• Title: Community Engaged Leader; Dean's Leadership Award

A junior Biomedical Science major from West Chester, Ohio, Anitvir Singh Taunque uses his faith and spirituality as a practicing Sikh as a guiding light through his life. After losing his friend and faith leader to cancer, Anitvir was inspired to research issues of health literacy and healthcare accessibility. This passion drove him to volunteer with free clinics, start awareness campaigns, and join student organizations that can promote health literacy for the global community. Among other efforts, he co-founded the OSU chapter of Red Saree with fellow winner Meera Rajeev, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit raising awareness for and mitigating risk factors of heart disease within South Asian populations. Through the Buckeye Leadership Fellows program, Anitvir collaborated with community partners with diverse interests to acquire unique ways of problem solving and critical thinking. Collectively, these experiences have solidified his goal to pursue a career in public service and sustainability.