Rhodes Scholars class of 2015
Moustafa Abdalla
Ontario, 2015
Current place of residence: Toronto
University: University of Toronto (Victoria College)
Current/recent course: BSc Biochemistry and Physiology
Other information: Moustafa is a senior
student at the University of Toronto (Victoria College) studying in the
departments of biochemistry and physiology. All three of his thesis
(research) courses were conducted in affiliation with, and under the
supervision of, faculty from the computer science department. He hopes
to continue this track of interdisciplinary study at Oxford.
Longer-term, Moustafa envisions contributing to a future where
technology/artificial intelligence is incorporated ethically
and compassionately in every aspect of medicine.
David Adler
California-South, 2015
University: Brown University
Other information: David R.K. Adler, Encino, is a May graduate of Brown University where he majored in Development Studies and graduated with highest honors. He also spent a semester at St. Stephen’s College of Delhi University in India. He is now on a Fulbright Research Fellowship in Mexico where he is doing research on housing. At Brown, he was Managing Editor of the College Hill Independent, an alternative weekly newspaper written for the community, won three major research awards, and was Assistant Director and Head Fellow of the Brown Writing Fellows Program. David was the coordinator of Brown’s Sexual Health Education Program and taught a weekly course in a South Providence school. He was a core member of an Indonesian music ensemble and founded an artistic production house in New York City.
Elliot Akama-Garren
California-North, 2015
University: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Other information: Elliot H. Akama-Garren, Palo Alto, is a senior at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology majoring in Biology. He has maintained a 5.0 G.P.A. (on a 5.0 scale), including one semester where he took as many courses most college students take in a year. His research, which has led to many publications, including in the Journal of Immunology, focuses on novel ways to manipulate the immune system to treat human diseases, especially cancer. His work has been conducted not only at M.I.T.’s Koch Institute, but at Stanford, Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital. Elliot is also Editor-in-Chief of the MIT Undergraduate Research Journal, has designed and taught four, seven-week-long courses for middle and high school students, and volunteers in the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter. He is also President and Co-Captain of the M.I.T. Men’s Ice Hockey Team.
Hamel Al Qubaisi
United Arab Emirates, 2015
Current place of residence: Abu Dhabi
University: NYU Abu Dhabi
Current/recent course: BA in Political Science
Other information: Hamel is a senior student at New York
University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) studying Political Science. He also spent a
semester at NYU London and NYU New York. While at NYU’s global network
sites, he conducted research for the UAE Embassy in London and the Crown
Prince Court in Abu Dhabi, and also served as the first Emirati
President of the Student Government. His senior thesis focuses on the
effectiveness of UAE foreign aid and hopes to continue his research on
the UAE at Oxford. Longer-term, Hamel aspires to contribute to the
future sustainable development of his country by serving as part of its
diplomatic corps.
Noam Angrist
Massachusetts, 2015
University: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Other information: Noam Angrist, Brookline, graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2013 with majors in Economics and Mathematics. While at M.I.T., he did economic research for the World Bank, The White House, and on the Affordable Care Act, and also founded an enrichment program combining athletics and academics for low-income youth that achieved considerable success measured by achievement and college matriculation. As a Fulbright Scholar in Botswana, Noam founded an NGO for HIV education designed to discourage intergenerational sex (“sugar daddy awareness”). Its success led him to raise the money to extend the program to 340 schools, and he now plans to launch it in four other southern African countries. He hopes to continue to apply his economics acumen to assess and develop poverty-alleviation projects that work.
Ameen Barghi
Alabama, 2015
University: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Other information: Ameen Barghi, Birmingham, is a senior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he majors in Neuroscience and Translational Research and minors in Chemistry and Biology. A Goldwater Scholar with a 4.0 G.P.A, he does extensive research in Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy for patients with multiple sclerosis, stroke and other diseases, and has many publications relating to his work. Ameen is also active in community programs relating to substance abuse, on a crisis line, in blood drives and hospital clinics. He speaks Azari and Farsi and has also done health-related work in Azerbaijan and Iran. He has also, for five years, worked intimately with the low-income community of Bessemer, Alabama. He is interested in developing clinical imaging systems and software technologies that could allow for earlier diagnosis of progressive diseases.
Joseph Barrett
New York, 2015
University: Princeton University
Other information: Joseph W. Barrett, Port Washington, graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University in June with a major in History and a minor in South Asian Studies. He won the highest award for undergraduates, based on scholarship, character and leadership, as well as the prize for the best thesis in American History. Joe is passionate about prison education and reform, an issue he focused on as a freshman and that led him to establish a program on incarceration issues at Princeton that he has expanded to other colleges. He has worked with the Millennium Challenge Corporation in Lesotho, spent a year learning Hindu and Urdu and working on literacy projects in Varanasi, India, and is passionate about social justice and economic development.
Rowan Border
Bermuda, 2015
Current place of residence: Bermuda
University: Edinburgh University
Current/recent course: Edinburgh University
Other information: Rowan J. Border,
Bermuda, is in his final undergraduate year studying for a Bachelor of
Science in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science at Edinburgh
University. While at Edinburgh, Rowan has pursued an interest in
robotics and was awarded the Marks and Clerk Prize for Innovation for a
team project last year. He is a keen entrepreneur and in 2013 co-founded
a start-up 3-D printing company which was chosen to represent Scotland
in the Global Founders’ Skill Accelerator Programme at MIT (2013). Rowan
enjoys skydiving and has served as Treasurer of the Edinburgh
University Skydiving Club. After completing his studies, Rowan hopes to
start a company and eventually return to Bermuda to found a ‘hack lab’
for young Bermudians interested in robotics.
Carl Britto
India, 2015
Current place of residence: India
University: St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, India
Current/recent course: MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery)
Other Information: With the intention of reducing the
Under-5 mortality in India Carl will be reading for the D.Phil in
Primary health care. His extensive clinical research in Paediatrics has
included programmes funded by the NIH,USA and ICMR,India. He has won
Researcher Awards, been appreciated in national super-specialty
conferences and published in International Peer reviewed journals. He
has worked extensively in medical outreach activities across rural India
including the 2014 floods in Kashmir. Apart from his academic laurels
he is also a national sprinter and triple jumper who has represented his
state at 5 national athletic meets winning three national bronze
medals, three state gold and fourteen university athletic medals
including setting a state record and two university records. He also
captained his college hockey team and has mentored younger research
aspirants.
Sarah Bufkin
Georgia, 2015
University: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Other information: Sarah M. Bufkin, Atlanta, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2013, majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies (Cultural Studies) and with a minor in Creative Writing. She is now attending Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as a Mitchell Scholar, where she will obtain a master’s degree in Moral, Legal and Political Philosophy. At Chapel Hill, her research focused on questions of voice, agency and political action: the interface between civil rights and sentencing in the U.S., and the role of the Belfast Group of poets during sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland. An accomplished poet, Sarah also was editor-in-chief of a progressive campus magazine, a columnist for the Daily Tar Heel, a politics intern for the Huffington Post during a semester off, and a communications coordinator for the North Carolina NAACP.
Emily Burke
Australia-at-large, 2015
Current place of residence: Canberra
University: University of New South Wales; Australian National University
Current/recent course: Law and Arts (Politics and International Relations); Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
Other information: Emily completed a Bachelor of Arts
and a Bachelor of Laws with first class honours and the university medal
in law at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Emily participated
in several mooting competitions, and won Best Oralist at the Philip C
Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. After graduation, Emily
worked as an Associate to Chief Justice French AC at the High Court of
Australia. She has a strong commitment to social justice and in
particular Indigenous land rights and development. Emily tutored
disadvantaged and Indigenous students struggling with high school and
university studies, and volunteered at a law firm specialising in
Indigenous land rights. She is also passionate about tackling the stigma
surrounding mental illness, and is a National Committee Member of the
Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation.
Jacob Burnett
Indiana, 2015
University: Wabash College
Other information: Jacob L. Burnett, Mishawaka, is a senior political science major at Wabash College. He also has a minor in psychology and rhetoric, and has won major academic awards in several subjects. He has done research in transnational crime involving adoption, on sub-Saharan political leadership, and on Appalachian poverty. Jacob is especially interested in criminal justice, having worked for the Legal Aid Society in Kentucky and as an intern with the Public Defender Service in Washington, D.C. He has been a tutor and mentor for underprivileged elementary school children. At Wabash, he is news editor and was formerly opinions editor of the student newspaper, president pro tempore of the student body, and was president of the College Democrats.
Rebecca Byrnes
Tasmania, 2015
Current place of residence: Hobart
University: University of Tasmania
Current/recent course: Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
Other Information: Rebecca has just completed a
Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws at the University of
Tasmania. Her honours thesis considered the role of charity law in
encouraging philanthropic action for the protection of the environment.
Her study and career interests lie in the area of climate change policy
and regulation. Rebecca has regularly volunteered her time, with roles
at the Oaktree Foundation, a youth-run aid and development organisation,
the Office of the Ombudsman Tasmania and the Tasmanian Environmental
Defender’s Office. In 2013 Rebecca spent six months studying in
Switzerland where she developed her German language skills. Rebecca has
competed in two national mooting competitions. She enjoys creative
writing, practices Wing Chun Kung Fu and has been a teacher of the
violin, viola and cello.
Fang Cao
Maryland/DC, 2015
University: University of Maryland
Other information: Fang Y. Cao, Silver Spring, is a senior at the University of Maryland, where he majors in Neurobiology and Physiology, and Computer Science. He is both a Truman Scholar and a Goldwater Scholar, with a 4.0 across many disciplines. Born in China, he emigrated to London at age five, and to the United States at seven. His family slept on cardboard before moving onto mattresses found in a dumpster. He has done research at NIH, the Children’s National Medical Center, and at a health clinic in Jamaica. Fang founded two tutoring programs to help low-income local high school students succeed in the sciences, and is passionate about solving the national crisis in community healthcare for the underserved.
Tinashe Chandauka
South Africa-at-Large, 2015
Current place of residence: East London, South Africa
University: University of Cape Town
Current/recent course: Bachelor's Degree in Medicine and Surgery (MBChB)
Other information: Tinashe Chandauka is the son of
Emily Chandauka and Joshua Chandauka. He was born in Zimbabwe and
completed his high school education (St Stithians College) and
undergraduate medical training with honours (University of Cape Town) in
South Africa. His passion for Surgery and healthcare training in Africa
inspired him to co-found the International Association of Student
Surgical Societies and lead it as its first President. Furthermore, he
has excelled at sport and completed the Cape Town Marathon, the South
African Ironman 70.3 and numerous half marathons. He partook in the
South African President's Award for Youth Empowerment program and was
awarded "Gold" status later representing the organization at a youth
parliament debate.
Raphael Chaskalson
South Africa-at-Large, 2015
University: University of Cape Town
Current/recent course: Honours in History with distinction, BA with distinction in History and French
Other information: While at the University of Cape
Town, Raphael undertook original research for his thesis on the history
of the platinum industry in South Africa, and its role in the police
massacre of thirty four striking miners at Marikana in 2012. Some of
his historical work has been published, and he is working on publishing
his groundbreaking Marikana thesis. Raphael has also been involved in
social justice projects and youth development for over six years in
South Africa. He has been a tutor and youth mentor in Cape Town’s
underdeveloped townships through progressive NGO Equal Education. He
has recently been the national deputy head of progressive global Jewish
youth movement called Habonim, in which he has fostered numerous
critical debates about Judaism and Israel, and the local Jewish
communities’ responsibilities towards South Africa. He has extensive
skills in publishing and infographics. He has been a tutor in Maths and
History at UCT and is currently a university tutor and youth development
activist in Cape Town.
Rutendo Chigora
Zimbabwe, 2015
Current place of residence: Harare
University: University of Pennsylvania
Current/recent course: BA International Relations & Political Science
Other information: Rutendo is a senior at the
University of Pennsylvania, where she is pursuing a B.A. in
International Relations and Political Science on a Penn World
Scholarship. She is interested in African development and has done
research on microfinance, post-apartheid economic identities, and
Sino-African relations. Rutendo is the founder of ZW Connect, a business
incubator for community centers geared towards weaning them off an
absolute reliance on donations. She is a Benjamin Franklin Scholar
recognized for her capacity for interdisciplinary study, a member of the
Onyx Senior Honor Society, and is involved in several extracurricular
activities at Penn. At Oxford, she intends to join the Blavatnik School
of Government's Master of Public Policy program.
Sonali Chowdhry
India, 2015
Current place of residence: New Delhi
University: Miranda House, University of Delhi
Current/recent course: Bachelor of Arts in Economics (Honours) (2014)
Other Information: Sonali is an economics graduate
from Miranda House, where she won several awards for academic excellence
and is currently on The Young India Fellowship at Ashoka University.
She has undertaken research on delivering affordable maternal healthcare
through competitive voucher programs, street vending in the urban
economy and on Dalit mutual aid societies in India. An accomplished
debater, she served as Vice President of Miranda House Debating Society
and has been adjudged Best Speaker in numerous national competitions,
including at the Reserve Bank of India and British Council (India).
Sonali conducts public speaking workshops for underprivileged school
children and also enjoys endurance running and poetry. At Oxford, she
intends to examine the implications of international economic
integration for developing countries.
Alexander Coccia
Indiana, 2015
University: University of Notre Dame
Other information: Alexander F. Coccia, Columbus, Ohio, graduated from the University of Notre Dame in May. He majored in Africana Studies and Peace Studies. A Truman Scholar, he won many awards for scholarship and leadership. Alex is now a Truman-Albright Fellow in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. At Notre Dame, he was the student body president. His platform focused on promoting the passions and interests of all students, including those who felt marginalized. He successfully led the amendment of the student union nondiscrimination clause to include gender identify, disability and documentation status. He also founded a student movement to create a more welcoming environment for students who identify as LGBTQ and their allies. He was also a member of the varsity fencing team, which won the 2011 National Championship.
Cherelle Dacon
Commonwealth Caribbean, 2015
Current place of residence: Trinidad and Tobago
University: University of the West Indies, St. Augustine
Current/recent course: Postgraduate Diploma in the Management of HIV Infection
Other information: Cherrelle obtained her BSc
(Hons) Biochemistry at the University of the West Indies where she is
also engaged in postgraduate studies in the Management of HIV Infection.
Cherrelle is an avid dragon boater and volunteer. Her work as a
Vice-Chancellor's Ambassador at the UWI and advocacy in local
communities is driven by a passionate commitment to social outreach. As a
Research Assistant at UWI, her work has focused on the molecular
characterization of avian pathogens towards the development of an
effective vaccine against bacterial infections. Academically, she is
interested in researching chronic HIV infection, particularly the
systemic effects of HIV-associated inflammation and development of novel
strategies to detect and eliminate reservoirs of the virus. Ultimately,
she aims to improve the quality of life and interventions available to
HIV positive individuals.
Lise du Buisson
Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch, 2015
Current place of residence: Stellenbosch
University: University of Cape Town
Current/recent course: Masters in Astrophysics and Space Science
Other Information: Lise finished her Bachelors in
Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Stellenbosch
in 2012, and will finish her Masters in Astrophysics in Cape Town this
year. During her studies at Stellenbosch, she served on both the
Engineering Student Council and the Academic Affairs Council, was
awarded an SKA scholarship (undergraduate and postgraduate), and
received the Rector’s Award upon completion of her degree. She is
currently part of the Anna Foundation where she teaches mathematics to
disadvantaged children. She has also co-authored papers in two
scientific journals. Lise enjoys travelling and the outdoors, and likes
to experiment with new musical instruments. In the long term, she hopes
to become a prominent astrophysicist with a dual passion to help South
Africa face its educational challenges.
Alexander Eastwood
Victoria, 2015
Current place of residence: Melbourne
University: University of Melbourne
Current/recent course: Bachelor of Science (Honours)
Other information: Alexander recently
completed Honours at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental
Health as a Frances Elizabeth Thomson Scholar, where he researched
Autism Spectrum Disorder and social communication. He moved from
regional Victoria to live at Newman College, where he was elected
President in his third year. Alexander previously completed a Bachelor
of Science (Neuroscience) and a Diploma in Languages (Spanish) as a
Kwong Lee Dow Scholar, and spent a semester abroad at the University of
St Andrews (UK). He is a keen advocate for various environmental and
social causes. His interests include: languages, theatre, politics,
environmental conservation, rowing, and swimming. He hopes to continue
researching Autism and associated conditions. Alexander wishes to
inspire a renaissance of science education in Australia upon his return
from Oxford.
Rebecca Esselstein
Ohio, 2015
University: United States Air Force Academy
Other information: Rebecca A. Esselstein, Dayton, is a senior at the United States Air Force Academy where she majors in Astronautical Engineering. She is ranked 1st in her class overall, and is currently ranked 1st both academically and militarily. She is also a 2nd Team Academic All-American in Women’s Track as an 800 meter runner. She is also a varsity cross-country runner. Rebecca has done research at M.I.T. on radar and infrared signatures, and was an Aspen Institute Socrates Program Scholar studying the U.S. Supreme Court. She hopes to become an astronaut.
Robert Fisher
Tennessee, 2015
University: The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Other information: Robert A. Fisher, Chattanooga, is a senior at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he majors in Political Science and minors in History and Africana Studies. A Truman Scholar with a perfect academic record, he is the student body president. He was appointed by the Governor as student representative to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and is a Presidential Fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress. Robert was chosen by Chattanooga’s mayor to co-chair a task force to develop a vibrant and more inclusive downtown, and is a mentor in a local school. Much of his university and community leadership is focused on issues related to racial inequality in America, and is influenced by his deep interest in black political thought.
Ruth Fong
New Jersey, 2015
University: Harvard University
Other information: Ruth C. Fong, Somerset, is a senior at Harvard University majoring in Computer Science. Her senior thesis focuses on how computers can intuitively identify and perceive objects in a way that more closely mimics the human brain. She was chosen to teach three undergraduate computer science courses. She won a highly competitive scholarship from Apple for women in technology, and a Tech in the World Fellowship to work on infectious disease data in Tanzania. Ruth is also extremely active as an advocate for special needs causes, and was a director of Big Sibs program in Boston’s Chinatown. She is a member of a dance troupe and enjoys both hip-hop and traditional Chinese dance. Ruth
is also a bible study leader in the Harvard-Radcliffe Asian-American
Christian Fellowship and enjoys processing spiritual questions with
others.
Brody Foy
Queensland, 2015
Current place of residence: Brisbane, Australia
University: Queensland University of Technology
Current/recent course: Bachelor of Mathematics (Honours)
Other information: Brody completes a Bachelor of Mathematics
(Honours) this year, with a focus on computational mathematics and
mathematical modeling. Enthusiastic about his studies, he graduated with
a perfect grade point average and helped restructure the degree for
future students. Brody is passionate about youth engagement and
education, having designed and run maths and science workshops for high
schools across Queensland. He is a project coordinator for Spur
Projects, a men's mental health organisation, and also spends a
significant portion of his time mentoring youth within the Brisbane
community. For relaxation Brody loves to play guitar and team sports.
Long-term, Brody intends to use mathematics and computer simulation to
tackle challenging problems in science and medicine, and propel
Australia's research community forward.
Kelli Francis-Staite
South Australia, 2015
Current Place of Residence: Adelaide
University: The University of Adelaide
Current/recent course: Masters of Philosophy (Pure Mathematics)
Other Information: Kelli completed her undergraduate degree
in Pure Mathematics in 2012. She was awarded nine prizes for her
academic achievement in Mathematics and a scholarship to complete her
Masters in the area of Semi-Riemannian Geometry. A dedicated surf life
saver, she has achieved competitive success in March Past at State,
Australian and World Championships. Her current leadership roles include
representing Brighton Surf Life Saving Club for the Board of March Past
Officials, Patrol Captain at Brighton Surf Life Saving Club, and a
School of Mathematical Sciences Outreach Committee postgraduate
representative. Kelli is passionate about studying and teaching
mathematics, spends her free time swing dancing, and aims to expand
further Mathematical research in her coming years.
Hadleigh Frost
New Zealand, 2015
Current place of residence: Christchurch, New Zealand
University: The University of Canterbury
Current/recent course: Bachelor of Science with Honours in Mathematical Physics
Other Information: Hadleigh Frost
is in the final year of a Bachelor of Science, with Honours, in physics
and mathematics. His Honours research investigated an alternative
formulation of general relativity. An enthusiastic student, he has
received many awards for his academic work. Outside of university
Hadleigh holds teaching commitments at high schools and residence halls.
Hadleigh is also a passionate communicator. He gives popular-level
talks about science and he is a contributing editor for a student
magazine. In 2012, he was awarded the Sir Paul Callaghan Award for young
science orators. To relax, he enjoys modern literature, creative
writing and playing the piano. In his career, Hadleigh hopes to
contribute to our advancing knowledge of the universe and expand the
presence of science in public discourse.
Jessica Glennie
New Zealand, 2015
Current place of residence: New York
University: University of Texas at Austin
Current/recent course: Bachelor of Architecture
Other Information: Jessica completes her Bachelor of
Architecture in May 2015, at the University of Texas at Austin. She
gained a full athletic scholarship in 2010 and competes for the Varsity
Women's Rowing Team. This year she received the Big 12 Conference's Dr.
Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award. At Oxford, Jessica's studies
will focus on environmental change and management. She is interested in
the world's environmental and social management issues and plans to be
an architect and a rigorous environmental leader. In Austin, Jessica
helped create an organization called Student Voice with the goal of
inspiring students to have a voice in the community. She is currently in
New York City, gaining school credit for an internship at Tod Williams
Billie Tsien Architects.
Sai Gourisankar
Texas, 2015
University: University of Texas
Other information: Sai P. Gourisankar, Atlanta, Georgia, is a senior at the University of Texas, where he will graduate in May with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a B.A. in Plan II Liberal Arts. He also has a minor in German. He is a Goldwater Scholar with a 4.0 across multiple disciplines. He has several publications relating to his work in nanotechnology, particularly relating to nanoclusters. He is also president of an organization that fosters discussion between the humanities and the sciences.
Brittany Graham
Maritimes, 2015
Current place of residence: Halifax
University: Dalhousie University
Current/recent course: BSc with Combined Honours in Microbiology, Immunology and Creative Writing
Other information: Brittany is completing a
BSc with Combined Honours in Microbiology, Immunology and Creative
Writing at Dalhousie University. She has received numerous scholarships
and awards, ranging from a research award from the National Sciences and
Engineering Research Council to literary awards for her short stories,
and poetry. Brittany is interested in First Nations issues in northern
Canada and issues related to indigenous people internationally. She
recently worked as a facilitator of the Lieutenant Governor’s Aboriginal
Reading Camp program in Eabametoong First Nation. She serves on the
executive of Dalhousie’s chapter of the Global Brigades Society,
contributing to public health projects in Panama and Honduras. She is an
avid alpine skier, having competed at the provincial level in Quebec.
Longer-term, Brittany envisages a career in research focused on disease
in indigenous communities.
Logan Graham
British Columbia, 2015
Current Place of Residence: Vancouver
University: University of British Columbia
Current Courses: BA Economics (Hons)
Other information: An entrepreneur with a passion for
using the principles of economics to solve social problems, Logan hopes
to continue his studies in Economics at Oxford. Logan has a lifelong
history of engagement in social causes. Before he was 10 he co-founded
the Children’s Arthritis Foundation to help other children living with
juvenile arthritis, eventually leading to national advocacy and a
keynote speech at the world's largest conference on arthritis in
Washington DC. At university he went on to co-found Yunus & Youth, a
global fellowship program which connects mentors with young people
using business to drive social change. Logan has completed research in
auction theory and is currently writing his honours thesis on
inequality.
Devin Grant
Newfoundland, 2015
Current place of residence: St. John’s, Newfoundland
University: Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador
Current/most recent course: BSc Applied Mathematics
Other information: Devin is currently completing his
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Applied Mathematics, specializing in
Numerical Analysis and Scientific Computation. He was the 2013 and 2014
recipient of the Book Prize in Mathematics, and has been named to the
Dean's List for the Faculty of Science in every year of his
undergraduate studies. Devin is heavily involved in student activism, as
the Executive Director of Finance and Services with the MUN Students'
Union. This position involves the supervision of all Students' Union
services, as well as student advocacy on various university committees.
Devin is also musically oriented, as demonstrated through membership in
the award winning Newman Sound Men's Choir, and participation in
community musical productions, including the role of Prouvaire in
Atlantic Light Theare's Les Miserables.
Anisha Gururaj
Missouri, 2015
University: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Other information: Anisha N. Gururaj, Chesterfield, is a senior at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she majors in Chemical and Biological Engineering and minors in Energy Studies. Her career interest is to develop affordable biomedical devices for both the U.S. and developing world. She has a perfect academic record and has done research on many different health technologies. With three student colleagues, Anisha has worked on designing a low-cost blood warmer that could save the lives of soldiers who die on the battlefield from hypothermia. She published an investigative report on the experience of trauma surgeons following the Boston Marathon bombings. She also founded the M.I.T. Chapter of the Circle of Women, which works to expand secondary education for girls globally. She performs Indian classical dance and was president of the a cappella group with which she sang.
Tanyah Hameed
Pakistan, 2015
Current place of residence: Islamabad, Pakistan
University: National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad
Current/recent course: BS Economics
Other information: Tanyah completed her
Bachelors in Economics from the National University of Science and
Technology, where she was awarded multiple merit scholarships. She
graduated with the Chancellor’s Silver Medal in Academics and undertook
research internships with Plan International, Pakistan’s Ministry of
Commerce & UNDP Pakistan. She has also organized 5 national
conferences, held prominent positions within the university’s Community
Services Society, Economics Society and Youth Economic Forum, while
heading AIESEC Pakistan as Vice President Marketing and Communications.
In her Sophomore year, she went on exchange to Mauritius where she
volunteered as part of an environmental campaign. She is currently
working with Pakistan’s Ministry of Planning and Development with the
Macroeconomics Section and the Chief Economist’s Office. Tanyah is an
avid reader, who loves travelling, badminton, Alternative Rock and the
French language.
Rachel Harmon
Illinois, 2015
University: Cornell University
Other information: Rachel V. Harmon, Champaign, is a senior at Cornell University majoring in Industrial and Labor Relations. Before college, she was an AmeriCorps volunteer as a reading tutor at an all-black rural elementary school in the Mississippi Delta, an experience which—like some of her own—has fueled her motivation to study social and economic policies and their effects on socioeconomic mobility. Rachel’s honors thesis relates to strategies for economic justice for low-income Mississippians. She has won many awards for scholarship, was an intern for the Southern Education Foundation, a teacher in a maximum security prison and in a juvenile detention center, and manages a café.
Ridwan Hassen
Georgia, 2015
University: Dartmouth College
Other information: Ridwan Y. Hassen, Marietta, is a senior at Dartmouth College where he is majoring in Computer Science modified with Neuroscience. Before Dartmouth, he attended Emory University for two years. The child of refugees from Somalia and Ethiopia, he has always worked to help support his large family, up to 30 hours per week, all the while achieving a superb academic record and leading many campus and community activities. Ridwan founded a global development project focused on the Horn of Africa, was a volunteer coordinator for the NAACP, and founded Emory’s first AIDS activist organization. He has done neurobiology research at UCSF, and on an implicated gene in Autism Spectrum Disorder. He is an active mentor of students and a community activist at South Cobb High School, from which he graduated. He is a member of the Dartmouth Endurance Racing Team and competes in many mid- and long-distance runs.
Kabeleka Kabeleka
Zambia, 2015
Current place of residence: Lusaka, Zambia
University: The Copperbelt University (CBU)
Current/recent course: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Other Information: In 2013, Kabeleka earned his BSC
in Computer Science with Distinction. He was awarded Best Computer
Science student in his 2nd and 3rd year and joint best graduating
student in 2013. As part of his final thesis, he was sponsored by
Siemens, Festo and LappGroup of South Africa to participate in the
Cyber-junkyard competition for 2012. The project involved building an
‘Automated Warehouse Stacking System’, a prototype for a modern
industrial stacking system. Kabeleka was the chief programmer in the
IEEE funded Digital Learning Units project. This project involved the
development of an E-Learning program to assist the pupils of Mitanto
high school (Kitwe) in their studies. He has an interest in politics,
social justice and the plight of the underprivileged in society. He
enjoys soccer, music and blogs.
Peter Kalugin
New Mexico, 2015
University: Johns Hopkins University
Other information: Peter N. Kalugin, Albuquerque, is a senior at Johns Hopkins University where he will receive a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a B.A. in Mathematics with a minor in Physics in May. A Goldwater Scholar, and elected to Phi Beta Kappa as a junior, he has worked in basic science labs on cell signaling and immunobiology and completed a thesis on brain tumor biology. He has also worked on statistical analysis of medical data sets at the University of New Mexico. Peter plays the alto saxophone, speaks five languages, has taught English to new immigrant students, volunteered at orphanages in Mongolia and Nepal, and founded an organization to connect other university students with local NGOs abroad. He is passionate about pediatric oncology and research in cancer cell growth.
Miriam Kilimo
Kenya, 2015
Current place of residence: Nairobi
University: Dartmouth College
Current/recent course: Bachelor of Arts Anthropology Modified and Senior Fellow
Other Information: Miriam graduated summa cum laude
from Dartmouth College, where she majored in Anthropology with secondary
fields in Women and Gender Studies and History. She also completed a
Senior Fellowship, a highly selective year-long program that allowed her
to craft an evocative autoethnography of inter-ethnic friendships in
Kenya. She has conducted research on female circumcision in Kenya and
initiated a mentorship program for girls at risk of undergoing the
practice in Marakwet East. While at Dartmouth, Miriam worked as a
writing tutor and as an undergraduate residential and academic adviser.
She has been awarded severally for her academic excellence. Miriam
enjoys writing fiction and nonfiction short stories. She hopes to pursue
a career in academia, researching how transformational processes affect
the livelihoods and identity formation among women and youth.
Joanna Klimczak
Quebec, 2015
Current place of residence: Montreal, QC
University: McGill University
Current/recent course: Bachelor of Commerce
Other information: Joanna Klimczak, a native of
Niagara Falls, is an entrepreneur with a passion for leveraging
business, technology and innovation to solve social problems. In high
school, she created an organization called Hand in Hand, to empower
youth and help children around the world gain access to education. In
2014, she graduated from McGill, where she majored in International
Management and received the Scarlet Key Award for her research and
resulting co-creation of an academic Concentration in Social Business
and Enterprise. During her undergrad, Joanna also co-founded MyVision, a
global movement mentored by Nobel Laureate, Muhammad Yunus, of students
creating social businesses and cultivating student social
entrepreneurs. Joanna speaks five languages, is a competitive dancer and
an avid runner, having recently completed a half marathon on the Great
Wall of China.
Bogdan Knezevic
Prairies, 2015
Current place of residence: Calgary, Alberta
University: University of Calgary
Current/recent course: BSc Neuroscience
Born in Belgrade, Bogdan was two years old when his parents and he
immigrated to Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. A few years later he
started swimming in a youth program which led, in 2009, to his
acceptance of an offer from the perennial powerhouse University of
Calgary swim team and his entry into that University's Bachelor of
Science (Honours) program. Having spent his summers in Toronto and each
academic year in Calgary, in May, 2015 he will complete his degree in
Neuroscience and conclude his year as Captain of the swim team and his
run of five straight years as an Academic All-Canadian Scholar-Athlete.
He aims to pursue further his interest in medicine at Oxford,
ultimately hoping either to practice or to undertake medical research in
Canada.
Jordan Konell
Pennsylvania, 2015
University: Yale University
Other information: Jordan R.
Konell, Philadelphia, is a senior at Yale University where he majors in
African American Studies and Political Science. His academic interests
circle around principles of social and racial justice, as do his
community and campus involvements. In Philadelphia, he has worked in the
Public Interest Law Center and as a community organizer. In New Haven,
he is the former Director of Community Health Educators, the largest
community organization on campus. Jordan is the president of his
residential college, was a summer fellow for the American Federation of
Teachers, and is a Director’s Fellow of the Yale Institute for Social
Policy Studies. He is also a jazz trombonist and has won the F. Wilder
Bellamy Jr. Memorial Prize for outstanding character.
Maya Krishnan
Maryland/DC, 2015
University: Stanford University
Other information: Maya I. Krishnan, Rockville, Maya is a Stanford University senior majoring in Philosophy with a minor in Computer Science. She wrote Modern Illuminations,
a collection of ten essays on the metaphysics of modern thought about
what it means to be human, for which she received Stanford’s annual
Deans' Award for extraordinary intellectual accomplishment. Elected to
Phi Beta Kappa as a junior, her senior honors thesis examines Kant’s
representation of infinity. Maya created POLIS, a Stanford digital
humanities website that correlates datasets to provide
data visualization about ancient Greece and Rome, and has had her work
published. She also developed new computational techniques at the Brown
Lab for finding ovarian cancer markers in genome sequencing data. She is
interested in the philosophical issues raised by modern technology and
how it is changing our conceptions of identity, knowledge and truth.
Maya is also an oboist and music fan, loves art and drawing, and is a
dedicated thrift store clothing shopper.
Abishek Kulshreshtha
Texas, 2015
University: Brown University
Other information: Abishek K. Kulshreshtha, Grapevine, is a senior at Brown University where he majors in Physics. Much of his work in theoretical physics has applications to the creation of a quantum computer that would make computations exponentially faster, and toward the goal of better understanding of biological processes. Abi is president of Brown’s Model United Nations and founder of the Providence Public Schools Model United Nations. He is also a peer advisor, a pianist, a cyclist, and a teaching assistant and mentor in local schools. He has strong interests in improving educational opportunity and community health.
Lukas Lange
Germany, 2015
Current place of residence: Munich
University: Pembroke College, University of Cambridge
Current/Recent Course: M.Phil. in Advanced Chemical Engineering
Other information: Lukas holds a B.Sc. in Chemical
Engineering from Technical University Munich and an M.Phil. in Advanced
Chemical Engineering from the University of Cambridge. He also studied
at Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Sorbonne Universités, and is a
scholar of the German National Academic Foundation and Bavarian
EliteAcademy. Furthermore, he was part of the management team of
GENERATION-D, a German social start-up competition, and served as a
Student President for Chemical Engineering at TUM. Lukas has worked for
numerous companies, including Solvay in Brussels, Linde in Munich and
Shanghai, High-Tech Founders Fund in Bonn, and The Boston Consulting
Group in Hamburg and London. He has a keen interest in healthcare
technology, entrepreneurship, and venture capital. In his spare time, he
enjoys travelling and rowing.
Sean Lau
New South Wales, 2015
Current place of residence: Sydney, Australia
University: University of New South Wales
Current/recent course: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy / Bachelor of Laws (2012)
Other Information: Sean completed undergraduate studies in
philosophy and law in 2012 at the University of New South Wales, where
he was extensively involved in Christian campus ministry and in
mentoring first year law students. He also volunteered at the Public
Interest Advocacy Centre, and at a faith-based community care centre.
Since graduating, Sean has been working in law while studying theology
part-time by distance at the University of Nottingham. He has lectured
in Australian constitutional law, and worked as Associate, or Law Clerk,
to Justice Virginia Bell AC at the High Court of Australia. He is
currently the Legal Officer to the Chair of the Royal Commission into
Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. At Oxford, Sean intends
to explore themes of moral responsibility in Christian theology.
Caroline Leps
Ontario, 2015
Current place of residence: Toronto
University: Trinity College, University of Toronto
Current/recent course: B.A (Hons) Global Health & International Relations
Other information: In her final year of a BA in
Global Health & International Relations, Caroline is co-president of
the International Relations Society, and of Trinity College’s Women’s
Athletic Association, and is co-captain of Trinity’s basketball team.
She volunteers at a children’s hospital and at a camp for kids with
cancer. Caroline holds an ARCT in Piano Performance, Grade 10 violin,
and plays with the Hart House Orchestra. She hopes to become a
pediatrician working in global children’s health in low- and
middle-income settings.
Finn Lowery
New Zealand, 2015
Current place of residence: Auckland
University: University of Auckland
Current/recent course: Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Politics and French
Other Information: Finn is currently completing his
undergraduate studies in law, political philosophy and French. His areas
of interest include the settlement of historical grievances in New
Zealand and the impact of counter-terrorism strategies on the criminal
justice system and human rights. He has received a number of awards for
his top academic performance in these areas. He has also sought
practical experience in his fields, including an internship at the
United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former
Yugoslavia. Outside of his studies, Finn plays water polo for the New
Zealand national team. He is also passionate about the outdoors, taking
any opportunity to ski, cycle, kayak and surf.
Benjamin Mappin-Kasirer
Quebec, 2015
Current place of residence: Montreal, QC
University: McGill University, Yale University
Current/recent course: Doctor of Medicine (In Course), Bachelor of Arts
Other information: Benjamin is from Montreal
and is a medical student at McGill University. He graduated from Yale in
2014, where he majored in French Literature and was awarded the James
T. King Prize for his research on science and the weather in Proust. As
an undergraduate, he was involved in the Yale Journal of Public Health,
Yale Program for the Study of Antisemitism, and L’Amuse-Bouche, the
Journal of French Culture. He is interested in humanities as a setting
to think about medical ethics and health policy. For the past 10 years,
he has been a competitive fencer, namely competing for Team Canada at
the 2009 Cadet World Championships and as squad captain, manager, and
member of the starting lineup of the Yale Varsity Fencing team.
Hamish McKenzie
Australia-at-large, 2015
Current place of residence: Kooyong
University: University of Melbourne
Current/recent course: Anthropology and Social Theory; French
Other information: Hamish completed a Bachelor of Arts
with first class Honours, majoring in anthropology, and a Diploma in
Languages at the University of Melbourne. He also completed a year of
study at the University of Cape Town. He has spent three years
volunteering for World Vision Australia, learning about how development
responds to the world’s greatest challenges, and training young people
in advocacy and social activism. He co-founded a successful campaign to
transition his university to Fairtrade procurement practices, and has
established a micro social enterprise to support revegetation in parts
of southern Africa. Most recently, he attended the UN climate talks in
Lima, writing as a reporter for The Verb.
Jane Darby Menton
Florida, 2015
University: Yale University
Other information: Jane Darby Menton, Tallahassee, is a senior at Yale University with majors in History and Global Affairs. As Managing Editor of the Yale Daily News, she is a member of the three person management board that makes all major decisions for the newspaper, and reads and edits all its stories. She won the Thouron Prize for a summer fellowship to Cambridge University. Jane Darby has also interned for Anderson Cooper 360, organized a student trip to Greece to study the country’s financial crisis, and is a member of the Yale International Relations Association. She plans to write her senior thesis on John Hersey and the journalistic novel. She also was the conference organizer for the Yale Model United Nations Organization, and aspires to be a foreign correspondent.
Colin Mkhize
South Africa-at-Large, 2015
Current place of residence: Grahamstown
University: Rhodes University
Current/recent course: Master of Science (Chemistry)
Other information: Nhlakanipho Colin Mkhize,
born in Pietermaritzburg, is currently completing his studies in
Chemistry. After completing his high school career as the top student at
Carter High School, he went on to complete a Joint Honours degree in
Physics and Chemistry at Rhodes University in 2012, and subsequently
enrolled for a Masters degree in Chemistry. He is passionate about his
community and is a keen participant of social programmes designed to
better society; especially through education. He has received numerous
leadership and service awards during his academic tenure and is also a
respected member of the Catholic community of Grahamstown. He is
interested in pursuing a DPhil in Material Science and thereafter
applying his knowledge to the development of functional materials for
the betterment of society.
David Moore
Michigan, 2015
University: University of Michigan
Other information: David S. Moore, Holland, received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan in May, and remains there for his master’s in Mechanical Engineering. He won the top award in engineering both his junior and senior years. In his design and manufacturing work and courses he has created a mechanism that allows wheelchair users to more easily use a backpack, and developed a new needle biopsy device. He was captain of the Michigan Men’s Varsity Swim Team, a team that won the 2013 National Championship and four Big Ten Championships. He was also the community service chair for the Student Athlete Advisory Council, and organized the Swim Team’s community service activities.
Mayanka Mukherji
India, 2015
Current place of residence: New Delhi
University: Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University
Current/Recent Course: Bachelors of Arts in Sociology
Other information: Mayanka completes her Bachelor of Arts in
Sociology in May 2015. She is a spoken word poet, and uses this medium
to deal with ideas of gender, communalism and misconstrued notions of
development, simultaneously experimenting with rhythm, pace, volume,
repetition and other vocal devices, thereby allowing the form and the
content to shape one another. She has also been involved in theatre
through directing, scriptwriting and acting, focusing on a corporeal
dialogue with spaces. Her research projects, while dealing with themes
of liminality, material culture, graffiti, have explored several mediums
such as film, urban-mapping, role-play and self-created board games.
Though her MPhil in Visual Material and Museum Anthropology at Oxford,
she wants to study ideas of visual literacy and object-centred
narratives to be able to innovate newer methodologies within
anthropology.
Karen Mumba
Zambia, 2015
Current place of residence: Lusaka
University: Copperbelt University
Current/recent course: Bachelor of Accountancy
Other Information: Karen graduated with a Distinction in the
Bachelor of Accountancy in 2013 and received the award for Best
Graduating Student. Karen was the best student from the first to the
final year and received the Bank of Zambia scholarship in her third and
final year for her outstanding performance. She is currently a
Senior-Associate in the Audit department at one of the 'Big Four'
accounting firms in the world and is based in the Lusaka office. Karen
was actively involved in the Association for Enterprise and Innovation
whose main role was promoting entrepreneurship among University students
as a means of tackling unemployment and poverty. Longer term, Karen
aspires to be a leading mind in the field of business and spearhead the
alleviation of poverty and unemployment and promote social justice.
Gladys Ngetich
Kenya, 2015
Current place of residence: Nairobi
University: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
Current/recent course: BSc Mechanical Engineering
Other Information: Gladys is in her final year at
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, where she is
pursuing Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering and expecting to
graduate with distinction. At the university she has served as the
women’s athletics and football captain as well as a representative of
her class. Gladys has won several medals in athletics and football
university competitions in East African games and has participated in
the Olympics national athletics trials. She was awarded the Barbaroa
Trust Award, an award given to the best student in each academic year.
During her holidays she have been involved in mentoring young high
school girls on academic and social issues. She would like to do
research on sustainable energy technologies which will assist alleviate
problems in rural communities she comes from in Kenya. She intends to
join the department of Engineering Science to research on the advanced
engineering systems used in modern propulsion systems for heat load
management and cooling.
Norbert Nthala
Malawi, 2015
Current place of residence: Blantyre
University: University of Malawi
Current/Recent Course: Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
Other information: Norbert completed his BSc in IT earlier
this year with a high Distinction and is working as a consultant for
Challenges Africa Limited. Norbert has also worked for Malawi SDNP as a
Special Services Assistant Network Engineer and Assistant Network
Engineer intern. While in college, Norbert served as a Part-Time
Lecturer at John Paul II Leadership and IT Institute. He received the
Overall Outstanding Student Award (for best Applied Sciences student),
Best Student Achievement Award and Star of the Faculty Award. He has
been on the Dean's Merit List from 2010-2014. He served in the Executive
of the University of Malawi Catholic Students Association. Norbert
enjoys football, music and chatting. His keen interest is in the
application of ICT to economic development.
Kate Nussenbaum
Rhode Island, 2015
University: Brown University
Other information: Kate I. Nussenbaum, Newton, Massachusetts, is a Brown University senior majoring in Cognitive Neuroscience, and Science and Society. A junior member of Phi Beta Kappa, much of her academic work has centered on the ways social factors distort learning capacity and how those barriers can be surmounted. Kate’s research, publications and presentations broadly investigate the subject of distraction, and her experiments and interests involve mitigating the effects of socioeconomic status on memory and retention among young children. She is the Senior Editor of the Brown Daily Herald, a peer advisor, and has been a volunteer math and science tutor. She was also associate editor of The Science and Society Review.
Tariq Parker
Jamaica, 2015
Current place of residence: St. Andrew, Jamaica
University: University of the West Indies (UWI)
Current/recent course: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
Other information: Tariq
Parker, a recipient of the Jamaica Scholarship in 2009, recently
graduated from the University of the West Indies in 2014 with an MB BS
Honours degree with Distinction. He received Honours in Obstetrics and
Gynaecology, Medicine and Surgery, and received subject prizes in
Internal Medicine and Surgery for best academic performance across the
Caribbean. Tariq is currently a medical intern at the Spanish Town
Hospital which provides health services to some of the most rapidly
growing communities in Jamaica. While at UWI, he served as Vice
President and Cultural Events and Activities Coordinator of his medical
class while volunteering in the class’ Peer Teaching Programme. Tariq
currently provides volunteer medical services at community-based health
events and is a part-time quiz coach at his alma mater, Wolmer’s Boys
School. For relaxation, Tariq enjoys dancing, listening to music and
cooking. He has received awards in Kung Fu and also enjoys basketball
and swimming. Tariq is passionate about Neuroscience and aspires to
become a Neurosurgeon. He believes in the capacity of stem cell research
to revolutionize the treatment of neurological disease and other
medical disorders. He also desires to influence educational and public
health sector reform in Jamaica.
Ashley Pople
St Cyprian’s School, Cape Town, 2015
Current place of residence: Cape Town
University: University of Cape Town (UCT)
Current/recent course: BComm Hons in Economics (2014) / BComm Politics, Philosophy and Economics (2013)
Other Information: In 2013, Ashley earned her BComm PPE with
distinction, and she was awarded the Hirsch Zitron Memorial Book Prize
for placing first in third-year Economics. She is currently completing
her Honours in Economics at the University of Cape Town and is the Tutor
Coordinator for the School of Economics, for which she oversees 90
tutors for undergraduate courses. Ashley is also a keen mountaineer and
has summited both Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Elbrus. She had also led the
outreach branch of the UCT Mountain and Ski Club (Siyenyuka), and she
has shared her mountain passions with a high school Environmental Club
based in one of the largest townships in Cape Town. These bi-monthly
hikes have entrenched her long-term commitment to socio-economic and
institutional development in Southern, Central and Francophone Africa.
Jessica Price
South Africa-at-large, 2015
Current place of residence: Johannesburg
University: University of Cape Town
Current/recent course: MBChB (Bachelor's degree in Medicine and Surgery)
Other information: Jessica
completed her MBChB with distinction at the University of Cape Town
(UCT), and will begin her medical internship at Chris Hani Baragwaneth
Hospital in January 2015. She is also busy with a Masters in Public
Health at UCT. She was Vice President of the UCT Students Representative
Council, and subsequently Vice President of SHAWCO Health - a
student-run NPO which operates primary-care clinics in underprivileged
communities around Cape Town. Her passion for politics and public policy
stems from her longstanding involvement in debating, having represented
South Africa at the World Schools Debating Championships in 2006 &
2007, and sitting on the organising committee to host the competition in
Cape Town in 2012. At Oxford she plans to read for a DPhil in
Population Health.
Nomfundo Ramalekana
South Africa-at-Large, 2015
Current place of residence: Johannesburg, South Africa
University: University of Pretoria
Current/recent course: LLB (Bachelor of Laws)
Other information: Nomfundo finished her LLB (Bachelor
of Laws) at the University of Pretoria in 2013. During her studies at
the University of Pretoria, she served on the University’s
Constitutional Tribunal, the Faculty of Law’s Moot and Debating Society
as well as its Legal Sheeben. Nomfundo did a supervised internship at
the Institute for Comparative Law in Africa, researching use of force
policy by law enforcement officials and the protection of the right to
life in Africa. She also did an internship at the Department of Women,
Children and People with Disabilities, conducting workshops on
children's rights in South Africa. She is currently a candidate attorney
at Bowman Gilfillan Inc. and volunteers at a Refugee Clinic in
Braamfontein, Johannesburg.
William Rathje
Washington, 2015
University: University of Puget Sound
Other information: William J. Rathje, Lake Oswego, Oregon, is a senior at the University of Puget Sound where he double majors in Computer Science and English Literature. His talents extend across theater performance, poetry, musical performance and composition, the sciences and applied science. He is a Goldwater Scholar and junior member of Phi Beta Kappa who has done research in proteomics, biochemistry, and computer science. Billy also co-founded a literary magazine for new plays and has developed four iPhone apps. He also composed a full-length musical that was performed by a professional cast in Portland as well as three ten-minute musicals. He is a contributing writer to USA Today College and has a peer-reviewed publication in computer science.
Arfa Rehman
Falcon Scholar, United Arab Emirates, 2015
Current place of residence: Abu Dhabi, UAE
University: New York University Abu Dhabi
Current/recent course: B.A. Social Research and Public Policy and Visual Arts
Other information: Originally from India, Arfa was
raised by her mother in Saudi Arabia. Arfa is currently studying Social
Research and Public Policy and Visual Arts at New York University Abu
Dhabi where she has compiled a 4.0 official GPA. An active volunteer,
Arfa is on the leadership board of the Women’s Leadership Network at NYU
Abu Dhabi, has taught art and IT classes in Bangalore for the last four
summers, and taught English at the Somali Cultural Center in Abu Dhabi.
She is also a graphic designer and co-founder of The Design Collective
at NYU Abu Dhabi, and has had her artwork exhibited in the UAE, Saudi
Arabia, and France. Arfa is currently researching entrepreneurial
activity and related policies in the UAE, and intends to study
Comparative Social Policy at Oxford.
Friederike Reuter
Germany, 2015
Current place of residence: Boston, MA
University: Harvard University
Current/recent course: Bachelor of Arts in Economics
Other Information: Friederike graduated from Harvard
University in May 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude in
economics. Since then, she has been working at Cornerstone Research, an
economic consulting firm, on expert testimony in litigation. At Harvard
and at economic research institutes, Friederike conducted research in
labor economics and wrote her thesis on the long-term effects of
graduating high school in a poor labor market. She was elected early to
Phi Beta Kappa and spent a semester studying abroad in Southern France.
Outside of the classroom, she was part of the organizing committee of
several conferences and served as a Peer Advising Fellow for Harvard
freshmen. Friederike also enjoyed playing golf on the Harvard varsity
women's golf team and on a competitive international level and is an
avid runner.
Sanya Samtani
India, 2015
Current place of residence: Bangalore
University: NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
Current/recent course: B.A. LL.B. (Hons.)
Other Information: Sanya will complete her B.A. LL.B. in
early 2015. Her primary area of interest lies at the intersection of
public international law, constitutional law and critical theory. Having
been a teaching assistant for public international law and
constitutional law, she envisages a career in academia. Whilst in
NALSAR, she served as senior editor of the NALSAR Student Law Review;
editor of the Indian Journal of Intellectual Property Law, having edited
a special issue on the Global South, and student editor of ILSA's
International and Comparative Law Quarterly. Furthermore, she has been
on the organizing committees of the NALSAR Film Festival and the NALSAR
Inter Varsity Debating Championship. Apart from being an avid reader,
she enjoys Kathak, parliamentary debating, football and is keen on
learning about her roots through oral histories.
Tayo Sanders II
Wisconsin, 2015
University: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Other information: Tayo A. Sanders II, Neenah, is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where he majors in Materials Science. A Goldwater Scholar, he has done extensive research, with many publications and presentations, particularly in nanotechnology, and has presented at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society, where he will present again next year. He has also done research in the nanomaterials lab at the University of Strasbourg in France. Tayo is a mentor and leader of a program for minority students, and does community outreach for STEM careers. He is also a triathlete, and co-captain of a triathlon team.
Aven Satre Meloy
Montana, 2015
University: Santa Clara University
Other information: Aven P. Satre Meloy, Helena, graduated summa cum laude from Santa Clara University in 2013 with majors in Political Science and Environmental Science, and a minor in International Studies. He won the graduation award for the top male graduate in scholarship, character and leadership. He won a Fulbright Scholarship to Turkey, and is now a White House intern working in the office of Energy and Climate Change. While at Santa Clara, he developed its first university-wide honor code, served as Chief Justice in the judicial branch of student government, and led efforts to raise awareness about sexual violence. He is passionate about the profound social, political and economic challenges posed by environmental change.
Christopher Sharwood
Zimbabwe, 2015
Current place of residence: Harare, Zimbabwe
University: University of Exeter
Current/recent course: BSc Mathematics with Finance
Other information: Christopher is in his final year of
his undergraduate degree in Mathematics with Finance at the University
of Exeter. He enjoys playing sports and is the Vice-Club Captain of the
University of Exeter Water Polo Club; he also enjoys cycling and scuba
diving. Christopher also has a keen interest in the environment,
dedicating at least a month of his time of every year to working with
underprivileged communities, he recently returned from Madagascar where
he worked for an environmental program where he was involved in
educating the local community. Chris plans to pursue his studies in
finance and mathematics and to be actively involved in pursuing
international investment opportunities for Zimbabwe.
Rachel Skokowski
California-North, 2015
University: Princeton University
Other information: Rachel A. Skokowski, Palo Alto, is a senior at Princeton University majoring in French. She has a deep commitment to making the arts more relevant and accessible in the modern world. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa, she has a superb academic record across the humanities and a commitment to forge strong connections between art museums and local communities, especially to expose underprivileged children to museums and to the beauty of art. She has curated or interned at the Morgan Library and Museum, the Princeton Art Museum and for the Santa Fe Arts Commission, and is a Behrman Undergraduate Fellow. She is also a three season (year-round) varsity cross country and varsity track athlete. Her career aspirations are to push the boundaries of art curation.
Mansi Sood
India, 2015
Current place of residence: Bangalore, India
University: National Law School of India University, Bangalore
Current/recent course: Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) (Hons.) (Integrated)
Other Information: Mansi is a final year student of
law and will graduate in June, 2015. Her interest lies in commercial
law, with a primary focus on arbitration and intellectual property law.
Currently serving as the Chief Editor of the National Law School of
India Review, Mansi has helped in organising the Annual Symposium for
the past three years. She has participated in several national and
international moot court competitions and recently won the 5th
International ADR Mooting Competition at Hong Kong. Besides mooting,
Mansi also enjoys parliamentary debating and writing. A trained Kathak
dancer, she likes to play sports, particularly badminton. Mansi
envisages a career that combines legal practice with academia/policy
work and is keen on exploring commercial law as a tool to bring about a
change in India’s social landscape.
Bernard Soubry
Maritimes, 2015
Current place of residence: Sackville, NB
University: Mount Allison University
Current/recent course: BA English Literature and Anthropology
Other information: After completing a Bachelor’s
degree in English Literatures and Anthropology from Mount Allison
University in 2013, Bernard became apprenticed to the craft of
small-scale organic farming; he has since learned to grow vegetables and
chase down chickens across Canada. He is committed to the study of
small, resilient, joyful community systems that promote food sovereignty
and sustainability. He is a member of Tintamarre, a bilingual theatre
collaborative, and has worked on- and off-stage to engage with Maritime
communities on a variety of social, political, and cultural issues. In
addition to his interests in climate change research, indigenous-settler
relations in Canada, and ecofeminism, Bernard is the co-founder of Chez
Soubry et White, a Sackville-based croissanterie, and considers himself
a fairly proficient knitter.
Benjamin Sprung-Keyser
Massachusetts, 2015
University: Harvard University
Other information: Benjamin D. Sprung-Keyser, Los Angeles, California, is a senior at Harvard University concentrating in Economics. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa as a junior, and with a perfect academic record, his interests focus on labor economics, and particularly issues relating to unemployment. His two-man team won the 2014 World Universities Debating Championship and in 2013, he was the youngest national champion ever of the American Parliamentary Debate Association. Ben won the Young Playwrights Inc. National Playwriting Competition; his play was performed in New York City in 2012. He organized a program to teach debate skills to disadvantaged students in Boston, a program that has been expanded to students in China. He is research assistant to Professor Larry Summers, and for the president of the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Amy Steinepreis
Western Australia, 2015
Current place of residence: Perth, Western Australia
University: The University of Western Australia
Current/recent course: Master of International Journalism
Other Information: Amy completed a Bachelor of Arts
with First Class Joint Honours in English and Italian Studies, and
Cognate Honours in French Studies. She was the recipient of numerous
prizes throughout her studies, including the J.A. Wood Prize for most
outstanding graduand of the year at UWA. Amy presented her
Kantian-inspired thesis at New York University and has travelled to
Canada, England and Italy to present literature papers. As Ambassador
for the Ride to Conquer Cancer, Amy developed the WACE Workshops to
fundraise for Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. At Oxford
University Amy seeks to write, expand on her languages and enjoy dance,
theatre, tennis and cycling. Multilingualism has always been her
academic passion, as Amy’s ultimate aim is to engage in cultural
diplomacy on behalf of Australia.
Matthew Townsend
Connecticut, 2015
University: Yale University
Other information: Matthew J. Townsend, Chappaqua, New York, is a senior at Yale University majoring in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. Elected as a junior to Phi Beta Kappa, he has a perfect academic record across the sciences, economics, and Latin. Matt has complemented his work in medical sciences with deep interests in the psychology of health, the history of disease, and the social networks that affect health, and has a particular interest in the socio-cultural, environmental and biological roots of obesity-related diseases. He is also a two-year starter on the Yale Varsity Basketball Team, where he won the award as the top defensive player, and a volunteer, shift-leader and then co-coordinator of the Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project's Bringing Relief Every Day project.
Alexander von Klemperer
KwaZulu-Natal, 2015
Current place of residence:
University: University of Cape Town
Current/recent course: Medicine and Surgery
Other Information: Alex is a medical doctor with a keen
interest in neurology, who plans to study Neuroscience at Oxford. After
matriculating as dux student from Kearsney college he attended medical
school at the University of Capetown. He graduated with first-class
honours, winning a number of subject prizes. He recently completed his
internship at Chris Hani-Baragwanath hospital. He is focused on
clinical research, having worked on projects in both the Hatter
cardiovascular laboratory and the stroke unit at Grooteschuur hospital.
He continues to drive research intended to inform clinical practice.
Throughout medical school he devoted much time to SHAWCO, a student run
health clinic and remains passionate about projects promoting wellness
in South Africa. In his spare time he enjoys running,cycling and is a
voracious reader.
Colin Walmsley
Prairies, 2015
Current place of residence: New Hampshire, USA
University: Dartmouth College
Current/recent course: BA Anthropology and Government
Colin Walmsley, of Fort Macleod, Alberta, is in the final year of a
four year double major Arts program in Government and Anthropology at
Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA. A top tier high school
age rugby player in Alberta he has continued this sport at Dartmouth as a
starter and "Academic All-American" playing Center for the "First
Fifteen" varsity team Ivy League Champions in 2013 and 2014. He is also
an a capella bass and local rock radio personality, and
student documentary film creator, at Dartmouth. He hopes to continue
his anthropological study at Oxford University and, longer term, to work
as an advocate for human social justice and fairness.
Sarah Westwood
South African College School, Newlands, 2015
Current place of residence: Cape Town, South Africa
University: University of Cape Town
Current/recent course: Master of Arts (Psychological Research)
Other Information: In 2013, Sarah graduated from the
University of Cape Town (UCT) with a first class honours degree in
Psychology. Currently, she is working toward an MA in Psychological
Research at UCT. Her dissertation focuses on how a child’s relationship
with their grandparents impacts their experience of psychosocial
stressors. Sarah has worked as a senior mentor in the Humanities faculty
at UCT, helping students to navigate the stressful transition from
school to university. She is also involved in the leadership of the
youth ministry at her church. In her spare time Sarah enjoys attending
ballet classes and reading biographies. Sarah hopes that her work will
contribute to the transformation of higher education institutions in
South Africa so that they continue to meet the changing needs of
society.
Andrew Wheeler
Australia-at-large, 2015
Current place of residence: Melbourne, Australia
University: University of Melbourne
Current/recent course: Bachelor of Commerce (Honours), Diploma in Mathematical Science
Other information: Andrew completed a Bachelor of
Commerce with First Class Honours and a Diploma in Mathematical Sciences
at the University of Melbourne, graduating as Valedictorian in 2012. He
currently works as a management consultant at L.E.K. Consulting. While
at university, he was President of the Financial Management Association
of Australia, the largest commerce student association in Australia, and
co-founded a charity that donates used computer equipment to remote
schools in the Northern Territory. Andrew has a passion for economic
development, with a particular focus on child health and education in
the Asia-Pacific, and recently led a research team in rural Papua New
Guinea to investigate the key drivers of child malnutrition. He also
enjoys athletics, and has represented Victoria in triple jump at
national championships.
Emily Witt
Colorado, 2015
University: Stanford University
Other information: Emily E.
Witt, Greenwood Village, is a Human Biology major at Stanford
University, minoring in Psychology. Her interest in neuroscience has led
her to research the immunomodulatory mechanisms of vitamin D in
multiple sclerosis and neurofeedback as a therapeutic intervention for
autism. As a passionate human rights advocate, Emily has served as the
president of Stanford Amnesty International and has worked to promote
health care in impoverished communities in Central America. This past
summer she investigated the social determinants of chronic malnutrition
in rural Guatemala. In her free time, she volunteers as a Spanish
interpreter for a free health clinic in Northern California and enjoys
cycling, running and kayaking.
Alexa Yakubovich
Prairies, 2015
Current Place of Residence: Winnipeg, Manitoba
University: University of Manitoba, University of Oxford
Current Courses: BA Psychology (Hons), MSc Evidence-Based Social Intervention
Other information: Alexa was named University of Manitoba
Gold Medallist in 2013. Having achieved this top standing in her BA in
Psychology, she went on to complete the MSc in Evidence-Based Social
Intervention from Oxford, with Distinction, this September. For years a
volunteer in various social justice and public health causes, she is
currently a research assistant in the University of Manitoba Social
Justice Laboratory, working on strategies to spur public support for
improved water and sanitation services for First Nations on behalf of a
consortium of groups, including the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and
Amnesty International Canada. She hopes to pursue doctoral work in
Social Intervention at Oxford, leading ultimately to a research and
teaching career focused on the social determinants of child health and
well-being.
Sarah Yerima
California-South, 2015
University: Princeton University
Other information: Sarah E. Yerima, Los Angeles, is a senior at Princeton University where she majors in Sociology. Much of her scholarly work relates to what she describes as the fallacy of post-racialism in the United States, and framed by her own and her family’s experiences, her grandparents’ in the rural south, and hers in an all-black neighborhood in Los Angeles and finally in the privilege of Princeton. Her senior thesis is on the evolution of colorblindness in American jurisprudence and the perpetuation of racial inequality. Sarah has an exceptional academic record across the social sciences at Princeton, has been active as a peer and residential college advisor and as a women’s mentor, and is a member of the Behrman Undergraduate Society of Fellows. She also studied in Brazil where she investigated racial prejudice in a different historical context.
Geoffrey Yeung
Hong Kong, 2015
Current place of residence: Hong Kong
University: The University of Hong Kong
Current/recent course: Postgraduate Certificate in Laws
Other information: Geoffrey graduated from the
Bachelor of Business Administration / Bachelor of Laws double-degree
programme at The University of Hong Kong. Outside studies, he is
passionate towards human rights, social justice and civil society. In
particular, he has held office in a number of LGBTQ rights organisations
in Hong Kong. His advocacy efforts has spanned from research projects
to political lobbying, and from the local legislature to international
human rights treaty bodies. He aspires to become a human rights lawyer
in Hong Kong, to advance civil rights and liberties, as well as to
continue to stand with various disadvantaged and marginalized groups in
making their voices heard in society. In his spare time, he enjoys
travelling and has an appetite for street food, music and films.
Gabriel Zucker
New York, 2015
University: Yale University
Other information: Gabriel M. Zucker, Brooklyn, graduated from Yale in 2012 summa cum laude with majors in Ethics, Politics and Economics, as well as in Music. He won many major awards for character and service as well as scholarship. After Yale, he worked at the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty “Action Lab,” conducting fieldwork in Pakistan and Indonesia. For the past year, he has been associate director of the Connecticut Heroes Project, a campaign to end veteran homelessness in Connecticut. He had run Yale’s Hunger and Homelessness Action Project as an undergraduate. Gabriel is also a highly accomplished musician and composer. He is a professional pianist, bandleader, singer-songwriter, and producer. He played the piano at Carnegie Hall, and a work he composed for symphony orchestra and big band premiered at Carnegie Hall in 2012.