Alina Aleaga
Graduate Opportunities and Minority Achievement Program Scholar
Master of Education: Leadership in Higher Education
I have always wanted to give back to my commUNITY that has led me to where I am right now in life. After graduation, I plan on pursuing a career in academic advising at a two or four-year institution or local nonprofits who work with students of color to pursue, persist and graduate from higher education.
Rayne Anderson
Robert T. and Nancy J. Knight Scholar
Major: Chemistry
I plan on working in the chemical industry, gaining experience in synthesizing and manufacturing of chemicals, and utilizing that experience to earn a doctorate in medicinal chemistry. I will research non-opioid based pain relievers and transplants that can administer antibodies based on enzymatic signals from the body, all while assuring young Native American students that higher education is attainable and there is a community of scholars to support them at the UW.
Habibo Bario
Dr. Millie Russell Scholar
Major: Nursing
My goal is to become a registered nurse and work in a hospital setting. I am also interested in pursuing graduate school to become a midwife. It was always my dream to work with women and their families during moments of profound transition and change.
Irvin Garcia
Gary D. Kimura Family Scholar
Major: Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology
I plan to attend medical school to fulfill my ultimate dream of becoming a physician. I strongly believe that everyone deserves to have access to healthcare and as a physician, I will not only care for the sick, but also advocate for healthcare accessibility to all communities, especially those that are underrepresented. My areas of interest include family medicine, medical genetics and reconstructive plastic surgery.
D’andre Garcia-Stubbs
Del Rio Global Citizens Scholar
Major: Education, Communities & Organizations
I desire to pursue a master’s degree because I am passionate about working in higher education, such as in the role of an advisor or professor. I am interested in partaking in research that focuses on addressing disparities faced by underrepresented minority students.
Soraknit Ieng
QFC Scholar
Major: Law, Societies & Justice
I would like to travel around the world and be able to help out in the poorer countries. I want to be able to help and give people opportunities in order for them to better their lives. I want to be able to bring justice into my community.
Maria Martinez-Alonzo
Wells Fargo Vice President’s Achievement Award
Major: Education, Communities & Organizations; Spanish
I see myself making changes in my community and making education accessible to all children. I am a hardworking, rebellious and dreamy woman. I am a woman who fights daily and does not agree with injustice. I want a better life for my people. I want to build paths of equality, paths of justice and paths of peace.
Luis Navarro
Murray, Pitre, Baker, Rosebaugh Scholar
Major: Biochemistry
My goal is to attend the UW School of Medicine and from there seek a career where I can impact the lives of people from underserved and underrepresented communities through the healthcare system. In the future, I also intend to help in the creation of an academic pipeline for people from similar upbringings as myself to go on to pursue higher education.
Channing H. Nesbitt
University of Washington Athletic Scholar
Major: Political Science / Economy
I plan to enroll at the Evans School of Public Policy and begin my trajectory of impacting development in both the private and public sectors. I have interests in both international and internal community development and I hope that my future career can be not only be fulfilling, but serve as an opportunity for me to help those around me who may not have the means to exercise their voice.
Genesia Pisaina Paolo Sivia
Friends of the Educational Opportunity Program Legacy Scholar
Major: Public Health
I would like to take a gap year traveling the world and then continue my education by either attending graduate school for public health or medical school in Fiji. I plan to bring my knowledge back to my community and find ways to improve both the physical and mental health of people in the Pacific and around the world through health initiatives that seek change.
Michelle Sims
Bank of America Scholar
Majors: Business Administration: Finance & Human Resources
After working for a couple years, I’d like to go back to school and earn a master’s degree in public policy. Ultimately, I want to work in a think tank or as a public policy advisor within the White House. My dream is to craft meaningful legislation that works to better society.
Shyanne Steele
Robert T. and Nancy J. Knight Scholar
Major: Political Science
My dream is to work as a civil rights lawyer and later as a Congresswoman for the state of Washington. I’d love to see the progress in bettering public education, understanding the causes of homelessness and how to provide better resources, and removing barriers intended to discriminate against certain groups. I hope that my future is one where I’ll be working to be a part of that progress.
Emily Van Pelt
Educational Opportunity Program Scholar
Major: Education, Communities & Organizations
I would like to lead initiatives of social change through organization within communities of need. Attending the University of Washington has allowed me to synthesize my natural desire to lead with my academic competencies, thus providing me with a clear picture of the types of roles that will allow me to make the most impact.
Bennet Vining
Lydia A. Gonzales Scholar
Majors: Law, Societies & Justice
I aspire to work with environmental policy and to legitimize concerns of many vulnerable countries that will bear the worst consequences of climate change. I hope to remediate the lasting effects of environmental racism and give volume to the voices of these countries. I hope to constantly gain perspective from different communities around the world through travel and to create an interconnected struggle for true liberation.
Betelhem Yohannes
President’s Achievement Award
Major: Bioengineering
I hope to pursue a career in medicine and apply my training in bioengineering towards developing easily accessible and cost-effective solutions to healthcare problems.
Daisy Zavala
William P. and Ruth Gerberding/Early Identification Program Scholar
Major: Materials Science & Engineering
My goal is to obtain a Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering. I am eager to apply the foundation of materials science to improving engineering material’s structural and functional performance in applications of aerospace, energy, medical and automotive industries as a researcher in industry. I hope to inspire others to pursue an academic path that results from their curiosity and interests, especially those of disadvantaged backgrounds.