​​Yuriy Dzyuba was two years old when his family fled Ukraine to avoid religious persecution. His mother raised him and two brothers but had difficulty assimilating to American culture. Today, Yuriy is an undergraduate student at California State University, Sacramento, majoring in mechanical engineering. He maintains a 3.7 GPA and has been on the Dean's Honor Roll every semester.

Yuriy's passion for helping people led him to a variety of volunteer activities, including charity events, campsite cleanups and interpreting for Russian-speaking members of his church. At California State University, Sacramento, Yuriy works part-time as a physics learning assistant and is active in the Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement Program.

After graduation, Yuriy hopes to work on projects that will empower developing countries and local communities through renewable energy systems and clean water, with the goal of putting residents in greater control of their energy choices.