Student Advisory Committee

Monal Gupta is senior at Williamsville East High School, and it's been her mission to promote mental health awareness and destigmatize mental illness for students in her local community. She first got involved with Bridges from Borders during the pandemic in her 8th grade year and went through the MHA training. She formed a team for the Youth Achievement Challenge whose goal was to raise awareness within her school through video announcement interviews, bulletin boards, and providing resource links. This project received third place and led to the creation of the #TreeHollow Program to continue this mission. She has jump started a podcast series for the #TreeHollow program where they interview professionals, doctors, and students on their perspectives, experiences, and advice on mental health issues to make local youth of multicultural backgrounds feel comfortable reaching out and having the proper insight to do so.

Monal is a dedicated advocate for cancer research as well. At Roswell, she raised over $5,000 through her Ride for Roswell team, volunteered at charity events and the Summer Hospitality room, conducted groundbreaking research, and interviewed patients and doctors. This inspired her to create Williamsville East's Medical Outreach Program, offering students exposure to the medical field through guest speakers, publishing science articles, fundraisers, first-aid training, medical tours, and shadowing opportunities. She also integrates the #TreeHollow Program into Medical Outreach, allowing students to host podcast episodes on mental health perspectives. At school, Monal is also actively involved as Student Council Secretary, Mock Trial Captain, FBLA District 12 State Vice President, and Wind Ensemble Oboe 1st Chair.  

Monal is a descendant of two Indian Immigrants, and while she has lived in Buffalo all her life, she has always been deeply involved with the Indian community and hopes to use her perspective to create unity and preserve culture in the community.