Giselle is a graduate of Long Island City High School in Queens. A daughter of Colombian immigrants, Giselle has excelled at all the things that make a Nagler Scholar—creativity and resilience, initiative and commitment.

The first computer that entered Giselle’s home was rehabbed after being discarded in her building. It lasted for years, entertaining her with games like Fantage and Webkinz, and acting as a tutor with sites like Starfall and Funbrain.

Giselle signed up for Urban Arts last year and was issued her own laptop with which she designed her own website and built games like I am Bread with her team Bossa. Her latest project Reporter Rush Down addresses environmentalism, with a fight against littering, air and water pollution.

Giselle’s parents always displayed persistence and creativity to her and her sister, and insisted education was the path to success. “As a first-generation college student, the future my parents imagined for me is now coming true. And my dream to build a world where technology is available for all is just beginning.” She plans to study Computer Science at Barnard College this Fall, leaving her guinea pigs Lola and Lulu at home.

To that end, she made Lulu Run, featuring her hamster and a deeply unpleasant vacuum cleaner.