Eniola Shokunbi
Believed to be the youngest person to directly catalyze $11.5M in U.S. state government funding for a self-initiated public health invention.
What they built
Noticed her classmates frequently fell ill from poor classroom air quality, and at age 10 (5th grade) self-initiated contact with University of Connecticut scientists asking how to build a low-cost air filter. Together with classmates, she built Corsi-Rosenthal Boxes — a $60 DIY device made from a box fan, four furnace filters, duct tape, and cardboard. The EPA tested and certified the design at over 99% effectiveness in removing airborne viruses including COVID-19 and cold viruses. Connecticut's State Bond Commission unanimously approved $11.5 million in state funding to deploy the filters across all public school classrooms statewide.
View ProjectThe F18 Thesis
Verified track record
- - EPA-tested/certified ~99% airborne virus removal (reported)
- - $11.5M CT state funding approved for statewide rollout
- - Major national/local coverage + public health org recognition
- NBC Connecticut (Oct 2024) (source)
- American Lung Association (Feb 2025) (source)
- BET (source)
- Personal website (source)
- Good Morning America (via Instagram bio)
- All Speakers Bureau (source)