Class of 2018-2019

Alisha Nguyen:
Alisha is a biology major and was valedictorian of her high school. She is an undergraduate researcher for the Baker Lab and her volunteer work includes Seattle Children’s Hospital, YMCA Soccer of Tri-Cities, and Mount Adams Summer Leadership Camp. Alisha is the captain of UW Women’s Club Soccer and has been involved with several organizations on campus including ASUW, Alpha Epsilon Delta, and Choose Love UW.

Arica Schuett:
Arica is an international studies major who demonstrates the ability to perceive the underlying issues faced by certain populations. Through her leadership in the UW Model UN club and FIUTS-MUSI, Arica shows a strong willingness to interact with other cultures and maintain a caring and supportive relationship with those she serves. Arica is inspired by the confidence and energy that she gains through her work, and aims to enhance her educational and professional experience.

Azelle Bahadory:
Azelle currently studies linguistics and international studies. As a cryptologic linguist through the US Navy in Afghanistan, Azelle aimed to develop a relationship of trust and kindness with the locals, and valued interaction carried out not within the surface, but through respect for others and the embrace of cultural and social differences. She demonstrated leadership and serving others through programs such as the Husky Leadership Certificate Program and Capitol Hill Housing.

Betz Mayer:
Betz is a UW Honors student majoring in Russian language and literature and international studies. She also minors in arctic studies and studied abroad in Moldova. Some of her many accomplishments include being a student research fellow for the International Solutions Group and United Nations Population Fund. She was an editor of the Jackson School Journal of International Studies and a recipient of the Mortar Board Tolo Foundation Eleanor M. Hadley Scholarship.

Emma Earl:
Emma is a neurobiology and biochemistry major and is pursuing minors in chemistry and global health. She is an undergraduate researcher in the Doherty lab, where she studies mutations affecting the cilia of cells. She has also travelled to Ghana to work as a healthcare intern with a local NGO and subsequently completed her Capstone Project based on this work.

Ethen Whattam:
Ethen is a passionate environmentalist and ecologist who has worked with the UW Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to study coastal wetland ecosystems and the health of seabird populations. His other activities include being an undergraduate researcher, the treasurer for the American Fisheries Society, and the communications director for the University of Washington Shellfish Farm.

Jinyoung Oh:
Jin is a computer science major and a neural computation and engineering trainee. She has competed with UW’s cybersecurity and cyberdefense teams, which won prizes for their work. Jin was the secretary of the Golden Key Honor Society and tutors/mentors various groups in the community.

Marysia Radka:
Marysia majors in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology and has an associate’s degree from Bellevue College. Her mission is “to research the beauty and complexity encompassed by the biological sciences, pursue scientific discovery, and take part in interdisciplinary collaboration to improve the human condition with integrity through science and community service”. In addition to co-directing “Młodzi Polanie”, a youth Polish folk dance group, she is a scout master for The Polish Scouting and Guiding Association.

Melissa Hedwall:
Melissa majors in communications and minors in political science. She writes for The Daily of The University of Washington and in addition to her involvement in Mortar Board, she is a student mentor for the UW Dream Project and volunteered as a justice organizer for Puget Sound Sage. Melissa is also the PR officer for the UW Association of Women in Communication.

Nicole Stankovic:
Nicole majors in piano performance under the tutelage of Dr. Robin McCabe at the UW School of Music. She is a pre-med student who does research for Dr. Frederick Matsen at UW Medicine’s Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. In addition to volunteering at Seattle Children’s Hospital and UW Medical Center’s Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Nicole presented a TED talk in 2013 at TedXChange Park City. She was a state president and a national officer candidate for the organization, HOSA Future Health Professionals. Having played piano for over almost fifteen years, she has won numerous competitions and performed at venues including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.

Priya Uppal:
Priya Uppal is an outstanding student majoring in both biology and international studies. She cares deeply for the communities around her, and demonstrates her care through her leadership and service. She has served as Co-President of GlobeMed, has led a dynamic team of individuals in biology research, volunteers at Seattle Children’s Hospital, and has taught weekly lectures for experienced Dream Project mentors.

Ricky Perry:
Ricky is currently studying business administration in finance and international studies. From his involvement in the UW Active Readers Club to the Husky Global Affairs Program, Ricky has a strong desire to develop crucial analytical skills within students and help them discern the significance of various phenomena. One of his many passions is to understand the “institutional why’s” of how our society functions and apply them to address contemporary issues.

Satchel Smidt:
Satchel studies finance, with a focus on new developments such as blockchain technology. In high school, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Satchel has continued to display dedication to serving others by volunteering and working as a member and officer for several other RSOs.

Talitha Anderson:
Talitha is studying public health and is part of the Seattle Children’s Research Institute. Her involvement in the Genesis Project to prevent the trafficking of women has enabled her to see the value of assistance and support as mechanisms to uplift others. As exemplified by her experiences as a volunteer firefighter, she is fiercely dedicated to serving her community and believes in the centrality of service to raise up vulnerable populations.

Kira Evitts:
Kira is a bioengineering major who does Alzheimer’s Research in the Young Lab and is hoping to pursue a career in regenerative medicine research. She is a part of the UW Bioengineers Without Borders Club where she is working on building an acoustic mosquito trap to help advance malaria research in Uganda. Kira also works as a CLUE Math Tutor and is active in the UW choir.