THS student Shaurya Kante and educator Tiffany Clyde selected for Bezos Scholars Program

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Bezos Scholars Program (BSP), a transformative, year-long, no-cost leadership development program that amplifies youth voice and action so young people with passion can start making a difference today, is proud to announce its 2025 cohort and within its prestigious cohort is rising Tomball High School senior scholar Shaurya Kante and Tomball High School educator scholar Tiffany Clyde.

Kante and Clyde are among 13 incredible teams of rising high school seniors and educators from across the U.S. and Africa, ready to drive change in their communities.

Since 2005, the Bezos Family Foundation has championed young leaders through BSP, providing a launchpad for them to create unique approaches to meet urgent community needs through creativity, collaboration, and engagement. As Bezos Scholars, students and educators have inspired change on issues such as mental health awareness, civic engagement, STEM education, environmental issues, refugees and much more.

“These student leaders and educator advocates are exactly who the world needs right now. We are honored to support and learn from such a brilliant, energized cohort,” said Molly Pencke, Senior Program Manager at the Bezos Family Foundation.

This year’s Scholars, selected from a highly competitive pool, attend public schools or the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, a valued partner since 2011. They’re chosen for their commitment to education, leadership, perseverance and passion for community impact.

“I am exceptionally proud of Shaurya for being the first student in Tomball ISD to be named a Bezos Scholar by the Bezos Family Foundation, and am honored to serve as his Scholar Educator,” said Clyde. “We are all looking forward to seeing how his work with the program over the next year will positively impact the Tomball community as a whole for years to come.”

Meet Shaurya Kante
Houston native Shaurya’s passion is to build walkable, transit‑friendly neighborhoods that are accessible for every resident. As a public transit lead for Sunrise Movement Houston, he advocates for safer bus routes and better schedules in under‑served areas. He also founded BOLT, a youth‑run consultancy linking local businesses with nonprofits on service projects and his school’s DECA chapter, a club that prepares students for careers in business. Outside of advocacy, Shaurya plays the bass in his school orchestra and jazz band. Joining the Bezos Scholars cohort excites Shaurya because it links him with peers equally determined to rethink cities—and gives him the leadership tools to turn Houston’s sprawl into a model of sustainable, human‑scaled design.

Meet Tiffany Clyde
As a Houston native who still draws energy from the city’s vibrant art scene and diversity, Tiffany helps students in nearby Tomball “find their voices”—whether in public, on paper, or in everyday conversation. Living with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) for four decades, Tiffany also mentors families affected by T1D in building healthy social‑emotional habits. This summer, the children’s book she authored tackles those lessons with humor and heart. As a Bezos Scholar educator, Tiffany hopes to master skills that can scale her advocacy—and help cultivate collective growth far beyond her local community.

The journey begins with virtual community building and purpose discovery, leading up to an all-expenses-paid experience at the Aspen Ideas Festival. There, Scholars dive into leadership workshops, connect with world-renowned changemakers, and prepare to launch sustainable Community Change Projects once they return home.

Scholars gain over 40 hours of leadership development, $1,000 in seed funding (with opportunities for renewal), free personalized college advising, and lifelong access to the vibrant Scholar Alum Network.

Their projects span critical issues—climate action, education access, financial literacy, and advocacy for underrepresented groups—each deeply rooted in the needs and hopes of their communities. Since its founding, Scholars have created more than 215 transformative projects—and this new cohort is poised to spark 13 more.