Congratulations to Sagyan, our Class of 2019 awardee of the CambridgeSeven STEAM Award as well as a CRLS Core Values Scholarship!  Sagyan is enrolled at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he’ll be majoring in computer science:

“My passion for computer science has stemmed from the ability to be creative and resilient.  I want to become a software developer where I can apply my skills to developing solutions to some of the world’s greatest problems.  I want to be able to create more sustainable solutions to environmental problems through the use of algorithms to track and mitigate ways that we humans are exploiting the Earth.  I believe that any problem can be solved through the use of technology, and computer science has been an outlet for me to use my creative thinking to come up with the most effective solutions to problems.  I have always loved business and entrepreneurship, and so by pursuing computer science in college I will have the skill set to innovate something that can be beneficial to the entire world.”

Congratulations to Fatima, our Class of 2019 awardee of a Dr. David A. Link Scholarship for the Health Professions, enrolled at Bunker Hill Community College, where she’ll be preparing for a career as a radiology technician: 

“I am interested in studying in the medical radiography program at Bunker Hill Community College because it fulfills both my educational and personal goals.  My plan after two years of college is to work as an intern at a hospital to complete my training as a radiology technician.  This will allow me to get a job in my home country, Guinea Bissau, which will help me achieve my personal goal of giving back to my hometown.  I want to help people who suffer from bone injuries because growing up I saw so many people in my home country who broke their bones and never went to the hospital to check what was wrong.”

Congratulations to Prachee, our Class of 2019 awardee of a Rose & Victor Rifkin Family Scholarship, now enrolled at Colby College, where she’ll be studying biochemistry on the path to a career in research: 

“Talking about science brings me boundless joy; I might even say that despite speaking three languages, the language I feel most comfortable talking in is the language of science, especially biology.  The topics in biology, the diversity of the field, how synchronized and organized everything is ― it all has always thrilled me.  The endless possibilities, of treating a disease by tweaking or making slight changes in human cells using the genetic materials from other living organisms for their particular traits, amaze me.  I really like biology because I believe that in this particular field of science I can do so much to make human life better.”

Congratulations to Gassendina, Class of 2019, awardee of our first ever Elaine Schear “Voice of the First Generation” Scholarship for Creative Writing.  Gassendina is enrolled at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she’ll be majoring in international relations with the goal of becoming a U.S. foreign service officer: 

“If we took the time to learn what life is like in other people’s shoes in different parts of the world, we would find some connections with them; we could all stand together united.  That’s what I want to do for a living, restore relationships between nations and restore empathy.  We shouldn’t argue with people and feel diminished once they share a different opinion.  We are sharing our opinions and stories to be enlightened and to enlighten others.”

Congratulations to Nia, our Class of 2019 awardee of the Dr. David A. Link Scholarship for the Health Professions, who is enrolled at Tufts University, where she’ll be studying biomedical engineering with the goal of becoming a research scientist: 

“My career goal is to cure diseases and improve human conditions using engineering and science through drug development research.  I plan to actively work towards changing the current state of inequality in access and availability of life saving drugs.  Differences in wealth or class should not be the difference between life and death.  Another underlying goal I have in working in research and becoming a scientist is to diversify the scientific fields and careers.  I want to not only lead in the innovation of drugs and contribute to a diverse work space and lab but be a leader and example for younger minority scientists.”

Congratulations to Lena, our Class of 2019 recipient of a First Scholars Award now enrolled at Simmons University, on the career path to becoming a radiologist, with a major in biology:

“Being a young black female interested in the field of science, I have had trouble finding role models.  Going to college will provide me with the academic support to partake in many research opportunities.  These opportunities will help me advance and take on greater roles in the science field so that I can be a role model to young women like myself.  I’m also the oldest child in my family, so all three of my siblings look up to me.  This gives me purpose.  I always have to think about what I do because I know that it will affect my siblings.  My siblings are the future.”

Congratulations to Nellisha, our Class of 2019 awardee of a CRLS Core Values Scholarship, who is now enrolled at Howard University, where she will figure out which of her many interests to pursue: 

“I have always been interested in health and business, but since I am torn on whether to pursue one or the other, I want to go into a career that involves both, so a possible major is health administration.  I was also thinking about going into a pre-med program with a concentration in cardiology, because I am very interested in the heart and the way it works.  In terms of business, I have always been interested in handling money and one day I hope to start my own business.” 

We’d like to extend our well wishes to Nellisha’s mom, who is also currently a college student, attending Northeastern University.

Congratulations to Ulrick, our Class of 2019 awardee of the “100 by 100” Cambridge Business Community STEAM Scholarship for Engineering, who is enrolled at Temple University to study mechanical engineering: 

“I have been interested in engineering since I took the introductory class during my freshman year at CRLS.  I just loved the many different possibilities that I could create, the problems I could fix, the challenges presented to me, and the ability to work with different machines through engineering.  For me, it just all sounds like a fun working environment and a job that I would wake up in the morning excited for.”

Congratulations to Anaya, our Class of 2019 awardee of a CRLS Core Values Scholarship, now enrolled at Bucknell University, where she is a Posse Scholar, a member of a group of exceptional student leaders chosen to collaborate in pursuit of solving some of the world’s biggest problems.  Anaya, who is a third generation CRLS graduate, found her passion as a volunteer peer mediator, helping her fellow CRLS students resolve conflicts:

“Legal studies are where I want to further invest my time.  I am interested in becoming a mediator/negotiator for legal disputes between families.  Communication is vital to maintaining a healthy mindset, and to be able to alleviate the stress of others is a very rewarding task.  Each time I mediate, I realize the various ways I can make a difference in someone’s life.”