Naomi Axelrod has been enamored with cryptography since fourth grade and runs fundraisers for disaster relief.

Amanda Roach published a paper on how air pollution affects certain areas near her hometown in northern California and builds homes with Habitat for Humanity.

Shaurya Patni is saving native pollinators and researching Crohn’s disease.

Scott Zinman teaches schoolchildren lessons on nutrition and is an avid runner.

Credit: Provided

They are among the 5,824 changemakers admitted to the Class of 2029. Regular decision students were notified March 27, the official notification date for the Ivy League.

“This class of admitted students brings to life Cornell’s commitment to changing lives through public engagement,” said Lisa Nishii, vice provost for undergraduate education and enrollment. “They’ve showcased commitment to their communities through volunteer work, research and advocacy, and their application essays outlined how they plan to channel their passions into knowledge while at Cornell.”

Roach, who plans to major in urban studies in the College of Architecture, Art and Planning, conducted research that showed asthma rates in low-income communities in Contra Costa, California – near her hometown of Orinda, northeast of Oakland – are disproportionately high and correlate to sources of air pollution, like industry and highways. A paper about her findings appeared in The National High School Journal of Science.

“Urban planners are the people who can hopefully work toward addressing these problems,” she said.

A desire to solve problems was a common theme of many applications, Nishii said.

“Many students described how their academic interests and sense of purpose emerged from specific life experiences that have motivated them to find better solutions to complex problems – for example, related to health, policy, access and environmental challenges – and to improve societal outcomes overall,” she said.

Patni’s struggles with Crohn’s disease inspired him to pursue a career as a gastrointestinal surgeon, and he has kickstarted that pursuit by working with a researcher at UMass Chan Medical School to study an immune-system pathway that worsens Crohn’s disease.

Recognizing a connection between environmental health and human health, Patni has given back to his community by establishing three gardens that support native pollinators in his hometown of Hopkinton, Massachusetts. 

At Cornell, he plans to major in biological sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “I liked how CALS would give me the opportunity and resources to help me grow my projects even more,” he said.

After Zinman, of Irvington, New York, underwent several surgeries to correct an orthopedic issue in his knee, he discovered an interest in nutrition and how he can fuel his body to aid in recovery and support his love of running.

He channeled that interest into volunteer work with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Rockland County, teaching elementary kids about sugar and working at a food pantry where he helped adults build healthy habits and budget for nutritious food.

Attending a 4-H Career Explorations event in June at Cornell where he learned about the food system, from farm to table, solidified his decision to attend Cornell to study nutritional sciences in the College of Human Ecology.

“It’s always been on my radar, since my mom’s actually an alumna there,” he said. “She was in Human Ecology and studied nutrition, too, so I’ve always been part of the Cornell family.”

Axelrod, of Vancouver, Washington, saw an opportunity at Cornell to explore her varied interests. She plans to major in math in the College of Arts and Sciences. A Mandarin student from an early age, she is working toward a career in language analysis after college.

She’s president of her high school’s Red Cross club, plays soccer and has an artistic bent.

“In Arts and Sciences, I’ll be able to not just focus on math and hard sciences and language, but also do some sort of creative and artistic thinking, which I value,” she said. “It’s not a small school, and I think I felt comfortable thinking I’d be able to find someone with the same niche as me.”

Incoming students hail from 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They represent 115 countries.

Students have until May 1 to accept their offer of admission and commit to attending Cornell.

They can connect with current students and staff in myriad ways, including CUontheHill, a virtual community where admitted students can talk to Big Red Ambassadors and other current students, learn about admitted student events, connect with other admitted students to find potential roommates and make friends before Orientation, and find answers to frequently asked questions. Admitted students will be invited to join shortly after they get word of their acceptance.

Admitted students are also invited to visit campus during Cornell Days, April 12, 13 and 27. During this one-day visit option, admitted students and their families can connect with their college or school, tour campus and have a meal in one of the dining halls. Registration is required; more information about events for admitted students can be found at the university’s admitted student webpage.

Cristina Pines ’25, a communication major (CALS) and president of Big Red Ambassadors, advises new students not to be scared when Cornell gets hard.

“It’s a very academically rigorous community,” she said, “but there are so many resources and so many people here for you all the time, and that makes it so much better.”