2026 Lilley Fellows Announced

Let the research begin for EA's newest group of Lilley Fellows! In February, the Lilley Fellowship faculty committee approved the selection of five Upper School students as 2026 Lilley Fellows, all of whom are "to be commended for their originality, academic tenacity, and creativity," said Director of Libraries and Lilley Fellowship Coordinator Lorie Harding. "I also would like to express my appreciation for each applicant."

Muriel Fitz-Kaltenmeier '27 will research enhanced weathering as a carbon capture strategy, specifically by spreading finely ground silicate minerals like basalt and wollastonite across suburban and agricultural land in Delaware County. Her project will determine the optimal mineral type, grain size, and quantity for carbon capture, and will create a GIS-based app or website to help townships, farmers, and homeowners identify ideal locations for enhanced weathering on their land. Stone Family Science Department Chair Katie Colyer is Muriel's faculty mentor.

Benjamin Heo '28 will develop an AI-powered supply chain resilience simulation platform that integrates historical trade data, geopolitical event patterns, and machine learning to model how disruptions—ranging from wars and sanctions to pandemics—propagate through global logistics networks. The final product will combine a reinforcement learning optimization engine, a discrete-event simulation built in Python, and an interactive Streamlit dashboard that allows users to compare baseline versus AI-optimized supply chain performance across major historical crisis scenarios. Upper School Science Teacher Cheryl Cossel will serve as Benjamin's faculty mentor.

Kayla Krasnick '28 will research quantum dots—cutting-edge science—that can significantly increase solar cell efficiency, thereby reducing energy costs amid rising demand. She will run hands-on quantum dot synthesis, a progressive series of computational models using Python and SCAPS-1D software, and develop a practical proposal for implementing quantum dot solar panels at Episcopal Academy. Upper School Science Teacher Christy Rheam will serve as Kayla's faculty mentor.

Connor Myers '27 will research legal and mathematical frameworks for fair congressional redistricting, specifically the creation of an original algorithm that synthesizes multiple fairness metrics while accounting for each state's unique geographic and political landscape. His project culminates in both a technical evaluative tool and a community advocacy component involving local student political clubs, the Germination Project, and Fair Districts PA to raise public awareness about gerrymandering. Upper School History Teacher Topher Row will serve as Connor's faculty mentor.

Karen Shi '27 will design an ESL-tailored poetry curriculum and lead twice-monthly workshops at ACLAMO for 3rd-8th graders with guidance from professional poets, translators, and educators. The culminating product will be a published youth poetry anthology featuring student work, aiming to address Philadelphia's literacy crisis by giving immigrant children a creative platform to build confidence, language skills, and a connection to their heritage. Upper School English Teacher Will Newman is Karen's faculty mentor.

The newest round of Lilley Fellows was formally announced in early February during Upper School Chapel. These five students will conduct much of their research from January through August and then present their findings in the fall to fellow students and teachers.

Established in 2018 by Mr. and Mrs. William Lilley III ’55, the Lilley Fellowship Fund awards research fellowships to students who exemplify academic curiosity, intellectual rigor, and scholarly passion. The Fellowship program is overseen by Director of Libraries Lorie Harding, and is modeled after Yale University's Scholars of the House program that ran from 1945-1995.