NEW YORK (TIP): Two Indian American teens have been named winners of  the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, an award that celebrates inspiring, public-spirited young people from diverse backgrounds all across North America. Established in 2001 by author T.A. Barron, the Barron Prize annually honors 25 outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and the environment. Up to 20 top winners each receive $5,000 to support their service work or higher education.

“These amazing young people see a need and use heroic qualities like compassion, perseverance and courage to find a solution,” says Barron. “Their message is clear:  Find your passion and take action. Start small but dream big and you can truly make a difference — no matter how old you are.”

This year’s winning projects address a wide range of today’s important issues, including pollution, protecting wildlife, literacy, STEM, the homeless, cancer research and more.

Aryaman Khandelwal, age 17, of Pennsylvania, who founded Get2Greater, which uses local health workers, electronic tablets, and an app he created to provide people in developing countries with better access to medical care.

Nitish Sood, age 17, of Georgia, who co-founded Working Together for Change (WTFC), a non-profit that has mobilized more than 600 volunteers to help 3,000 homeless people through free medical fairs, supplies distribution, and job training.