These are past recipients of OrigamiUSA's Scholarship Program from 2024–present. Know a young, deserving folder? Check out the program and make a nomination!
2025 Recipients
Annual Convention
- Noah Livstone, from New Jersey
- Ruska Riekki, from Norway
PCOC
- Ari Bech, from Washington
- Lindsey Crissman, from Ohio
- Angeline Cuvertino, from Argentina
Noah Livstone, 17, from New Jersey, has been folding since he was eight years old when he encountered origami during a physical therapy session and has never stopped folding. Regardless of where he is, he probably has a pack of paper stashed somewhere to pull out and fold while he waits. Origami helped Noah overcome challenges in his life and inspired him to start The Paper Playground, a non-profit dedicated to sharing the art and therapeutic benefits of origami with children. One way Paper Playground accomplishes this goal is by creating and distributing kits that are topically engaging, with beautiful graphics and origami instructions. Additionally, Noah enjoys swimming, music performance and production, and leads various Habit for Humanity activities.
Ruska Riekki, 16, from Norway, has been folding for almost his entire life. Paper airplanes got him hooked on folding and the mathematical and engineering opportunities with origami continue to interest him today. Most of his designs utilize box pleating, which is a technique used extensively for insects and other complex models, and recently he presented his work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. In addition to origami, Ruska plays cello, leads a local chapter of Amnesty International, and enjoys exploring the Scandinavian landscapes.
Ari Bech, 15, from Washington, was introduced to origami by his sister when he was seven years old. The ability to add personality and movement into a flat sheet of paper and the ability to accentuate those features with proper staging and photography is what fascinates Ari the most. Ari has shared his work in many ways, including a short film exhibited in Times Square, NYC, on social media, his school, and other community events. Ari is looking forward to meeting new young artists to collaborate with and making lifelong connections with them. When he’s not folding, Ari plays tennis, raises houseplants, and has an interest in pursuing architecture.
Lindsey Crissman, 15, from Ohio, began folding four years ago when she became intrigued by the wide variety of possibilities with relatively simple origami techniques and skill. Lindsey pushes herself to learn new techniques and models regardless of their typical mold. Currently, she is working on a project to fold one thousand paper dragons (she’s currently folded more than 800). Lindsey regularly teaches origami to her family, Girl Scout troop, and her jump rope competition teammates. Her other interests include competitive jump rope and volunteers with the suicide prevention group Hope Squad.
Angeline Cuvertino, 17, from Argentina, is receiving the Meenakshi Mukerji Memorial Scholarship given to the applicant with the highest score in the “Sharing” category. Angeline began folding at the age of five when she was fascinated by the mysterious dance to transform a piece of paper into a meaningful creation. Wanting to share this ability with others, she began teaching in her primary school at age six, and later open workshops at a local café. Her audience was shocked at her youth but impressed by her ability to communicate and impart the folding sequences. Angeline stated that, when she was a little older, she was able to appreciate the way that something she created with her hands could resonate meaningfully with others. Angeline has attended and taught at multiple conventions in Argentina and is looking forward to being inspired and challenged at PCOC this autumn. Angeline is currently earning a degree in architecture and continues to find technical similarities with origami.
2024 Recipients
- Neel Dalela, from Washington
- Jimmy Yu, from Illinois
- Esther Kong, from Kansas
Neel Dalela, 14, from Washington, started folding when he was 9 years old and living in Denmark. He first encountered the Miura fold and the waterbomb tessellation. While the science aspects didn’t capture his attention at that point, he loved the “squishy” and “fidgetable” qualities of the folds. After a lot of effort, frustration, and tutoring from YouTube, Neel mastered these models and began to learn about other interesting models. Now in 8th grade in the US, Neel folds a wide array of models, as wells as learns about connections between mathematics and origami art. He started an origami club at his school and last year their community project was to fold 1,000 cranes and donate them to the local fire department to thank them for their service. Among the many other places that Neel volunteers to teach, his favorite is a senior living facility. He initiated, planned, and organizes the classes himself. He says that “the smiles on their faces and the stories they share from their childhood” helps him feel connected across generations.
Jimmy Yu, 15, from Illinois, has been folding since he was 7 years old when his aunt gifted him a simple origami beginners kit. He says he was immediately fascinated by the way that origami was like a puzzle. During COVID, origami really expanded in his life as he became fascinated with Kusudamas. More recently he began designing his own models and exploring the intersections of origami and STEM. He has been employing folding techniques to create an emergency deployable tent to provide temporary disaster relief shelters. Jimmy has also become involved in Art for Hope, an organization that brings together youth involved in arts and crafts to bring kindness, joy and send of well-being to pediatric patients through origami. He also donates time and models for fundraising activities.
Esther Kong, 11, from Kansas, has been folding since kindergarten. Even at that young age, she learned to fold a Kusudama and gifted it to her teacher. She also learned simple models such as frogs and butterflies but began exploring modular models from library books. Esther says that “it interests me that you can create a complex looking 3D or 2D object with one or more sheets of paper.” After her brother shared his experience at CoCon 2022 with her, Esther learned about Heinz Strobl’s snapology method and has begun to explore it. Esther shares her love of origami by teaching at her school math fair, Humane Society fundraisers, Lego League Robotics competitions, and at Monarch Watch events where she and several hundred volunteers folded a large Monarch portrait from smaller origami butterflies that she was also invited to present to an art class at Kansas State University