Miah was introduced to volleyball in the 4th grade by her mom who also played volleyball when she was young, and encouraged her to try it. Sheis so grateful that she did, because it has opened the door to so many incredible experiences and life long friendships. When Miah was 14 and in her first season of club volleyball, the daughter of her very first recreation coach happened to be on the same team, which provided a special experience to reconnect and see each other improve. Heading into her fourth year as a libero for Champion Volleyball Club, Miah has found a mission that brings her as much joy as volleyball, which is supporting the education and nourishment of impoverished children in India through her nonprofit.

Miah developed a strong interest in medicine during her freshman and sophomore years of high school after experiencing a personal struggle with her gut health. After numerous severe flare-ups, doctors visits, and adjustments to her diet, she continued to struggle with her mental nad physical health, which directly impacted her ability to maintain energy and stamina for her academic workload.

“As I learned more about the different parts of the body and brain by researching how to best help myself heal and manage my symptoms, I became increasingly interested in medicine. I applied for the Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program in February of 2025, and was accepted,” said Miah.

The program provided an amazing experience for Miah, immersing her in what the career paths within sports medicine look like, as she learned directly from the doctors, surgeons, residents, and health care professionals.

“One thing that stood out to me was their shared desire to help us learn more about what they do in their individual professions, and what steps to take as a high school student interested in pursuing medicine. They truly helped me to understand how and why certain injuries occur, which I am very interested in as a volleyball player who faces injuries to the body frequently. It has been very helpful in understanding where and how the parts of my body work,” added Miah.

The Summer Immersion Program also opened Miah’s eyes to the power of medicine as a vehicle to help others in need. An orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon gave a presentation on a the DEAC Program, a student led program where residents provide basic foot care to the homeless near Wake Forest Hospital. Additionally, they provide a brand new pair of good-quality sneakers for the underprivileged citizens. Through images and story telling, the surgeon described the poor condition the patients arrive in, and how they are so grateful and unused to being cared for in this way, especially for free.

“This truly touched my heart. This inspired a light in me to share this kind of love with others. I realized that whatever career path I end up doing, I most certainly want to have this kind of impact on the world, and find a way to improve the lives of those who have not been blessed with all of the gifts and opportunities I have been given,” expressed Miah.

The Summer Immersion Program helped Miah gain an interest in Business and Nonprofit sector. In December of 2023, Miah had the opportunity to go on a mission trip to India with her grandparents, David and Chaya Sumanth. After their youngest son died in a car crash many years ago they felt a calling from the Lord to start a ministry in India, to help support impoverished children as the desire of their son was to help support those with much less than him. After this, they decided to create Paul J. Somnath Ministries. Since then, they have built churches and schools that help to provide food and education for underprivileged children in India. During her trip, Miah, was able to visit the schools and churches her grandparents built to help support children and families in the slums of India. She also saw the hunger and poverty that have affected so many children who had never known the luxuries and opportunities that she had been given growing up in the United States. It was after this experience that she knew she had to do something to make a difference and change their lives for the better.

“This inspired me to then start a club at my high school, where I could incorporate their ministry in some way and raise money to provide food for these kids.  My grandma was the one who suggested the idea of making and selling bracelets to help feed these children, and so that is what I worked on all that summer, with the help of my family and good friends,” recalled Miah.

Beginning that fall, Beads of Hope Club was launched, and many of Miah’s classmates and teammates jumped in to support the mission. She shared Beads of Hope, with Champion Volleyball Club, and started selling bracelets at tournaments. One of the team moms organized a dinner after a tournament, and had each person make a donation to Beads of Hope, along with a handwritten letter.

“This was a turning point in the season, as we all got closer to one another, and began playing even better as our chemistry continued to grow on and off the court. These girls have been some of my favorite and most memorable friendships, and I will fondly look back on that special season for as long as I can remember,” expressed Miah.

The story of Beads of Hope gained media attention, being featured by local news reporter Natalie Wilson of Fox8 and later picked up by national outlets like Yahoo News, which has helped Miah impact even more lives.

“Starting and leading this club has played a huge role in my life, helping to shape my character and the way I view others. It’s hard to understand what life is like for people outside of the small bubbles we live in, until we actually have the opportunity to see their suffering up close.  I hope that Beads of Hope continues to grow and reach more and more kids across India. I hope that not only will their physical needs be met, but that they would also come to know who God is and grow in a relationship with him. This has been the source of my joy, my peace, and my strength in every aspect of my life, no matter the circumstances.”

Miah Sumanth was awarded the 2025 JVA Athleader Award after being nominated by Champion Volleyball Club (Winston-Salem, NC), a member of the Junior Volleyball Association, a non-profit organization with over 1,600 junior volleyball clubs dedicated to enhancing the junior volleyball experience for players, coaches, clubs and fans.

Follow Beads of Hope on Instagram @beadsofhopeclub

To learn more about the JVA Athleader Award click HERE. For related reading for junior volleyball athletes, click HERE.