Trailblazers began with an idea shared by 3 high school students around making student's voices heard and educating others on the education transformation movement. 

Meet the Curators

Abigail Emerson
​@AbigailEmerson1

Founder

Abigail graduated as an inaugural member of Innovation Diploma and studied industrial design at Georgia Institute of Technology. Her favorite pastimes are giving out high-fives and telling puns. Abigail strives to inspire and empower other students to believe that they can make a change now and don’t have to wait until they’re “older” and “wiser” to start.

Mackenzie Campbell

Assistant Graphic Designer

Mackenzie Campbell is a junior at Farmington High School. Her passions include volunteering, social justice, and academics! She joined Trailblazers because of the fantastic opportunities it would give to work on and edit a professional publication. Mackenzie is incredibly excited to learn about the inner and outer workings of a professional work environment!

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Abinaya Kumarappan

Communications & Outreach Associate

Abinaya Kumarappan is a junior at Farmington High School in Farmington, Connecticut. She enjoys volunteering with young children and her three language classes: English, French, and ASL. She enjoys socializing, and is always striving for more opportunities to meet individuals from all walks of life. Abinaya loves birds and hanging out with friends whenever she can. 

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Jiayi Liu

Assistant Graphic Designer 

Jiayi Liu is currently a sophomore at Farmington High School and participates in various activities ranging including debate, crew, and playing the clarinet. She hopes to become an engineer as she enjoys hands-on activities. While she has an avid interest in STEM, Jiayi’s guilty pleasure is watching history animation videos on YouTube.

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Anya Smith-Roman
​@Pinyabananas

Founder/Senior Advisor

Anya’s mission is to transform the U.S. education system into a more learner-centered, equitable, and impact-driven paradigm. She graduated in May 2022 from Georgia Tech as a Stamps Presidential Scholar with a BS in Business Leadership and Organizational Management and a certificate in Social Psychology. Now Anya is the Program Assistant for Education Reimagined, a non-profit catalyzing the invention of a new public education system, one that honors and respects the uniqueness of each child. Since high school, she has been striving to forward the Education Transformation Movement by networking with thought leaders around the world, speaking and coaching at education conferences, and being a pioneer of innovative learner-centered education practices. Additionally Anya works part time as Co-Founder and Senior Advisor of Trailblazers ed-magazine (Editor in Chief until May 2022), Co-Director of Design Thinking Education and Research for the social impact organization Wish For WASH, and a gymnastics coach/head choreographer at Jump Start Gymnasium. 

Sarah Hannan

Managing Editor/Lead Graphics Designer

Sarah Hannan is a senior at Farmington High School in Farmington, Connecticut. Sarah has developed a passion for music and art and has enjoyed taking many music and art classes in school. In addition, she enjoys participating in advocacy groups both through school and outside of school. She hopes to pursue a career where she can channel her passion for advocacy and creativity.

Sanjana Harihara

Communications and Outreach Associate

Sanjana Harihara is a senior at Farmington High School in Farmington, Connecticut. She is involved in many clubs at school, and frequently volunteers at her local library. Her interest in social justice drove her to be a part of Brave, a club that centers around feminism and intersectionality. 
She wants to make the world a more inclusive and kind place for everyone. She is incredibly passionate about the importance of diversity, especially in media, and mental health. In the future, she would like to travel a lot and work in a big city. In her free time, Sanjana likes to spend time with friends, bake, read, draw, and watch Netflix.


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Amelia Guerin

Managing Editor/Communications & Outreach Lead

Amelia Guerin is a sophomore at Twinfield Union High School in Plainfield, VT. As a result of her very student-centered education experience thus far, she has an interest in making high school a more inclusive environment where all students can really grow. For her future, she wants to pursue a career where she can help others. In her free time, Amelia enjoys reading, writing, and playing piano.


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Isis Bandele-Asante

Assistant Editor

Isis is currently an 11th grader at Three Rivers Middle College in southeastern Connecticut. She shares an avid love of cooking, reading, and language learning! During the summer of 2022 she was selected for a two month scholarship with the US State Department where she got the opportunity to live and learn Arabic in Morocco. After high school, Isis hopes to go on to earn a degree in International Relations with interests in continuing work abroad for the State Department. She is incredibly excited to join Trailblazers as Assistant Editor and proud to be a part of such a dynamic team!


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