This summer, Hertz Fellow Ruby Lai was named recipient of the 2025 Raymond Sidney Volunteer Leadership Award in recognition of her contributions to the Hertz Community.
Lai has a long history of community engagement, advocating for diversity and inclusion, pushing for more mentorship and events, and inspiring other fellows to get more involved. Since 2022, Lai has volunteered on the Fellowships and Programs Council, and she currently leads the Community Representatives Program, empowering local leaders to host their own events.
In a conversation with Director of Community Anne Kornahrens Ward, Lai talked about what drives her commitment to the Hertz Community.
WARD: Thank you for your contributions to the Hertz Community, and congratulations on your award! Can you tell us more about your volunteer roles?
LAI: I was so honored to receive this award. One thing I’m really proud of is my work as co-chair of the Community Committee, with 2010 Hertz Fellow Brandon DeKosky. Together, we established the Community Representatives Program; we want to bring the spirit of the Summer Workshop out into communities around the country. These local leaders serve as point people for their regions, welcoming fellows new to the area, celebrating and supporting fellows graduating from school or transitioning in their careers, and gathering fellows at events tailored to their local community. Since we began three years ago, reps have held 50 events across the country.
“We want to bring the spirit of the Hertz Summer Workshop out into communities around the country.”
WARD: You received your award at this year’s Summer Workshop, an event you rarely miss. Why is attending each year important to you?
LAI: I have gone to nearly every Summer Workshop since I was awarded my fellowship. It’s an opportunity for conversations, connections and sometimes pitches. It’s a great place to seek out or offer mentorship and advice. And it’s just fun — I get to hang out with other scientists again, talking about ideas, like I did in college and graduate school. The community feel of this year’s Summer Workshop brought me great joy.
WARD: What motivates you to give back?
LAI: The Foundation has given me so much, from mentorship to the internship that led to my current career, to the Harold Newman and David Galas Entrepreneurial Initiative Award that helped my company, Foss Toilets, build our latest prototype. It’s important to me to give back where I can. The Hertz Community is incredibly special, and I’m so honored to be one of its stewards.
WARD: You’ve been involved in foundation activities as long as you’ve been a Hertz Fellow, since 2013. How have you seen the foundation evolve?
LAI: Over the years, it has evolved and professionalized in many ways, providing financial stability, improving fellows selection and volunteer engagement, and changing how we tell our story. It’s been exciting to have a peek behind the scenes at this growth. The Hertz Community is probably the most visible example of the organization’s expanding impact, and I’m proud to play a part in that.
About the Hertz Foundation
The Hertz Foundation is the nation’s preeminent nonprofit organization committed to advancing American scientific and technological leadership. For more than 60 years, it has stood as an unwavering pillar of independent support through the renowned Hertz Fellowship, cultivating a multidisciplinary network of innovators whose work has positively impacted millions of lives. Learn more at hertzfoundation.org.
