Fifteen young women from around the United States have been recognized by the White House for their advocacy on a range of issues to improve their communities.

LONE TREE, Colo. – A 15-year-old Colorado high school student and young scientist who has used artificial intelligence and created apps to tackle contaminated drinking water, cyberbullying, opioid addiction and other social problems has been named Time Magazine's first-ever “Kid of the Year." Rao told The Associated Press in a Zoom interview from her home Friday that the prize is "nothing that I could have ever imagined. Rao has partnered with rural schools; museums; science, technology, engineering and mathematics organizations; and other institutions to run innovation workshops for thousands of other students. Science and technology are being employed as never before to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, global warming and a host of other issues, she noted. “Anybody can do science.”Time was planning a Kid of the Year broadcast special at 7:30 p.m. EST (5:30 p.m. MST) on Nickelodeon.