Meet the Scholars
Since 2005, Scholars from across the United States and Africa have raised awareness and mobilized action in their communities and beyond. As Bezos Scholars, students and educators have inspired change on issues such as mental health awareness, civic engagement, STEM education, environmental issues, refugees and much more.
The Cohorts
See Bezos Scholar cohorts from past years.
African Leadership Academy
Abigail Maina
Student Scholar • Nairobi, Kenya
Abigail grew up in a loving family that taught her the importance of community and the values of kindness, humility and compassion. Inspired by her own experiences, Abigail is passionate about ensuring orphaned children in Kenya live healthy and fulfilled lives. One way she ensures this is by using her knowledge of regenerative farming, a sustainable agricultural practice, to produce fresh vegetables for orphanages to combat malnutrition. At school, Abigail serves as an academic representative on the student council and as a leader for the research student council. Outside of her studies and volunteering, Abigail enjoys watching period films and murder mysteries while crocheting, knitting, or beading. Abigail is eager to collaborate with fellow innovators in the Bezos Scholars program to bring sustainable, community‑led solutions back home.
Anotidaishe Chinyadza
Student Scholar • Mutare, Zimbabwe
With a fierce belief in her generation’s capabilities, Anotidaishe, who goes by Ano, envisions a world transformed by innovative solutions driven by youth. She believes her generation can tackle the planet’s toughest challenges when their creativity is unlocked. Inspired by the untapped potential within the community of young people in her hometown, she launched a science club that provides peer mentorship and exposure to national networks and opportunities, propelling students to participate in global science fairs like the Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition. The workshops she creates for her science club mix design thinking with decoding problems and storytelling. Ano looks forward to joining the Bezos Scholars cohort to sharpen the leadership tools she needs to turn local sparks into a continent‑wide fire while building strong connections along the way.
Elvis Chacha
Student Scholar • Nairobi, Kenya
Raised in Nairobi where neighbors felt like family, Elvis cultivated his values of community and authenticity by engaging with the city’s rich history and culture. His values and upbringing drive his mission to address the wealth disparity by using education — the great equalizer—to lift students beyond their circumstances. Elvis co‑founded In Other Words, KE, a literacy initiative that stocks under‑resourced schools with books. They also host creative learning opportunities that contribute to student growth in reading and critical thinking, already sparking hundreds of new readers. In his free time, he enjoys gardening, listening to music, and exploring his love for aviation. As a Bezos Scholar, Elvis is ready to learn from diverse thinkers, refine his advocacy, and support learners back home.
Lubanzi Mhlonishwa Tsabedze
Student Scholar • Manzini, Kingdom of Eswatini
Lubanzi channels creativity into a mission: to end the youth unemployment crisis in his community. Raised in a neighborhood struggling with high unemployment rates and substance abuse, Lubanzi believes that empowering young people with education and resources is the most effective way to build strong communities. Motivated by this mission, he serves as a leader on his campus, where he revived student clubs after COVID-19 and now hosts regular clean-up drives. Outside of school, Lubanzi enjoys listening to podcasts, singing, acting and playing tennis. Lubanzi is excited to use his experience as a Bezos Scholar to grow as a leader, learn and collaborate with fellow changemakers, and develop solutions that uplift communities through education and entrepreneurship.
Marwa Kriraa
Student Scholar • Ouarzazate, Morocco
Marwa is surrounded by a rich blend of Amazigh and Arab cultures in the south-central region where she grew up. Her exposure to diverse global perspectives influenced her deep appreciation for cultural exchange. She is passionate about creative expression and enjoys theater, public speaking and content creation as ways to express herself and connect with others. She founded the first English‑language storytelling workshop at her youth center and served as a mentor for Girls Leading Our World, a camp that empowers girls to define their dreams and pursue them beyond society’s expectations. Through her work, she believes that storytelling, performance and art have the power to spark meaningful change by fostering empathy and inspiring action. As a Bezos Scholar, she can’t wait to fuse narrative with action and kindle long-term change.
Catherine Delight
Educator Scholar • Mombasa, Kenya
Island roots and Swahili traditions taught Catherine that strong communities are built on collaboration and deeply rooted in heritage, tradition and language. An educator passionate about purpose-driven learning, she blends project management with creativity to re‑engineer classrooms around real‑world problem-solving. Her teaching philosophy incorporates unconventional subjects and innovative learning methods that nurture creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset. When she isn’t encouraging students to think outside of the box, Catherine enjoys singing karaoke, experimenting with new recipes, and swimming. As an educator, she hopes to gain innovative leadership tools and collaborate with like-minded changemakers, ultimately empowering her students to drive meaningful change in their communities.
Adairsville High School
Vivian Reyes-Martinez
Student Scholar • Adairsville, Georgia
As a first‑generation Oaxaqueña, Vivian pairs her civic passion with cultural pride. Whether mentoring younger students through her school’s club, HOPE (Hispanic Organization Promoting Education), which she has led for three years, or staffing the Georgia Department of Education’s Student Advisory Council, she works to ensure rural Latino communities have access to quality educational opportunities. Vivian also represented Georgia as a 2025 US Senate Youth Program delegate and volunteers at Intercultural Fest to showcase the traditions that knit her hometown together. Her mission is to expand Spanish‑language civic resources, so every family knows their rights and wields their voice at the ballot box, to the school board, and beyond. Becoming a Bezos Scholar excites her because it means representing her community and collaborating with peers equally devoted to a more just, compassionate world.
Emily Thompson
Educator Scholar • Adairsville, Georgia
Faith and family guide Emily who is a Spanish teacher, mom of two energetic boys, and recent master’s graduate from the University of Salamanca. A Gainesville native who now calls Cartersville home, she directs community theatre skits and dreams of founding a local stage company that uplifts audiences and performers alike. Emily is also an advocate for mental health awareness and pets who need a loving home. While her children occupy most of her spare moments, she still makes time for puzzles, dog walks and board game nights. Emily is eager to grow new leadership skills through the Bezos Scholars program.
Canandaigua Academy
Lindsey LeTran
Student Scholar • Canandaigua, New York
Moving to different towns across upstate New York taught Lindsey the importance of community and the power of communication. Now settled in a town outside of Rochester, Lindsey is passionate about creating opportunities for stronger social connections across high school students. She serves as the Vice President for the New York State Council on Leadership and Student Activities (NYSCLSA), an opportunity that develops leadership skills in middle and high school students. Lindsey uses her role to represent and advocate for the needs of high school students across New York State. She believes every space can feel welcoming, and measures success by the number of voices she helps amplify. As a Bezos Scholar, she can’t wait to grow alongside her peers and pass on what she’s learned to future leaders in her community.
Ashley Fisher
Educator Scholar • Canandaigua, New York
The fourth of six children from Washington state, Ashley grew up enjoying the Puget Sound with her family. After meeting her husband while he was serving on an aircraft carrier for the US Navy, they settled in Canandaigua, where they are raising two young children. During school hours, Ashley serves as the Counseling Center Secretary and Student Government Advisor, supporting students in academics, finding their voice, and building leadership skills. In her community, Ashley serves on the adult board of the NYSCLSA, volunteers with Unified Sports teams, and takes pride in her role as Vice President of her union. As a Bezos Scholar, Ashley is eager to support her students’ growth and connect with other changemakers to bring back ideas to their community.
Cypress High School
Parsmi Rajput
Student Scholar • Cypress, California
Parsmi, an Indian-American from Toronto now based in suburban Southern California, will serve nearly 3,000 students as a Student Ambassador in the upcoming school year. She sits on the Orange County Youth Council for tobacco-use prevention education and her district’s Community Schools Steering Committee, where she champions youth representation in policymaking. Her mission is to embed financial literacy into everyday learning, helping teens earning their first paychecks take control of their futures with confidence and independence. Also a self-published author of a self-help book now used in some classrooms, Parsmi facilitates mindfulness workshops centered on self-awareness and personal growth. As a Bezos Scholar, she looks forward to connecting with like-minded peers and exploring the intersection of business, storytelling, and leadership—empowering young people to “dream out loud and mean it."
Shelley Hawkins
Educator Scholar • Cypress, California
With a freshly minted National Board Certification, Shelley is proud to have spent the last 26 years in the classroom. Raised by a single mom in Southern California, she now teaches health steps away from the Orange County coast, where the region’s mix of cultures, faiths, and languages shape her lessons on mental wellness and substance abuse prevention. Shelley advises Friday Night Live, a program focused on building positive and healthy habits, coordinates her school district’s tobacco‑use education and prevention work, and is in doctorate in educational leadership—all while cheering on three children ages 23, 18, and 16. Her mantra: Equip students with the knowledge and resilience to thrive long after graduation. As a Bezos Educator Scholar, Shelley is excited to grow alongside her student Scholar and bring new research‑backed strategies to the classroom.
Eastern High School & Northeast Regional Library
Mariam Kandel
Student Scholar • Louisville, Kentucky
Mariam, an Egyptian immigrant who has called Louisville home since the age of nine, draws strength from her mother’s resilience and the tight circle of friends who have shown her what community really means. That support fuels her mission: to shatter the stigma that refugees and immigrants face around mental health. At her local public library, she serves on the Teen Advisory Board, and at school, she’s the Y-Club Service Chair, organizing drives that turn classmates into change agents. Mariam dreams of a medical career that brings culturally sensitive care to underserved regions—and a world where newcomers are seen, heard, and healed. She’s thrilled to join the Bezos Scholars cohort to refine her leadership voice, swap ideas with like-minded peers, and translate fresh insights into hope for Louisville and beyond.
Tonya Swan
Educator Scholar • Louisville, Kentucky
Between morning rides on her horse Dolly, fetch sessions with her rescue dog Max, and spending time with family, Tonya founded the Northeast Teen Advisory Board at the Louisville Free Public Library. In her role, she coaches students to program everything from author talks to community impact projects. She also organizes an annual community event called the Greatest Day of Play, which draws 2,500 children and families to engage in and enjoy outdoor games, hands‑on art, and imaginative performances. Tonya’s mission is to advocate and make spaces for young women to have “seats at the table” — to be heard, valued, and confident. As a Bezos Scholar, she’s thrilled to join Mariam on a journey of fresh ideas, new people, and deeper self‑discovery that will strengthen the next generation of female leaders back home.
Governor Thomas Johnson High School
Jeslyn Kamga
Student Scholar • Frederick, Maryland
A proud Cameroonian American, Jeslyn Kamga is passionate about inspiring her peers to celebrate their culture and upbringing through connecting with one another. Growing up, Jeslyn worked to find ways to share her identity by staying involved in opportunities that positively impacted the community and through storytelling. At school, she serves as an International Club officer and is responsible for planning an international night, which showcases the beauty of the cultures represented in her school through performances and delicious food. Jeslyn also likes to express herself through photography and drawing. As a Bezos Scholar, Jeslyn looks forward to sharpening her leadership toolkit and learning how other changemakers turn personal identity into community strengths.
Natalie St. Fleur
Educator Scholar • Frederick, Maryland
Natalie is proud of her Haitian and African-American roots and has always viewed culture as a catalyst for connection. Whether she’s exploring culture through food and language or conversations over long walks, she finds ways to get to know and celebrate her community. As a chemistry teacher, she brings global curiosity into labs that make science feel welcoming to all learners. In her classroom, Natalie designs experiments that pair rigor with real‑world relevance to develop lifelong learning habits. Outside of the classroom, she advises the school’s International Club, whose annual International Night showcases the vibrancy of the cultures represented at the school. Outside of the classroom, she is an avid runner, training for her first half‑marathon. As a Bezos Educator Scholar, Natalie is eager to support her student and expand her toolbox of skills in community engagement.
John Bowne High School
Sally Awuku
Student Scholar • Flushing, New York
As a Ghanaian‑American, Sally sees New York City’s diversity as proof that many perspectives build stronger solutions. The vice‑president of her school’s Honor Society, a women‑empowerment club leader, and an officer in the local National Society of Jr. Black Engineers, she channels that leadership into climate action. As a neighborhood ambassador for a non-profit, she organizes drives that turn surplus groceries into meals to reduce food waste. Sally is most passionate about increasing sustainable solutions for environmental and chemical engineering to design green infrastructure that is critical for saving our planet. She enjoys reading books from diverse authors, baking pastries and working on her geography skills. Sally is thrilled to join the Bezos Scholars cohort to integrate the broad perspectives of her peers into solutions for a broader community to ensure the representation of all.
Felicia Bifulco
Educator Scholar • Flushing, New York
Felicia’s love of science began in a Brooklyn apartment perched above her father’s storefront, where she was exposed to diverse cultures within the neighborhood. Raised by strong Italian matriarchs, she learned early that nurturing others transforms communities. Today—where more than 70 languages echo through her school’s halls—Felicia leads the STEM Research Academy she built from an after‑school club into a 400‑student powerhouse. She mentors educators and teaches biology, research methods, and whatever else her school needs, seasoning lessons with humor that she believes heals and unites. A mom to two teens, she stays fluent in whatever is trending so she can connect authentically with students and colleagues. Her mission: to open rigorous STEM pathways to young people who might never picture themselves in the industry—and watch them give back to their communities with newfound confidence. As a Bezos Scholar, Felicia looks forward to collaborating with equally driven changemakers to magnify opportunity and ambition.
Porter High School
Euphoria White
Student Scholar • Porter, Texas
Euphoria, a first-generation Texan, draws inspiration from Houston’s vibrant multicultural energy. Her childhood thrifting trips with her mother sparked a passion for sustainability that led her to create Project 3uphoria, a sustainable fashion pop-up that sells upcycled clothing and uses the proceeds to fund local youth education. Deeply committed to her community, she plans to combine her studies in film and engineering to spotlight the modern issues faced by youth and promote accessible post-secondary opportunities. Beyond her academic and entrepreneurial pursuits, Euphoria volunteers at local museums and enjoys woodworking, gardening, and attending festivals with friends. Her hobbies reflect her dedication to environmental sustainability and cultural engagement. As a Bezos Scholar, Euphoria looks forward to sharing ideas and learning from a diverse cohort of changemakers, aiming to expand her impact and continue building creative, sustainable solutions for youth and her community.
Autumn Rose Dowdy
Educator Scholar • Porter, Texas
Autumn is a proud member of the Osage Nation, a Native American tribe with deep roots in the central United States. She is a passionate STEM advocate and a champion for access to quality education for all. Autumn enjoys helping students build confidence to solve real-world problems with hands-on, collaborative learning experiences and has led multiple student teams to national recognition in engineering competitions. She has also launched inclusive design initiatives like wearable tech for colorblind individuals and helped organize one of Texas’s largest regional Technology Student Association competitions. Her passion is dismantling the barriers that keep girls, Indigenous youth, and low‑income students from all the amazing opportunities in STEM. As a Bezos Scholar, she looks forward to deepening her leadership skills and helping students transform bold ideas into community‑powered impact.
San Diego High School of International Studies
Liya Getahun
Student Scholar • San Diego, California
Born and raised under the San Diego sunshine, Liya is proud of her Ethiopian culture and heritage, speaking Amharic and English, and advocating for the needs of her community. Driven by her passion to serve, she spends her time volunteering at the local hospital, leading her school’s Black Student Union, and participating in STEM projects. Through these experiences, Liya’s goal is to destigmatize mental health and increase access to resources—whether for high school students or individuals facing homelessness. She enjoys spending time cooking authentic Ethiopian dishes with her family, swimming, and playing tennis. Liya can’t wait to harness the Bezos Scholars network to amplify marginalized voices and model youth engagement city‑wide.
Jennifer Pickering
Educator Scholar • San Diego, California
Jennifer, born and raised in San Diego, has taught business and life‑skills classes at San Diego High school for the last 10 years to prepare teens for an economy and community in flux. She is passionate about providing her students with experiences to help them develop skills for an ever-changing landscape. Besides teaching, Jennifer is an organic farmer who loves to talk about plants, nature journaling and the beauty of her city’s coastline. Thousands of graduates have left her classroom with business and life skills along with a deeper appreciation for life. Jennifer is thrilled to join the Bezos Scholars and discover ways to continue to encourage students to make our world a better place.
San Jacinto Leadership Academy
Turner Daudert
Student Scholar • San Jacinto, California
Raised amid tight‑knit neighborhoods rich in spirit but short on resources, Turner credits teachers, coaches, and family for fueling his dream: to deliver first‑rate healthcare to the community that raised him. Turner is most passionate about ensuring all young people can pursue opportunities in the medical field to improve the quality of healthcare for all. Turner is a Youth Equity Stewardship leader focused on representing student voices within the San Jacinto district. He is also a sports lover and plays baseball and ice hockey. As a Bezos Scholar, Turner looks forward to being a part of a global conversation with changemakers and amplifying others’ voices.
Priscilla A. Grijalva
Educator Scholar • San Jacinto, California
A first‑generation Latina from El Paso who earned a basketball scholarship to California Baptist University, Priscilla completed her bachelor's and master's degrees and has spent her career deeply committed to supporting young people pursuing postsecondary education or training. As lead counselor at her school, she embodies the campus motto Ductus Exemplo (lead by example), ensuring students are seen, supported, and set up for success in college, careers, academics, and with their social-emotional growth. Priscilla serves on a national board and committees for school counselors and has presented at several college counseling conferences. As a Bezos Scholar, Priscilla is eager to co‑design an impactful Community Change Project with Turner while trading strategies with fellow leaders committed to brighter post‑secondary futures for all students.
Socorro High School
Isabella Villalobos
Student Scholar • El Paso, Texas
A gymnastics coach, fire‑safety ambassador, and wildlife advocate, Isabella was raised in a tight‑knit Hispanic community where dual languages and cultures were emphasized. She has a love for animals, wildlife and the planet and dreams of working to be able to protect fragile ecosystems to ensure animals and humans can flourish. At school, she represents the Fire Tech program, teaching young kids the importance of fire safety and how to protect themselves in dangerous situations. After school, she spends time watching TV shows, coloring and working as a gymnastics coach, where she trains young athletes and instills confidence and perseverance. As a Bezos Scholar, Isabella is eager to learn from diverse changemakers, hone her leadership, and create a project that keeps her community and our planet thriving.
Javier Rubio
Educator Scholar • El Paso, Texas
A retired firefighter, Javier now teaches high schoolers the science and service of public safety. Born and raised in the culturally rich town of El Paso, he now guides teens toward careers in firefighting, law enforcement, and emergency medical services. Javier also works to reimagine the school day itself, convinced that hands‑on, community‑rooted learning cultivates resilience in students that the future will demand. As a Bezos Scholar, he looks forward to sharpening leadership tools he can pass to students and boosting their confidence to help shape how their communities can protect, heal, and thrive.
Timber Creek High School
Nathan Kwok
Student Scholar • Orlando, Florida
Inspired by his younger brother’s experiences navigating school, Nathan is passionate about creating support systems for children with disabilities. He volunteers at Joyful Music Therapy, guiding children with disabilities through piano rhythms that build fine motor skills and confidence. Nathan also designs peer‑tutoring modules that demystify math and science for students who learn differently. He enjoys swimming, playing the piano, and exploring new spicy foods in the diverse communities of Orlando. He is thrilled to join the Bezos Scholars cohort because it offers leadership tools and a network of changemakers determined, like him, to turn empathy into action.
JulieAnne Halsey
Educator Scholar • Orlando, Florida
As a self‑taught advanced placement calculus teacher and cross‑country coach, JulieAnne has taught every level of math, from Algebra I to freshmen to AP Calculus to seniors, tailoring support so that each student builds mathematical confidence. Her mission is to reimagine classrooms as supportive ecosystems where every learner’s potential is recognized and nurtured. Off-campus, she is actively involved in organizing local 5-K races in her community. Joining the Bezos Scholars Program excites JulieAnne because it combines collaboration with actionable insights—resources she’ll harness to expand opportunities for her students and community.
Tomball High School
Shaurya Kante
Student Scholar • Tomball, Texas
Houston native Shaurya’s passion is to build walkable, transit‑friendly neighborhoods that are accessible for every resident. As a public transit lead for Sunrise Movement Houston, he advocates for safer bus routes and better schedules in under‑served areas. He also founded BOLT, a youth‑run consultancy linking local businesses with nonprofits on service projects and his school’s DECA chapter, a club that prepares students for careers in business. Outside of advocacy, Shaurya plays the bass in his school orchestra and jazz band. Joining the Bezos Scholars cohort excites Shaurya because it links him with peers equally determined to rethink cities—and gives him the leadership tools to turn Houston’s sprawl into a model of sustainable, human‑scaled design.
Tiffany Clyde
Educator Scholar • Tomball, Texas
As a Houston native who still draws energy from the city’s vibrant art scene and diversity, Tiffany helps students in nearby Tomball “find their voices”—whether in public, on paper, or in everyday conversation. Living with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) for four decades, Tiffany also mentors families affected by T1D in building healthy social‑emotional habits. This summer, the children’s book she authored tackles those lessons with humor and heart. As a Bezos Scholar educator, Tiffany hopes to master skills that can scale her advocacy—and help cultivate collective growth far beyond her local community.