Zhi Han (Anthony) Yao ’25 has always approached challenges with a mix of curiosity, determination, and strategic thinking. From his early days at Stuyvesant High School to his current studies in business administration at Babson College, Anthony’s story is one of ambition balanced with teamwork, innovation, and a desire to make a meaningful impact.

Anthony moved to the United States from China at the age of six, living in Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn before eventually settling into the rigorous rhythm of Stuyvesant. While the initial adjustment to the long commute from Bensonhurst and the school’s intense academic environment was challenging, Anthony quickly embraced the culture of high expectations. “I love the atmosphere,” he says. “I was surrounded by people who were smarter than me and constantly pushing themselves and each other. It motivated me to find my own niche.” That niche, he discovered, was a combination of entrepreneurship, economics, and sustainability.

Anthony’s competitive journey began with the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition in his junior year, where his team was named New York champions. Working with human physiology and AP Environmental Science teacher Mr. Citron, Anthony and his peers developed Sente, an AI-powered navigation app and cane attachment for Blind and low vision individuals. Leveraging machine learning and tactile feedback, Sente detects obstacles, provides verbal directions, and adapts to user preferences, giving visually impaired users greater autonomy and confidence in navigating urban environments. “Technology can make a real difference in people’s daily lives,” Anthony says. “Being able to apply what we learned in the classroom to solve real problems is incredibly rewarding.”

This early success fueled his desire to innovate further, leading him to participate in the Earth Prize competition, where he co-developed Kiriboard, a sustainable packaging solution. The idea emerged from a robotics problem: a shipment of Kraken X60 motors arrived damaged. Collaborating with classmates Flint Mueller ’25, James Clare ’25, and Christopher Louie ’25, Anthony co-designed Kiriboard, a geometric cardboard material inspired by kirigami, the Japanese art of cutting and folding paper. Its lattice-like, three-dimensional structure absorbs impact, protecting items in shipping while replacing plastic and Styrofoam packaging. Their innovation earned $12,500 to purchase a CNC router and perfect prototypes, with plans to iterate and pitch Kiriboard to companies like Amazon and FedEx. Anthony reflects, “We’re on the brink of this becoming a reality—it all started with a broken package.”

Anthony’s philosophy of iterative, intensive work became a hallmark of the teams he led. During competitions, he structured tasks into focused sprints, rotating team members to maintain energy and avoid burnout. These strategies allowed his teams to excel in multiple national and international competitions, including the Oxford Global Climate Change Competition, where Anthony’s and his classmates Emily Li ’25 and Christopher Louie ’25 team was a finalist. “I realized the biggest obstacle isn’t hard work—it’s ego,” he reflects. “After winning once, we became complacent, and that taught me to stay vigilant, continuously improve, and adapt to challenges.”

Anthony also balanced academics and competitions with athletics, joining the Stuyvesant fencing team after a recommendation from David Jiang ’25. The tryouts were competitive, and he made the team alongside his friend Max Borisov ’25, who later became captain. Anthony credits the team’s two-year captain, Jason Jiang ’22, with instilling a culture of passion and dedication. “Jason put his all into the team, and that inspired me to approach my competitions the same way,” he explains.

In robotics, Anthony excelled as Director of Field Construction on the StuyPulse team, where he built/designed essential wooden schematics for practice and competition. “I loved intensive processes and seeing big tasks completed efficiently,” he says. This combination of hands-on work, leadership, and strategic thinking defined his high school career.

Anthony emphasizes the role of community in his achievements. Starting from middle school, he participated in the BMCC test prep program, connecting with other students who would later attend Stuyvesant, and maintained strong ties with his peers. “The Stuyvesant community is like no other,” he says. “Throughout the years, when I meet alumni, there’s an immediate bond. We’ve shared the grind together.” These connections extend to his mentorship of the Stuyvesant Big Competition Group, where he currently advises a handful of juniors and seniors navigating entrepreneurship, sustainability, and economics competitions.

At Babson College, Anthony is focusing on finance and data analytics, planning to begin his career in investment banking before transitioning to impact investing. He credits Stuyvesant’s rigorous academic environment with preparing him to manage high workloads and complex challenges. “Stuyvesant is a marathon, not a sprint,” he says. “It made the workload at Babson feel manageable because I was already used to high-pressure environments and tight deadlines.”

Reflecting on his high school years, Anthony notes, “The best part of Stuyvesant isn’t just the competitions or academics—it’s the people. It’s the network of peers and mentors who inspire you to push further, think creatively, and never settle.”

We wish Anthony all the best in his future endeavors!