Alyssia Jovellanos: Reaching for the Stars, Grounded in Purpose
- Brianna
- Aug 2
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 31
Imagine combining the resilience of a cancer survivor, the genius of a quant champ and the curiosity of a space explorer, all in one person. That’s Alyssia Jovellanos and her story looks like a sci-fi dream fueled by real-world impact.
From Fighting Cancer to Launching Dreams
Alyssia faced an aggressive cancer diagnosis during the pandemic. Instead of backing down, she found inspiration in looking up at the sky and founded A Billion Dreams - a nonprofit that sends written names and hopes from cancer patients, orphans and others into space aboard SpaceX missions. Her mission? To remind people that even in the darkest times, dreams can lift us higher.
Tech Leader, Educator, Innovator
As a software engineer and AI researcher, Alyssia has worked with Space4Girls and institutions like NASA and the UK AI Security.
She also co-founded DeltaHacks, Canada's student-run “Hackathon for Change,” and spearheaded coding outreach to over 3,500 youngsters. All while winning awards like the ABIE Student of Vision from Anita Borg Institute and even placing as a Forbes 30‑Under‑30 Scholar.
Championing Girls in STEM
Alyssia’s dedication is clear: she’s building a bridge for girls in tech. Whether she's mentoring students, launching space-inspired initiatives or breaking records in quantitative competitions, she’s living proof that access + support = impact.
What If Every Girl Got This Shot?
This is where we come in. Imagine if girls everywhere had what Alyssia had, not just talent, but dignity and opportunity. Sadly, period poverty is still a barrier. Girls miss classes, activities and chances just because they don’t have basic menstrual care.
When we make sure every girl can attend school and programming clubs without monthly breaks, we open doors. We let girls dream of coding, space missions, even revolutions in science. Alyssia’s life proves it: given the chance, girls can change the world in space, in labs and beyond.
Alyssia Jovellanos isn’t just reaching for the stars, she’s taking the rest of us with her. Let’s make sure no girl has to pause her dreams because of period poverty. Those who dream shouldn’t have to stop just because of their period. Not when they’re capable of so much more.
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