planning, including taking college courses in business, web design, and accounting through the TVROP Middle College program. Cadence’s innovative spirit, dedication, and initiative make her a standout young entrepreneur with the potential to shape the future.

Tri-Valley 2040 Visionary Award – Vibrant Placemaking Award

Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District 

Butterfly Garden Group: Ella Abey, Olivia Abey, Julie Johnson, Lucia Sangiorgio, Thyme Tolla, The Butterfly Garden Group, part of the Environmental Action Club at Livermore High School, exemplifies the DreamMaker and RiskTaker spirit through their dedication to sustainability, collaboration, and community education. Comprised of passionate students from grades 9–12, this group partnered with Fertile Groundworks and the Xerces Conservation Group to create a thriving Butterfly Garden that supports the Tri-Valley’s ecosystem by providing vital milkweed habitat for Monarch butterflies. Their project not only enhances biodiversity but also inspires environmental awareness. Looking ahead, they plan to welcome 6th graders from East Avenue and Junction Middle Schools to visit the garden during Earth Day 2026, fostering the next generation of environmental stewards.

About Innovation Tri-Valley Leadership Group (ITV):

ITV is a collaborative group of industry leaders dedicated to the Tri-Valley: The Heart of California Innovation. By bringing together companies, non-profits, and regional thought leaders committed to innovation, ITV is enhancing the business climate, spurring job growth, and expanding the vibrant Tri-Valley community. With more than 730 tech companies and a GDP of $52B, the region is home to some of the world’s most exciting innovation brands.

For media inquiries or press registration, please contact:
Isa Madath
Marketing and Programs Manager
Innovation Tri-Valley Leadership Group
[email protected]