2025 Scholar & Alumni Award Recipients and Semi-Finalists
2025 Quinn Prize Recipient - Katya Echazarreta
2016 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar; 2021 Graduate Scholar, Johns Hopkins University
Katya is a 2016 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar and a 2021 Graduate Scholar at Johns Hopkins University where she received her Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering. In 2022, Katya was selected out of 7,000 applicants from over 120 countries for her first mission to Space – becoming the first Mexican woman in Space, and at the time, the youngest American woman in Space. Upon her return, Katya decided to work in Mexico to develop a robust Space infrastructure for the nation. Fundacion Espacial (fundacionespacial.com) is a non-profit organization that aims to provide direct access across different stages of a developing Space Industry. The Foundation operates under the understanding that once the space industry becomes regulated for the nation, those who will benefit the most are those prepared to do so. By providing specialized educational opportunities for not only Mexico but Latin America as a whole, Katya and her team are ensuring the near future involvement of our communities. These opportunities have already impacted over 5,000 individuals directly through two main flagship programs. This program brings international experts from the top Space agencies and companies to Mexico to provide technical expertise and eye-opening perspectives. In November of 2024, the President of Mexico announced Katya’s involvement in what can become the first All Latin American crew on a mission to Space to occur as early as 2027. As Katya shared in her application, “This project is the direct result of almost a year's worth of conversations, negotiations, and agreements where I managed to turn an opportunity being offered to me personally (a general mission) into an opportunity where Mexico could be involved as a nation.”
You can connect with Katya on LinkedIn here.
2025 Undergraduate Scholar Award in Honor of Dennis I. Belcher Recipients
Matthew Werneken
2015 Young Scholar; 2020 College Scholar; 2025 Graduate Scholar, Harvard University
In 2022, Matthew spent the summer building Micro-CHaS, a condensed iteration of the Circumgalactic H-Alpha Spectrograph (CHaS). By turning a fridge-sized instrument into a shoebox-sized package, Matthew and his fellow students made a small, cost accessible instrument for students and amateur observers to analyze kinematics of local universe galaxies. Matthew designed, manufactured, and calibrated the first complete Micro-CHaS prototype, with a successful “first light” observation of the Ring Nebula in Columbia’s rooftop observatory that July. This work encouraged him to take ownership in developing new astronomy instrumentation. A month later in August 2022, Matthew founded a student-led satellite team at Columbia. He recruited 20+ student teammates and developed an initial science concept from the Micro-CHaS prototype and first authored a $300k grant proposal to the NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative by November. This proposal was successfully funded in March 2023, providing a 2027 NASA launch for Columbia’s first student-led satellite. In his own words, Matthew’s life legacy, “will be promoting science literacy, education resources, and pioneering technology for on-orbit science.”
You can connect with Matthew on LinkedIn here.
Dima Yanovsky
2022 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
In 2022, while Dima was adjusting to his new chapter as a transfer student at MIT, he was also watching the war in Ukraine take place in his hometown. After meeting another Ukrainian student at MIT, they co-founded Ukraine Leadership and Technology Academy (ULTA). The purpose of ULTA is to empower and inspire the next generation of Ukrainian leaders by empowering them with technical knowledge, taught by MIT students. Their goal is to equip Ukrainian high schoolers with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to rebuild Ukraine into a thriving, European nation after the war. They’ve successfully completed the first cohort of ULTA, which included 20 students and 5 MIT mentors. Dima is excited to see ULTA continue growing, “Looking ahead 5-10 years, I envision ULTA becoming a well-established program under MIT MISTI's umbrella…My work with ULTA has shaped where I see myself going, both personally and professionally.”
You can connect with Dima on LinkedIn here.
2025 Undergraduate Scholar Award in Honor of Dennis I. Belcher Semi-Finalist
Suhaah Nadir
2021 College Scholar, Vanderbilt University
As the leader of FirstVU, Vanderbilt’s first-generation, low-income (FGLI) student organization, Suhaah works to advance institutional change for FGLI students. Partnering with university administrators, she launched Vanderbilt’s first multilingual support program for parents of FGLI students. With support from the Taylor Education Enhancement Grant, she also created the university’s first faculty-student mentorship program for FGLI students, securing more than $13,000 in funding. Her advocacy extends beyond campus: at the 2024 NASPA and 1vyG conferences, she presented her IRB-approved research on strengthening FGLI support in higher education, offering strategies for sustainable funding and long-term programming.
In addition to this work, Suhaah serves as president of Vanderbilt iLEAD, which supports international students, and co-president of Interaxon, an after-school neuroscience program for students from underserved schools. On campus, she also conducts research on traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer’s disease in the Duff Lab and volunteers at Vanderbilt Hospital.
Suhaah shared, “My experiences as an international student, an orientation leader, and a later advocate for cultural inclusivity in hospital settings have prepared me to continue speaking up for overlooked matters. In the clinic, the hospital, or the ER, I know I will face situations that require going the extra mile. I know there will be patients who do not speak up for themselves. In those times, I want to be their physician, offering understanding and support. I want to be the one taking valuable risks in the hope of systemic change.”
You can connect with Suhaah on LinkedIn here.
2025 Quinn Prize Semi-Finalists
Cecilia Elena Bachmann
2021 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar; 2025 Graduate Scholar, University of California at Los Angeles
Cecilia’s academic and professional path reflects her deep commitment to strengthening trauma-informed care and holistic support for youth reentry. While at Pasadena City College, she partnered with faculty and rallied students to bring the Prison Education Project to campus, creating new opportunities for currently incarcerated students to pursue education and thrive after release. At UC Berkeley, she expanded this work by researching how vulnerable populations are affected by incarceration, reentry, and education. She recognized that, unlike adult reentry programs that focus mainly on housing and jobs, young people need consistent support systems and space for personal growth to succeed long term.
After graduation, Cecilia became the Emerging Adult Workforce & Education Coordinator at the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), where she supported more than 100 young people returning home and launched ARC’s first workforce and education programs—enrolling 72 students within six months. Seeing the need for broader academic opportunities, she went on to design ARC’s first college-readiness program, which helped 128 formerly incarcerated individuals start or return to community college. Most recently, at Los Angeles Room and Board’s Court-to-College Program, she helped establish a new Reentry Hub for youth leaving juvenile halls across Los Angeles County, addressing the critical service gap left after the closure of state-run juvenile facilities.
Cecilia shared her dream for the future, “My ultimate goal is to give others the opportunity to have a choice over their own life and create a better future for themselves as I have been able to.”
You can connect with Cecilia on LinkedIn here.
Charles Ledbetter
2009 Graduate Scholar, University of Cambridge
Inspired by a vision of a society that places its most vulnerable at the center, Charles founded Protect the Heart of the Arts (PTHOTA)—a grassroots network of 120 volunteers across 10 countries. Originally launched as an arts accessibility campaign, PTHOTA has since grown into an international movement advancing accessibility, policy change, and direct aid for disabled and chronically ill individuals. Through advocacy, media campaigns, public events, webinars, and independent reporting, their work has reached over 7 million people worldwide. The movement has shaped national policy—most notably influencing the Welsh Senedd to call for a government-wide chronic illness strategy benefiting 300,000+ people—and improved accessibility at major cultural institutions serving more than 6 million visitors each year. PTHOTA has also provided urgent support, including food, housing, and medicine, to over 100 disabled individuals in crisis.
At its heart, the organization is more than a campaign; it has become a mutual aid network, a policy initiative, and a transnational movement rooted in community care. An organization with the belief that, “The love people feel for the arts—and the cultural influence of media and performers—could be a catalyst for a new way forward.”
You can visit PTHOTA’s website here.
Melissa Osborne
2010 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar; 2013 Graduate Scholar, University of Chicago
Melissa’s work—spanning research, program development, mentorship, and advocacy—focuses on addressing inequities faced by low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students in higher education. They draw on their own experiences alongside qualitative research, policy analysis, and community-engaged approaches to examine and improve higher education systems. A central piece of this mission is their book, Polished: College, Class, and the Burdens of Social Mobility, which explores how selective colleges shape first-generation students and the socio-emotional challenges they navigate.
Through their research and policy work, Melissa has influenced how universities and organizations support students. Their findings have informed initiatives that strengthen mentorship, financial aid, and academic resources, helping to improve student outcomes.
They shared, “Ultimately, my work is not just about research or policy—it is about people. It is about ensuring that students from underrepresented backgrounds are seen, heard, and supported. It is about making higher education more inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the real needs of its students. Every project I undertake, every partnership I form, and every initiative I develop is guided by this fundamental goal: to leave a lasting impact on students and the educational institutions that serve them. This is both my professional aspiration and my personal calling, and I will continue to work toward these goals for as long as I am able.”
You can connect with Melissa on LinkedIn here.
Dalton Price
2016 College Scholar; 2020 Oxford Cambridge Scholar, University of Oxford
Dalton is the founder of Vamos Chamo, a nonprofit that now has a team of ten supporting Venezuelan refugees across the Americas. In July 2024, the team launched a WhatsApp-integrated chatbot that shares vital information with migrants on policies, job opportunities, healthcare, education, crime, xenophobia, and current events. Thousands have already used the tool, which is also being distributed by civil society groups in six countries. By offering free and reliable information, Vamos Chamo helps migrants make informed choices about their futures. Dalton also co-founded Panas en Tabogo, a multimedia platform that amplifies Venezuelan refugee voices through Instagram interviews, a Spotify podcast, and a blog, reaching more than 17,000 people on Instagram alone.
After earning his Ph.D. in Anthropology in February 2025, Dalton became a Professor of Anthropology at the University of Antioquia in Medellín, Colombia. He continues to research Venezuelan migration, is preparing his dissertation for publication as a book, and is working with Colombian universities to host events that spark dialogue and research on this issue.
Dalton shared, “My goal is not only to document the challenges migrants face but also to influence policy, shape public discourse, and create sustainable solutions for Venezuelan communities in Colombia and beyond.”
You can connect with Dalton on LinkedIn here.
Maria Paula Salazar-Valiente
2018 Undergraduate Transfer; 2024 Graduate Scholar, Columbia University
Over the past two years, Paula has spearheaded the design and implementation of the Amnesty Mobile Migrant Hubs in Belize, a first-of-its-kind initiative of the International Organization for Migration–United Nations Migration, supported by USAID. She recognized that migrants in rural Belize—especially those with irregular immigration status—struggle to access vital immigration, consular, and labor services. In response, she created a mobile, community-based model that delivers these resources directly to them. Staffed by trained volunteers and coordinated with local authorities, civil society leaders, and international partners like UNICEF and UNHCR, the hubs have transformed how services are delivered. To date, they have provided over 6,600 consultations, benefiting more than 5,600 migrants with immigration, legal, medical, psychosocial, employment, and identity services.
Beyond immediate services, the hubs have strengthened communities and institutions alike. By equipping local volunteers to run the stations, Paula helped build a network of advocates who continue to support their neighbors. This model has reduced xenophobia, promoted social integration, and encouraged agencies to extend services to rural and remote areas—offering a sustainable approach to migrant support.
Paula said, “Ultimately, my life goal is to forge a legacy that transforms vulnerable lives into empowered futures. The Amnesty Mobile Migrant Hubs stand as a testament to my belief that human rights are not merely lofty ideals but must be realized through deliberate, innovative, and compassionate action.”
You can connect with Paula on LinkedIn here.