(Part 2)
Majority of them may not be at the legal drinking age yet but they have already achieved much compared with those older than them.
The future of the world is bright with these young folks around. Get to know the second half of Forbes 2017 list of change-makers and innovators—the youngest in their respective categories—and how they made it to the coveted list.
Kai Kloepfer, 19
His work in his company Biofire Technologies that develops a gun that can only be fired upon reading its owner’s fingerprints gained this Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) student a spot in Consumer Technology category.
Maddie Marlow, 21 and Taylor Dye, 21
Joining the list of honorees for Music is the American female country music duo better known as Maddie & Tae, whose first single “Girl In A Country Song” broke stereotypes and reached the top of the genre’s airplay charts in 2014.
Ann Makosinski, 19
This young inventor who created a flashlight that runs off the heat of the human hand and a mug that converts heat into an electric current to charge mobile phones made it to the list under Energy.
Maanasa Mendu, 14
The youngest honoree in Energy category and in the entire Forbes 2017 list invented a piezoelectric “solar leaves” device that can pick up energy from precipitation, wind and sun and transforms it into usable energy.
Gabriel Mesa, 15
His biodegradable motion powered Carbon Battery and piezo-powered diabetic neuropathy treatment named Stimuped, have helped him notch a spot in Energy
John Meyer, 21
This New York University drop out champions transparency through his Fresco News that empowers regular people to be reporters. He’s named an honoree in Media category.
Bethany Mota, 21
From sharing beauty and fashion tips on her YouTube page, this Art & Style honoree has since expanded into having her own fashion line at Aeropostale. She has also released a DIY line of school supplies and was a finalist in Dancing With the Stars.
Steven Ng, 24
His work at his company Elliot Havok that sells high-end watches and wallets at affordable prices has gained him a spot in Retail & E-commerce category.
Lele Pons, 20
This Hollywood & Entertainment honoree became popular on the now-defunct video-sharing service Vine. Her less than a year old YouTube channel, where she now showcases her acting chops, has nearly 2.5 million followers to date.
Matt Salsamendi, 19
The co-founder of Beam, a platform that lets video game-streamers interact with their audience and allow viewers to control certain parts of the game being streamed, is named the youngest under Games category.
Ashton Sanders, 21
This breakout star’s portrayal in the 2016 film Moonlight as a young gay man dealing with his mother’s drug addiction and school bullies got him the recognition of being one of the Youngest in Hollywood & Entertainment.
Troye Sivan, 21
One of the youngest honorees in Music, his popular YouTube channel has opened several doors for him to star in films and release his first full-length album, Blue Neighborhood—which was a favorite among pop and electropop music fans.
Justine Skye, 21
Another honoree in Music category, her claim to fame includes her a capella rendition of “Black and Gold” and her song “Collide.” Her full-length album produced by Roc Nation is currently in the works.
Shakur Stevenson, 19
This young boxer boasts of a 23-1 record in international competition, a silver Olympic medal, and now the honor of being one of Forbes 2017 30 under 30 in Sports.
Rohan Suri, 17
An unfortunate event led this teenager from Oakton, Virginia to found Averia Health Solutions that makes an eye-tracking device that helps improve concussion test. He is the youngest honoree in Healthcare category.