Natalie Kwon

Natalie, a senior at Head-Royce School in Oakland, California, is a dedicated scholar, poet, athlete, and pianist with a deep passion for studying traumatic brain injuries in young athletes after experiencing five concussions. A recipient of the ‘Promising Young Artist Award’ and Merit Scholarship from Interlochen Arts Academy, Natalie trained in ‘Performance Poetry’ and ‘Spoken Word’ under International Slam Poetry Champions and created chat book “Concussions – Poetry to Make Your Head Spin.” Her poems have been published in four anthologies and recognized in multiple competitions.

Aspiring to become a pediatric neurologist, Natalie was one of five students selected (1% acceptance rate) for the ‘Neurology High School Scholars’ research internship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She is a three-year Global Member of the ‘Stanford Neuroscience Journal Club’ and has shadowed doctors at UCSF Pediatric Neurology and the UCSF Concussion Clinic.

Beyond academics, Natalie competed in USA Volleyball Junior National Championships for three years and captained her school’s varsity volleyball team, earning MVP honors and leading them to a school-record season. She has studied piano for 13 years, performing in over 23 solo recitals, and volunteered as a teen intern for four years at the Spanish immersion camp Viva El Español.