This past school year, 88 Act Six scholars from underrepresented communities in Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota graduated from college. These scholars earned degrees from 17 colleges in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest, graduating together with records of distinguished leadership, service, and academic achievement. The newest Act Six graduates are listed below, along with their degrees and high schools:
Augsburg University
Alondra Alamilla Benitez, B.A. Film (Robbinsdale Cooper High School)
Drew Gross, B.A. Communication Studies (Edison Senior High School)
Hamza Hassan, B.A. Management Information Studies (Edina High School)
Hafsa Hassan, B.A. Psychology (North High School)
Bethany Lutheran College
Naomi Adeniyi-Akins, B.A. Business Administration (Roseville Area High School)
Beza Leticho, B.A. Business Administration (Highland Park Senior High School)
Ashima Moua, B.A. Legal Studies & Criminal Justice (John A Johnson High School)
Clever Nieto Lazo, B.A. Business Administration & Psychology (De La Salle High School)
Bethel University
Tania Acevedo Garcio, B.A. Social Work (Washington Technology Magnet High)
Esther Adeniyi, B.A. Community Health (Roseville Area High School)
Ayomide Adesanya, B.A. Social Work (Harding High School)
Christina Castaneda, B.A. Special Education (Cristo Rey Jesuit High School)
Meshe Ford, B.A. Business (Roseville Area High School)
Talia McWright, B.A. Journalism (Roseville Area High School)
Htoo Paw, B.A. Elementary Education K-6 (Central High School)
Brianna Vang, B.S.N. Nursing (John A Johnson High School)
Youssef Abdallah, B.A. Business (Roseville Area High School)
Concordia College
Patience Kollie, B.A. Business (Champlin Park High School)
Jimena McMerty-Brummer, B.S.N. Nursing (Benilde-St Margaret’s High School)
Oriana Penaloza Ortega, B.A. Computer Science (Burnsville Senior High School)
Corban University
Tihana Alik, B.S. Counseling Psychology (Mckay High School)
Gabriela Azcorra-Uicab, B.A. Media Arts (Jefferson High School)
Isabel Cota, B.S. Biology (Mckay High School)
Elamny Hernandez, B.A. Political Science (Forest Grove High School)
Emely Medina, B.A. Forensic Psychology (Mcnary Senior High School)
Esmeralda Perez-Interian, B.S. Business Administration (Madison Hs At Marshall Campus)
Lidia Valdez R., B.S. Education (Mcnary Senior High School)
Rainea Walbridge, B.S. Counseling Psychology (North Salem High School)
Kate Robertson, B.S. Counseling Psychology (Sprague High School)
Yareli Meraz Soto, A.S. Health Science (South Salem Senior High School)
Tiana Williams, A.S. Health Science (Cascade Christian High School)
George Fox University
Rachelle Espinoza Granados, B.S. Biology (Wellness Business & Sports School)
Cheska Magada, B.A. Graphic Design (David Douglas High School)
Sandra Montes, B.A. Studio Arts & Art Administration (South Albany High School)
Diana Tee, B.S.N. Nursing (David Douglas High School)
Peter Tran, B.S.N. Nursing (Centennial High School)
Marake Wondwossen, B.A. Social Work (David Douglas High School)
Gonzaga University
Syvana Arwood, B.A. Psychology (University High School)
Micah Bell, B.S. Biology (University High School)
Elizabeth Figueroa, B.S. Computer Science (Gonzaga Preparatory School)
Analesa Mason, B.A. Sociology/Criminology (Bellarmine Preparatory School)
Aaliyah Mae Lewis, B.A. Communications Studies (Washington High School)
Heritage University
Katarina Berk, B.S. Biology (Sunnyside Senior High School)
Arely Osorio, B.A. Business Administration (Toppenish High School)
North Central University
Sam Somefun, B.S. Information Science (Brooklyn Center High School)
Takia Thomas, B.S. Business Administration (Edison Senior High School)
Rose Vang-Yang, B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies (Tartan Senior High School)
Northwest University
Melanie Egunza, B.S. English (Tahoma Senior High School)
Chris Heredia, B.A. User Experience (Taf At Saghalie)
Dylynne Howser, B.S. Biology (Franklin Pierce High School)
Jasmine Ochoa, B.A. User Experience (Auburn High School)
Esther Uduma, B.S.N. Nursing (Dr Dolores Silas High School)
Oakland City University
Mare Henriquez Vargas, B.S. Business Administration (Ben Davis University High School)
LaMiera Rogers, B.A. Criminal Justice (Heritage Christian School)
Maria Valero, B.A. Communications (North Central High School)
Pacific Lutheran University
Isaiah Lenard, B.A. Sociology (Lincoln High School)
Heven Ambachew, B.A. Individualized Major (Mount Rainier High School)
Evelyn Ayala, B.A. Criminal Justice (Thomas Jefferson High School)
Tafolla Tafolla, B.A. Business Administration (Governor J R Rogers Hs)
Saint Martin’s University
Bernand Mariano, B.S.N. Nursing (Washington High School)
Marissa Escobedo, B.S. Exercise Science (Franklin Pierce High School)
Yuan Angelo Granil, B.A. Psychology & Gender and Identity Studies (Highline High School)
Imahni Hawkins, B.S.W. Social Work (Stadium High School)
Kelene Mandefro, B.S.N. Nursing & Psychology (Garfield High School)
Alisha Saucedo, B.A. Elementary Education (Thomas Jefferson High School)
Taylor University
Vernice Austin, B.S. Biology (Hansberry College Prep)
Thiago Camacho-Camano, B.A. Anthropology & Sociology (Central Christian Academy)
Cullen Carrera, B.A. Film & Media Production (William H Taft High School)
Julissa Castellanos, B.A. Social Work (Heritage Christian School)
Ivanna Davila, B.A. Global Studies (North Central High School)
Victoria Evans, B.A. Communications (Gary Comer College Prep)
Goodness Korrie, B.A. Public Relations (Arsenal Technical High School)
Genesis Mendez Reynoso, B.A. Elementary Education (Ben Davis University High School)
Audrey Hannum, B.S. Human Physiology & Preventive Medicine (Pike High School)
University of Northwestern – St Paul
Luis Hernandez-Cuate, B.A. Psychology (Osseo High School)
Henok Leticho, B.S. Biology (Pre-Med) (Highland Park Senior High School)
Emily Zhicay, B.S. Biology (Washburn Senior High School)
Warner Pacific University
Angela Amaya, B.S. Business Administration (Woodburn Acad Art Science Tech)
Chiarra Bettega, B.S. Digitial Media & Communications (Roosevelt High School)
Ethan Bulisco, B.S. Psychology (Gladstone High School)
Maryhan Ezzat, B.S. Biological Science (Reynolds High School)
Fidel Garcia Morales, B.S.N. Nursing (Mcnary Senior High School)
Abikaila Ki, B.S. SSC Social Science (Reynolds High School)
Whitworth University
Adrian Alvarez, B.A. Sociology & English (Washington High School)
Yemie Bekalu, B.S. Health Science (Joel E Ferris High School)
Emma Fualaau, B.A. Elementary Education (Fife High School)
Adaeze Njoku, B.S. Health Science (Tacoma School of the Arts)
About Act Six
Since 2002, the Act Six program has provided full scholarships and leadership training for emerging young leaders who want to use their college education to make a difference on campus and in their home communities. Over the last two decades, Act Six has trained more than 1,335 scholars from seven cities. Our scholars are 90% students of color, first generation or low-income. Eighty-one percent of Act Six scholars earn their bachelor’s degrees within six years, nearly double the rate for low-income, first-generation students nationwide. More than two-thirds of Act Six alumni are working or serving back in their home communities.
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