2026 Zonta Young Women in Leadership Awardee

Aditi Muduganti is a recent high school graduate from Wisconsin with a passion for STEM, leadership and community impact. Throughout high school, she pursued opportunities that combined innovation with service, from scientific research to mentoring and advocacy. She conducted award-winning research in astrophysics, including machine learning applications for galaxy classification, exoplanet detection and nebula modeling. Through a NASA internship, she collaborated on projects related to space debris mitigation and aerospace engineering, strengthening her interest in using science and technology to solve real-world challenges.

Aditi served as the Wisconsin Association of School Councils Region 6 president, working with student leaders across the region to promote service, collaboration and student engagement. She was also a columnist for the Coulee Region Sierra Club, where she advocated for environmental awareness and sustainability initiatives. In addition, she helped lead a planting day for Wisconsin's first Miyawaki forest, organizing volunteers and supporting local environmental restoration efforts.

Aditi also volunteers in mentoring programs and community outreach initiatives focused on youth engagement and education. She founded initiatives to increase sustainable technology literacy and created accessible educational opportunities for students. Through these experiences, she learned the importance of collaboration, empathy and empowering others through leadership.

This year, Aditi will begin her undergraduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she plans to pursue technology and global advocacy with the goal of creating meaningful change in her community.



In her free time, Aditi enjoys ballet, coding projects, traveling, spending time with her friends and family, exploring different scientific topics, listening to music and volunteering in her community.