Brady Zhou

Brady Zhou is a dedicated student leader who is deeply committed to serving others and his community. In First Step Team, a nonprofit organization with more than 200 members, he has served as a volunteer, Vice President of Outreach, President-elect, and currently Co-President. He has built and strengthened a long-term strategic partnership with the Chattahoochee Nature Center, helping organize habitat restoration projects, community gardens, butterfly exhibitions, native plant sales, and other activities that have engaged hundreds of volunteers and significantly increased community participation. He is a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award – Gold Level and has received the Shine-A-Light Foundation Award multiple times. He is also a founding member of the Georgia chapter of Mockingbird Melody, where he leads student volunteers in regular musical performances for senior communities, bringing warmth and connection through music.

At school, Brady has served as the sole student representative for the Class of 2027 in Walton STEM Academy’s Advanced Math and Science (AMS) Pathway, helping advance important Academy initiatives and collaborative projects. He has also received Outstanding Achievement Awards from both the AMS Pathway and the English Department, with each award given to only two 11th-grade students.

In research, Brady independently studied artificial intelligence and machine learning, using

resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data to model diƯerences in brain connectivity associated with autism spectrum disorder. His research earned a Top 10 award at the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair (GSEF), the Best in Computational Biology Award, and a Special Award for Innovation from Citadel Securities. He also advanced to the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) as one of four representatives from Georgia.

Music has been an integral part of Brady’s growth. He has studied violin for eight years and currently serves as Principal Second Violin in the Walton High School chamber orchestra. He has been selected multiple times for the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) All-State Orchestra and the Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra. He is also a self-taught composer, creating original string-quartet works that twice advanced to the finals of the Cobb County National PTA Reflections Music Composition competition.

For Brady, public service means more than participating in volunteer activities; it means proactively identifying community needs and taking meaningful action to create change. He strives to integrate scientific exploration, artistic passion, and social responsibility, serving his community through action while inspiring more young people to becomeengaged in public service.