Jack Andraka was just a fifteen year old Maryland high school sophomore when he invented an inexpensive early detection test for pancreatic, ovarian, and lung cancers. After a close family friend died of pancreatic cancer, Andraka (then a ninth grader) became interested in finding a better early-detection diagnostic test. He learned that the lack of a rapid, low-cost early screening method contributed to the poor survival rate among individuals with pancreatic cancer. After thinking further about the p...
Jack Andraka was just a fifteen year old Maryland high school sophomore when he invented an inexpensive early detection test for pancreatic, ovarian, and lung cancers. After a close family friend died of pancreatic cancer, Andraka (then a ninth grader) became interested in finding a better early-detection diagnostic test. He learned that the lack of a rapid, low-cost early screening method contributed to the poor survival rate among individuals with pancreatic cancer. After thinking further about the problem, he came up with a plan and a budget to put his ideas in motion.
Still a teenager, Andraka’s groundbreaking results have earned him international recognition, most notably a 2014 Jefferson Award, the nation’s most prestigious public service award, 1stplace winner in the 2014 Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, a 2014 National Geographic Explorer grant, the 2012 Intel ISEF Gordon Moore Award, the 2012 Smithsonian American Ingenuity Youth Award, Advocate Magazine’s 40 under 40 award, and he’s also the 2014 State of Maryland winner of the Stockholm Water Prize.
In addition, Andraka was First Lady Michelle Obama’s personal guest at the 2013 State of the Union Address. He speaks to audiences of youths and adults all across the globe about his personal story, research, and his ideas for STEM education reform. He has been featured in several documentaries including Morgan Spurlock’s Sundance Film Festival entry, “You Don’t Know Jack,” Linda Peters’ award winning film, “Just Jack,” Ken Burns’ upcoming documentary about cancer, as well as 60 Minutes, The Colbert Report, ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, CNN, BBC, Fox, Rede Record de Televisão, and radio, newspaper, and magazine articles around the world.
Andraka speaks at a wide variety of locations including universities, schools, technology organizations and corporations, hospitals and the education sector. His audiences range from youth—children and teens through to adults in the science and technology fields.
Andraka is a freshman at Stanford University, Class of 2019. He is a member of the National Junior Wildwater Kayak team, a Life Scout and has won numerous awards in national and international math competitions.
Learn more about Jack – www.JackAndraka.com
Jack’s Memoir
BREAKTHROUGH: How One Teen Innovator Is Changing The World was published by HarperCollins Children’s Books in March 2015. Jack’s riveting memoir encourages his generation to approach their pursuits, whatever they may be, with an attitude of determination and gumption. Whether giving advice or admitting to personal shortcomings and failures, Jack’s story remains engaging and motivational as he shares his experiences of bullying, depression, rejection, and ultimately international success. Jack shows how the curiosity and perseverance of one teenager could potentially save the lives of millions of people. BREAKTHROUGH empowers its audience with the knowledge that the power to change the world is within each and every one of us, if only we have the courage to realize our full potential.
Learn more about Jack’s Memoir or order it for yourself – Jack's Memoir
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Raised by a wild pack of Jews, otherwise known as her mother and siblings, Dana Goldberg is a force of nature on stage. She sets the standard for smart comedy, and her timing and tongue-in-cheek edginess is why she continues to collect loyal fans in cities all over the world. Goldberg’s quick wit and playful stage presence is spreading like wildfire! Voted one of the “Top Five Funniest Lesbians in America,” CURVE Magazine raves, “One of the brightest star in a stellar comedy landscape!” The Irish Post writes, “Dana’s sharp, insightful observations are concealed behind an easy-going chatty style. This makes her one of a handful of comics able to transfer their work across the Atlantic.” The Advocate.com named Goldberg one of the top three LGBT comedians in the country.
Goldberg started her comedy career in 2003 in front of 650 people in a sold out theater in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Seven months into her career she was invited to Scotland by Emmy Award Winning writer Paul Wagner to perform with 13 other American comedians as part of the US Comedy Invasion at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh. After returning to the states, Goldberg began competing in festivals and competitions all over the country. She was one of five national finalists to perform in the “Wendy’s Good Taste Comedy Challenge” produced by HBO and TBS in Las Vegas, Nevada as part of The Comedy Festival. In 2005 Goldberg was chosen out of thousands of comedians to participate in the San Francisco International Comedy Competition. In three short years, she was invited to New York City to share the stage with powerhouse comedians Roz G, Laurie Kilmartin and Judy Gold for the 17th Annual Comedy Hour at Caroline’s On Broadway on behalf of the Ms. Foundation and Gloria Steinem. Since her explosive start, Goldberg has performed in clubs and theaters all over the country, graced two national magazine covers, and performed in 23 states and 7 countries.
In 2006, just three years after she stepped onto the stage for the first time, Goldberg put on a producer’s hat and started the Annual Southwest Funnyfest in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Each year Goldberg hosts the night of comedy to help benefit New Mexico AIDS Services (NMAS). She brings the best national female headlining comics to the Land of Enchantment for a night of non-stop, no holds barred, side splitting comedy. Since its inception, the Funnyfest has helped to raise close to $30,000 for NMAS and has brought in over a dozen comedians from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Comedy Central, Late Night With Craig Ferguson, Last Comic Standing, and Comics Unleashed.
In the summer of 2009, Goldberg starred in her comedy special “One Night Stand Up: Episode 4” on the LOGO network; filmed at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Later that year she recorded her debut DVD “Hot And Bothered: Dana Goldberg Live” in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Emmy award winning comedian David Brenner raves, “One of the best ways to beat the recession is with laughs, and Dana Goldberg offers you one of your best chances to get some in her debut DVD.” After moving to Los Angeles in the fall of 2009, Goldberg found a new comedy home and it wasn’t long before she was headlining nights at world famous clubs like The Laugh Factory and the LA Improv.
Goldberg continues to combine her gift of humor with humanitarian efforts raising over three million dollars to fight HIV/AIDS and joins LGBT communities and organizations across the country to raise national awareness in the fight for equality. Since joining the Human Rights Campaign family in 2009, Goldberg has headlined comedy nights, hosted, and assisted in live auctions for HRC events across the country in more than a dozen cities. In addition to her hilarious comedy and side-splitting performances, Goldberg has shared the national stage with President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, Shonda Rhimes, Jennifer Hudson, Lady Gaga, Kathy Griffin, and Portia de Rossi just to name a few. As the youngest child in a single parent household run by a Jewish mother in which two of three kids are gay, Goldberg helps keep most of the comedy venues and half of the psychotherapists in the country in business.
