Photo credit: CNN
The prestigious Time Magazine has named a 15-year-old as its Kid of the Year!
He is Heman Bekele, a scientist from Fairfax, Virginia.
According to Time, he is recognized for developing an efficient compound-based bar of soap that could be a new and more accessible way to deliver medication to treat skin cancers, including melanin.
He said, “I’m really passionate about skin cancer research, whether it’s my own research or what’s happening in the field. It’s absolutely incredible to think that one day, my bar of soap will be able to make a direct impact on somebody else’s life. That’s the reason I started this all in the first place.”
Time also honoured five other children: inventor Shanya Gill (13), advocate Madhvi Chittoor (12), advocate Jordan Sucato (15), actor Keivonn Woodard (15), and entrepreneur Dom Pecora (15).
TIME’s editors wrote, “For over a century, TIME has covered influence and leadership. Typically, those we recognize are fully grown adults- in the prime of their careers or sage elders reflecting on long experience. But there are exceptions…In fact, young people are some of the most impressive individuals out there…. That’s why we choose to recognize TIME’s Kid of the Year.”
The magazine solicited nominations for young leaders who are making admirable contributions in a range of fields, including social justice, science, and business, to select the 2024 Kid of the Year. The research was conducted in the US on kids between ages 8 and 16.
