2026 GameHERs Student Impact Award Nominees

Hi! I’m a recent Communications graduate from the University of Lima, Peru. Since 2024, I’ve led the official Videogame Circle at my faculty, a space where students from different majors connect and share their interest in games. Through this role, I’ve organized collabs and events focused on game development, portfolio building, and finding entry-level opportunities in the local industry. From my perspective as a woman, I also shaped this group with an inclusive approach, encouraging greater participation of women in these activities.

I am Alicya Morais a graduate in Game Design. I am an artist, I worked mostly in UI design on my last projects. I do character designs and concept arts.

I am the president of the gamehers FIU chapter, originally vice president and co-founder of the chapter. I have dedicated many hours into forging this safe space and loving community!

I’m a curriculum designer focused on building inclusive, career-connected learning experiences through gaming. My work centers on bringing equity, creativity, and real-world application into the classroom, helping students turn their passion for gaming into leadership and career skills. I've worked with multiple collegiate esports programs, I am a WIGJ Ambassador, a member of Queer Women of Esports, a thegamehers* collegiate ambassador, and previously as a Project Manager at the Aurora Series. I've also done panels regarding diversity in esports and hosted workshops for middle school girls to serve as an early intervention to get more young women into gaming.

Hello, I'm Zora, Full time streamer, creator and mom. I support and help support everyone and anyone who might want it. And we are a community to help eachother grow each day as a person and creator.

Hi! My name is Erika and I was born and raised in Queens, NY! I am currently a sophomore at Princeton University studying Electrical and Computer Engineering. I have been playing video games since I was nine years old and it has consistently been a driving force in my life. I've had the amazing privilege to advocate for youth in gaming as well as the experiences of women in gaming through writing. I’ve also been able to serve as Chief Marketing Officer for a scholastic esports startup, EVAL Gaming, advocating for more integration of gaming, especially in higher education institutions. I continue to strive to provoke inclusive conversations around gaming and its impact on the next generation.

India Alanis Browne, known in esports as “Alanis”, exemplifies the spirit of the GameHERs Student Impact Award by using gaming as a force for connection, collaboration and inclusion. As a student leader, she has taken initiative to build welcoming communities within her school and beyond, ensuring that peers feel supported to play, learn, and grow together. Her journey from competitive success, becoming the youngest and first Black woman to win Rocket League gold at the Commonwealth Esports Championship, to advocacy work with YGAM demonstrates her commitment to balancing excellence with responsibility. Alanis leverages her platform as a content creator to promote gaming for good, championing diversity, equity, and wellbeing while inspiring her peers to see gaming as a space where everyone belongs. Through her leadership, Alanis is not only shaping the future of esports but also creating inclusive pathways for students, proving that gaming can be a powerful tool for community, growth and positive change.

My name is Laila Medina. I'm currently a sophomore in college. It's an honor to be nominated for this award. I've helped build an esports team for students at my highschool that can find comfort in games and find love in a 'hobby.'

Known in the gaming community as “The Misfit Butterfly,” Dalesia or her pen name “Lesi Tesfaye” is a passionate writer and storyteller. Hailing from New Orleans, Lesi is a loud mouth gamer who mainly revolves around horror. Coming from a small yet popular city, she has multifaceted a creative output that bridges the worlds of literature, digital storytelling and being yourself in the process of expressing that light to others who enjoy her content.

Oleisia Johnson is a Computer Science major at Spelman College working at the intersection of gaming, technology, and culture. As President of Spelman Esports, she leads tournaments, industry collaborations, and community initiatives that expand access and representation for Black women and underrepresented students in gaming. She also serves as a Red Bull Student Marketeer, executing campus activations across metro Atlanta. A first-generation college student, Oleisia blends strategy, storytelling, and design to build inclusive spaces. Fun fact: she is also an award-winning poet and content creator who approaches every challenge in life with kindness, humor, and a bit of ✨ sparkle ✨.

I am an education and social impact leader dedicated to expanding access, opportunity, and belonging for young people from historically marginalized communities. Through initiatives such as Escola de Feras, a nonprofit I founded, I work to transform dreams into concrete educational and professional pathways. My experience includes leading affirmative education projects, career mentorship, and employability programs that support young people in accessing higher education and their first job opportunities. I believe education is a powerful tool for social mobility, and my work focuses on combining academic support, emotional development, and community engagement to create lasting, systemic change.

I am a graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a focus in neurocounseling and the founder of VGTx, an initiative dedicated to inclusive, accessible, and emotionally and mentally supportive gaming communities. Through research, advocacy, and education, I explore how video games can foster connection, emotional regulation, and belonging, especially for neurodivergent and marginalized players. My work centers on helping create gaming spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered.