ATF Scholars

2020

Karina AvalosTufts University

Karina’s passion for the environment has taken her to Tufts University, where she is focusing on environmental science. She plans to create innovative solutions for the problems impacting our planet, taking advantage of every opportunity along the way. She graduated from Chelsea High School. Karina’s parents immigrated to the US from El Salvadore and Honduras.

Nazira CalhounUMass Lowell

Nazira insists that hard work does not have to be boring. She is constantly looking to put a creative twist in her projects, and sees those opportunities in the field of engineering. Nazira aims to make basic mechanical engineering experience available to low-income communities. She is excited to study mechanical engineering at UMass Lowell.

Kitty-Anne DubuissonMassachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Kitty-Anne Dubuisson follows her passions toward a greater understanding of the world. She graduated from North Quincy High School with dual passions for the biological sciences and social activism. Kitty-Anne attends Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and aims to become a physician and a community leader. She’s a broad-minded, driven, and persuasive young adult.

Brianna FelicianoTufts University

Brianna is determined to inspire other Latinx scholars to pursue careers in the STEAM field (science, technology, engineering, and math, with an arts component). She is a graduate of The Winsor School and at Tufts University plans to major in mechanical engineering with a minor in engineering education. She’s excited by Tufts's Society of Latinx Engineers and the Association of Latin American Students.

Marlen GalanUMass Lowell

Marlen embraces a challenge. While studying biology at UMass Lowell, furthering her career goals in orthopedic surgery, she hopes to increase Latinx female representation in STEM subjects.

Lana GihaBryn Mawr College

Lana is aiming to become a cardiologist and position herself to serve the less fortunate within her community. She’s a graduate of Malden High School, pursuing her degree at Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania, and a strong advocate for sharing knowledge and skills.

Amira YahyaBay Path University

Amira does not let her life circumstances hold her back. At Bay Path University, Massachusetts, she plans to major in interior design. She’s a graduate of Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, where she was student council vice president, excelled in sports, and won multiple awards. Amira is passionate about architecture, drafting, and carpentry and has helped rebuild homes destroyed by a hurricane in North Carolina. She’s a youth peer leader in Mothers for Justice and Equality, a nonprofit working to end neighborhood violence.

2019

Malu AndradeUMass Amherst

Malu is an intelligent, motivated young woman who cares deeply about her community and environment. Wise beyond her years, Malu believes in working hard to build the future she wishes to see. She will be attending UMass Amherst this fall and plans to pursue a degree in Civil Engineering and Business where she can learn technical and real world skills to help build energy efficient and ecological sustainable buildings.

Deedee HernandezDartmouth College

Deedee graduated as the valedictorian for Chelsea High School’s Class of 2019 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and will be attending Dartmouth College this fall to pursue Environmental Science. Deedee is an exceptional student who works hard and cares deeply about others. She possesses a zest for learning and never stops pushing herself out of her comfort zone to meet a standard higher than what is expected of her.

Beshair NurhussienClark University

Beshair is an intelligent, caring, driven, sincere, and incredibly hardworking student. She is a graduate of Worcester Technical High School and will be attending Clark University this fall. Her dream is to become a doctor and is committed to working hard to transform her dream into a reality. She is also committed to teaching children Arabic and Islamic studies at her mosque and is a Sunday School teacher at the Worcester Islamic Center.

Ezequiel NunezFitchburg State University

Ezequiel is a hardworking, enthusiastic, and generous student who is dedicated to strengthening his community by promoting equality among his peers. Ezequiel emigrated three and a half years ago from the Dominican Republic; and has written a thoughtful story weaving memories of family traditions with his transition to the American life. Ezequiel’s dream is to be a doctor and will be attending Fitchburg State University this fall to study Biology.

2018

Carla Duran CapellanMiddlesex Community College

Carla Duran is a student at Middlesex Community College and a 2016 graduate of Lowell High School. As a young woman who immigrated to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic five years ago, she was a shy high school student still mastering English, and transformed herself into an outgoing, confident powerhouse winning a statewide award for her work mentoring students on civic education and action. She also presented at the Massachusetts State House and at the Boston Book Festival as an co-author of a student written book on the key Supreme Court cases, Federal laws, and concepts essential to American diversity. She is also a co-author of the book “Defining Diversity”, an alumna of the Student Leadership board for Generation Citizen, and a participant of the Obama Foundation: Training Young Leaders. [more..]

Become an ATF Scholar

If you are a purposeful high-schooler, want to make a difference in our world, give more than you receive, and also appreciate the simple joys of teenage life, we would love to hear from you.