

Meet Our Team

Founder & President
Jerry Tong
Hello, I'm Jerry Tong, a junior at Glenda Dawson High School. I am the founder of the Seedling Sun Foundation, aiming to inspire and support artistic and writing pursuits for individuals of all ages. My passion for art and writing has been ingrained in me for as long as I can remember, and I believe everyone deserves to have access to the resources to be able to express their creativity.
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Besides my commitment to the foundation, I actively train in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at Grappling Zone. During my leisure hours, I indulge in playing Valorant

Vice President
Emma Xi
Emma Xi is a 11th grade student in Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions. At age 10, she was determined to take care of the weak kids with special needs and help them to accomplish the life goals. She believes there is no substitute for books in the life of Child and Seedlings Sun Foundation is a precious gift to all the children around the world. She is eager to take the Children on a book journey with rich text, colorful images, and gentle sounds filled with discovery and wonder.
In addition to writer and illustrator, as a senior executive, her role is to serve the founder and president, as well as the members.

California Chapter President
Suri Li
Suri Li leads Seedling Sun’s California Chapter, supporting children’s creativity. Skilled in art, coding, and debate, she's excelled in competitions like the 2022 California IUSD PTA Reflection Contest and 2021 Shui Mu Youth Competition. With achievements in the 2017-2018 Texas PTA Reflections Program, Ignite Programming Expo 2023, and the 2023 National Online Forensics League Debate Competition, Suri's community service also earned her the President’s Volunteer Service Gold Award twice.
Suri is excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and looks forward to working with the amazing Seedling Sun team!

Director of Social Media
Ray Huang
Hello! I'm Ray Huang, a senior from Dawson High School. I am passionate about playing the guitar and crafting short stories, I occasionally enjoy playing tennis. In my view, Seedling Sun is an exceptional organization that dismantles barriers to education, empowering children through free access to literature. It serves as an ideal non-profit platform to share my ideas and connect with more people

Director of the Robotics Initiative
Daniel Xi
As the chief engineer and driver of my VEX Robotics team, I’ve had the incredible experience of leading my team to three straight Texas State Championships—2022–2023 and 2023–2024 in middle school, and 2024–2025 in high school. Every season brings late nights, broken parts, and countless redesigns, but also the thrill of seeing a robot I helped build come to life on the field.
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As Head of the Robotics Initiative, I’ve learned that robotics isn’t just about gears and code—it’s about teamwork, creativity, and perseverance. I love helping younger students understand that moment when something finally clicks, when an abstract concept suddenly makes sense. At Seedling Sun, I hope to keep sharing that spark—showing kids that problem-solving and imagination can build more than just robots; they can build confidence and a love for learning that lasts far beyond the competition field.

Director of Junior Arts / Writer / Illustrator
Christy Zheng
Do you enjoy writing or drawing? Well, I love both! Hello, My name is Christy Zheng and this autumn, I will be a 7th grader at Berry Miller Junior High School. I enjoy thinking up ideas for stories and drawings when I am bored. I also am passionate about making crafts and marketing. Sometimes, you'll even find me on my laptop reading one of Seedling Sun's interesting stories with illustrations! In addition, one of my favorite medias to use in cards, bookmarks, and illustrations, is Procreate. I am hoping to teach other kids about this fascinating app and how to use all of the different tools.
Seedling Sun has helped me grow my passions and expand my learning ability. My goals this year are to be able to inspire others and get to know more people.
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Voice Actor / Team Lead
Angela Mayer
Hello! My name is Angela Mayer, and I’m a junior at Glenda Dawson High School. I’m a member of Dawson’s varsity cross country team and the JV track team, and I also love dancing at the Coomer Ballet Conservatory. At school, I’m involved in several clubs, including DECA and FPS, where I enjoy finding ways to serve my community and support others. In my free time, I like to bake, do crafts, and volunteer. I’m passionate about helping others and spreading creativity, which is why I love being part of the Seedling Sun Foundation and its mission to inspire kids and give them access to creative and educational opportunities.

Illustrator
Jonah P. Kochunov
My name is Jonah P. Kochunov and I am a junior at Glenda Dawson High school. I like painting, history, and science. I’m passionate about Seedling Sun Foundation and am excited to use art and illustration to reach a broader community.

Illustrator
Ella Lu
Hi, I’m Ella and I’m a premed student at Rice University! I’m currently pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience and a B.A. in art and I love illustrating to bring young writers’ stories to life!

Marketing/Fundraising Team Lead
Alex Song
Alex Song joined the Seedlings Sun Foundation in November 2023. As a member he is responsible for helping and implementing the organization's
marketing strategies and campaigns. His role includes a wide range of responsibilities aimed at promoting the foundation's mission, values, and activities.
One of the key aspects of Alex's role is to create and execute marketing campaigns that raise awareness about the Seedlings Sun Foundation's goals.

Social Media Team Lead
Dayou Wu
My name is Dayou Wu, and I'm currently a 11th-grade student at Ganda Dawson High School. I describe myself as an honest and open person, valuing authenticity in all my interactions. In my free time, I'm an avid tennis player, and you can often find me at the gym, working to stay physically active and fit.
I'm deeply passionate about Seedling Sun Foundation because I want to contribute to the growth and success of the organization through social media and engagement.

Writer/Illustrator
Michelle Gu
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Audio Proudction Manager
Ares Zhou
Hi, my name is Ares Zhou, and I am a junior currently attending Glenda Dawson High School. I am extremely passionate in my pursuits of music through the clarinet and helping others.
Through my role in this organization, I aim to innovate through audio/video editing and instruct others how to do so.

Program Development Team Lead
Daniel Ren
Hello, I am Daniel Ren, a dedicated student at Dawson High School and a member of the varsity tennis team. In addition to my athletic pursuits, I hold a key role as a program development team lead. Within this capacity, I meticulously coordinate logistics, curate experiences, and execute seamless events.
My commitment extends beyond the planning board to actively contribute to the community, embodying a dedication to serving others.

Creative Art Team Lead
Emma Lu
My name is Emma Lu, and I'm an illustrator at Seedling Sun. I find great joy in bringing stories to life through art. I'm also very passionate about design, whether it's making cards or designing posters. You'll often find me doing homework or listening to music when I'm not doing that.

Social Media Cordinator
Chenyu Jin
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Voice Actor
Angela Ren
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