Even a global pandemic during their late middle school and early high school years couldn’t stop these 10 teens from showing us their capacity for overcoming adversity to excel in the arts, academics, athletics and so much more. Come meet the multi-hyphenates (entrepreneur/rower/debater! scientist/dancer/class president!) who represent the best of Stamford’s next generation. This year’s group of talented young people impressed us by how they made their mark being true to themselves, leaning into their personal interests to shine. If there is a through line that connects them all, it is an authenticity that seems to belie their age. No matter our own stage of life, we all have a lot to learn from and be inspired by their passion and determination. We look forward to watching their stories unfold. This is simply the first act.
See the rest of this year’s Stamford Teens to Watch.
Kioja DUFF
King School
Kioja Duff’s creative endeavors make an intentional statement. Through a variety of mediums, the King School senior and award-winning artist offers creative discourse on societal perceptions that perpetuate often damaging and painful stereotypes.
“Whether it’s the norms and expectations we face as teens, or Black people or the LBGTQ-plus community, I like to examine those things through my art,” she says. “There’s a lot to unpack, and I find art to be the way I can express all the things I want to say.”
The art community has already taken notice of her versatile talents and thoughtful point of view. In March, Duff was honored for her piece “10-6-June” with the Art Education Award at the 31st annual National Arts Program presented by the Connecticut Art Education Association. The work featured an elaborately crafted collage of newspapers her family had collected over time that distorted the authentic beauty of black people and perpetuated racial injustice. Her goal was to advocate for more inclusive standards, rather than solely traditional Eurocentric ones.
“I didn’t just focus on the negative things. I focused on the joy and excellence and beauty of Black people,” she says. “And I don’t just mean physical beauty. I mean the things on the inside that are beautiful, too.”
When she isn’t making art, Duff is co-leader of King’s Black Student Union, a role she took to create space on King’s campus for other Black students. “We are a small community, so sometimes just gathering for conversation is important,” she says.
Duff also leads King’s art club, regularly volunteers in the community and is a track and field athlete. “Shot put is my best event. I really love it and find it’s deceptive in the way it challenges your body. So much of the power of throwing comes from your legs.”
Despite her many interests, art comes first for this honor student. She traces her artistic talents to the “mesmerizing” New York City museum trips she took with her parents as a child. “I was the kind of kid who thought it was fun to go to the Whitney Biennial,” she laughs. “As much as I loved books—I still love to read—I was always drawn to the illustrations first.”
At King, she has immersed herself in advanced studio art classes. While she often takes a colorful deep dive into issues she cares about, Duff also believes creativity has the power to change communities. Her future goals include creating beautiful and sustainable living environments. “I love the idea of doing something environmentally friendly while creating the next generation of buildings.”
POP QUIZ
Who is your ultimate dinner party guest?
“Jim Parsons. I’m a huge fan of the ‘Big Bang Theory,’ so much so that I named my dog after Sheldon Cooper [his name is Cooper-Sheldon]. But I also look up to him because everything about him says, ‘It’s okay to be quirky and different.”