March 24, 2026 — Her time at Harrison High School has included padded knees and elbows, reacting in split seconds as a defensive specialist on the volleyball court. It has also required gloves and goggles, steadily and precisely measuring data points in a laboratory. For senior Lilah Anderson, the contrasting personal protective equipment represents two worlds. Each has given her opportunities to grow and lead.
A student in Harrison’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Biomedical Science and Research program, Lilah has built a high school career that blends elite athletics with academic distinction. A two-year varsity volleyball letterwinner, she has also maintained a 4.5 weighted grade-point average while completing 10 Advanced Placement courses. Academically, she has led award-winning scientific research and earned recognition at both regional and state levels. As graduation approaches, Lilah is a shining example of what’s possible when passion, discipline, and curiosity work together.
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“To me, being a student-athlete means having good time management,” the soon-to-be graduate noted. “You have to be really disciplined. To prioritize both sports and school, and optimize your performance in both, is difficult. But I think it's a good skill that you can carry on to other things in life.”
Harrison’s STEM Coordinator, Nancy Curran, suggests that this analytical approach is not uncommon for Lilah, but her approach to time management is impressively uncommon.
“Lilah is one of my best students and an amazing young lady,” Mrs. Curran emphasized. “I’ve seen her at volleyball tournaments with a book, and I’ve seen her at STEM activities with a volleyball. She simply doesn’t waste her time. She is a quiet leader. Others around her know the standard she sets, and they rise to meet it. I admire her ability to lift others up while staying focused on her own goals.”
Work That Wins
Working with and helping others is a theme that comes up often when discussing Lilah. As a defensive specialist on the court, her game is not found in the high-flying kills and blocks above the net. Instead, her value comes from backline support of her teammates, digging out hard serves and well-placed hits, and setting up her fellow Hoyas for point-winning attacks.
“Beyond digs and aces,” Harrison Volleyball Coach Kristina Johnson insisted, “Lilah was ready to do whatever the team needed. Her encouragement lifted teammates during tough moments, her smile and steady demeanor helped keep the group grounded, and her work ethic set a quiet but powerful example. She made our team better simply by the way she treated others and the standard she held herself to, which is an impact that lasts far beyond the court.”
Lilah’s impact has been felt beyond the court in science as well. That is evident in the projects she has researched, tested, and studied, as well as the recognition she has gained from them.
Curiosity Brings Results
As a freshman, Lilah studied the effects of beta carotene on plant growth for the annual STEM science and engineering fair. Her effort earned top honors and advanced her to the Cobb-Paulding Regional Science Fair. That’s a significant feat for a freshman. She sharpened her skills on the same project as a sophomore. Her growth was clear.
“In her junior year, she switched gears and took on a completely new topic with her friend Avery Dinh,” Mrs. Curran reported. “That project was outstanding. That duo not only earned top honors at our school fair and regionals but also competed at the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair (GSEF), where they earned second honors at the state level with a project on using natural fibers to clean up oil spills.”
That project topic was “Evaluating the Adsorption Potential of Natural Materials for Vegetable Oil as a Petrochemical Analog.” That title alone is beyond comprehension for most. Case in point, “adsorption” is different from “absorption.”
Lilah explains it this way. “Basically, human hair is a good alternative for oil adsorption because hair is not a finite resource. We continuously grow it on our heads. My project was trying to find other natural resources that we have an abundance of, like coconut husk, because we don't really use coconut husk for many other things. I just wanted to find another abundant resource to use for oil spill cleanup. I like combining sustainability with real-world impact. That really interested me, and it was a fun project to do.”
A Bigger Stage For Big Ideas
This sort of science acumen is likely part of the reason that Lilah was selected for the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Women in STEM (WISTEM) Program to explore astrophysics and applied research. For those unaware, Caltech is a world-renowned private university that attracts some of the brightest minds across science and engineering. Being selected to participate in campus research in Pasadena, even for a short summer stint, is an honor for those in the STEM community.
“That was a really fun experience and just eye-opening,” Lilah said with a smile on her face. “Usually in academia, I feel like it's more about the individual. But personally, I think collaboration is important for creating future things that improve society. Caltech was collaboration-focused, and that really stuck out to me.”
Mrs. Curran and Harrison’s STEM program played a significant role in nurturing Lilah’s scientific curiosity.
“Our STEM program offers a lot of important resources that students really benefit from,” Lilah explained. “And our teachers are willing to help at all times. Our labs are different, too. Last semester, we dissected a fetal pig, and we got to suture it back up. We've also done a sheep pluck, and we got to pump the lungs full of air with a bicycle bump. So that's unique. It's really fun.”
This program promotion is not lost on Mrs. Curran.
“I can easily see Lilah becoming an ambassador for women in STEM,” the science educator insisted, “encouraging others to pursue careers in science and engineering. She’s always been a champion for our program, and I believe she’ll continue to be that positive force, someone who not only excels in her own work but also lifts others up along the way.”
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Lilah is a rare volleyball player who could likely explain the physics of volleyball mechanics. Whether applying Newton’s Laws in leaping to make contact, the Magnus Effect for creating vicious spin, or energy transfer to maximize an attack, this super scientific senior has left an indelible impression on those around her. Athletically and academically, for sure, but maybe more significantly in the person she is.
“I truly believe she is going to change the world,” Coach Johnson said seriously. “She has a rare combination of kindness, resilience, and positivity that naturally draws people to her and inspires them to be better. Whatever path she chooses, Lilah has the ability to make a lasting impact not just through what she accomplishes but also through how she treats people. That is the kind of influence that truly changes the world.”
Changing the world is high on Lilah’s “to-do” list.
“I want to contribute to a more sustainable future,” the aspiring space explorer conceded. “That's probably the biggest thing for me. I just want people to remember me as someone who's always there with a helping hand.”
