Mark Leschinsky

As of 2024, Leschinsky is an incoming student at Stanford University (Stanford, CA).[1] He will pursue studies in Computer Science and Economics.[2]

Prior to attending Stanford University, Leschinsky founded the Student World Impact Film Festival or SWIFF, a student film festival that does not charge submission fees and that prioritizes underrepresented students.[3][4][5][6] Since December 2020, Leschinsky led his organization to spotlight 12,156 young filmmakers from 149 countries.[7][8][9][10]

In 2023, Leschinsky's leadership and humanitarian work led him to receive The Diana Award[11] from the British Royal Family along with being named a Prudential Emerging Visionary by Prudential Financial.[12] In 2024, Leschinsky was named a Coca-Cola Scholar by The Coca-Cola Company.[1][13][14][15][16]

In late 2023, Leschinsky became an advisor to multiple socially-driven organizations, including UNICEF at the United Nations, Nickelodeon, PBS, and the Association of Children's Museums.[17][18][19] As a young advisor, he provides organizations with advice on growing their initiatives focused on youth agency and change-making.[20]

In 2014, to protect healthcare workers fighting Ebola in Africa, Leschinsky developed a novel design for a hazmat suit, which was self-disinfecting.[21][22][23][24][25] In 2015, he was inducted into the National Gallery for America's Young Inventors at the National Museum of Education in Akron, Ohio for his design.[26][27][28][29] Leschinsky received a United States Patent for the "Self Disinfecting Protective Garment" in 2016 (patent number US9392824B1).[30][31][26][32][33] In 2023, a second Patent was received for a "Wearable Air Sterilizer with Slidable Face Shield" (patent number D986510).[34]