The John H. Martinson Honors Program (JMHP)’s 2026 Outstanding Student and recent alum Esha Venkat was named a recipient of a 2026 Her Campus x e.l.f. Beauty 22 Under 22 Award for her work with NEST4US, one of the world’s largest youth-founded nonprofits. As a Public Policy major with a minor in Global Development, Esha works tirelessly to harness the power of kindness to uplift the communities she serves, dedicating over 10 years to NEST4US’s work in harnessing service to spark global change.
As the co-founder and COO of NEST4US, Esha refers to kindness as a practice of presence and intention—showing up in the small everyday moments for people and causes that matter.
Esha reflects on what receiving this award means to her:
“It genuinely means so much to me to be named to the Her Campus Media x e.l.f. Beauty 22 Under 22 list this year in the Community Service category. This recognition feels like a celebration of a journey that’s always been rooted in community. NEST4US, even ten years in, is and always will be about the people who show up, believe in the mission, and choose to care every single day.
It also feels incredibly full circle! I still remember getting ready for my first “fancy” event years ago using e.l.f. products, and to now be recognized in partnership with a brand that has been part of some pretty special moments throughout my NEST4US journey is really surreal. More than anything, it is an honor to be surrounded by so many inspiring college changemakers who are each creating impact in their own way across the nation!”
While NEST4US has provided a platform for Esha’s global impact, she credits the JMHP as a key program that has shaped her Georgia Tech experience. She has organized campus-wide service initiatives with partners such as the Atlanta Community Food Bank and contributed to a fourfold increase in student civic engagement as a member of the Honors Leadership Council’s Civic Service Committee. For the past three years, Esha has been an avid JMHP application reader, helping welcome and build the program’s future through supporting prospective students on their journey into the Honors Program. She also served as the JMHP representative on the Georgia Tech Office of Undergraduate Education and Student Success Student Advisory Board, advocating for JMHP student needs and helping shape broader institutional conversations.
Outside of the JMHP, Esha has earned recognition for her leadership and service through numerous honors, including being named a Rhodes Scholar Finalist, Millennium Fellow, Stamps President’s Scholar Walk-On, and Cameron Impact Scholar. She is also a recipient of the Ivan Allen Progress and Service Award, Alvin M. Ferst Leadership & Entrepreneurship Award, and the Ivan Allen Jr. Undergraduate Legacy Award. During her graduation in May, Esha served as the Spring 2026 Student Commencement Speaker at the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts and College of Computing Bachelor’s Graduation Ceremony.
In May, Esha traveled to New York to celebrate the award at e.l.f. Beauty’s headquarters alongside fellow honorees. As she prepares to begin Georgia Tech’s accelerated Public Policy BS/MS program this fall, Esha says she will miss the people who have shaped her Georgia Tech experience most, describing the Institute as both a home and a launch point for her future.
For Esha, growth is not defined by a single achievement, but by the small choices people make every day to show up for their communities. Through her work with NEST4US, the JMHP, and countless service initiatives, she continues to demonstrate the power of kindness in action.
The John H. Martinson Honors Program congratulates Esha on her graduation and wishes her continued success as she continues her studies at Georgia Tech and advances NEST4US’s mission of service and community impact.
