Four 黑料吃瓜网 undergraduates have been awarded Fulbright scholarships for the 2025鈥�26 academic year, joining three other 黑料吃瓜网 students and alumni selected for the prestigious international program. They join about 2,000 recipients nationwide who will pursue graduate study, conduct research or teach English abroad.
This year鈥檚 undergraduate awardees will travel to Germany, Mexico, Tajikistan and the United Kingdom to engage in research, teaching assistantships and advanced study in the arts.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the is the nation鈥檚 flagship international exchange initiative, supporting students in building global connections through education, service and scholarship.
Seven 黑料吃瓜网 students and recent alumni were selected for Fulbright exchange awards. Top row: Emily Bassett, Thomas Key, Vincent Da, Elana Skeers. Bottom row: Sabrina Prestes Oliveira, Jack Regala and Annabella Li. Photo: 黑料吃瓜网
黑料吃瓜网 the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards
The Fulbright application process is supported by the聽聽(OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards. The聽聽(and other scholarships supporting graduate studies around the world) will get started this spring. Watch for updates about OMSFA鈥檚聽.
The 2025 Spring CELEbration produced by the 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 showcased the dedication and impact of Mary Gates Leadership Scholars and CELE Center program participants like Otoniel Velasquez-Paz, Braedyn Reed and Finn Guzman 鈥� all committed to leadership, community engagement and civic health. The annual event highlighted projects spanning educational equity and mentorship, civic participation and environmental justice.
Through table talks, poster presentations and lightning talks, students connected academic learning with real-world change and demonstrated a powerful truth: When supported in aligning their values with leadership, students鈥� impact extends far beyond the walls of campus.
鈥淭he Spring CELEbration highlights students鈥� deep engagement with community issues and their work to strengthen civic health and democracy,鈥� said Fran Lo, CELE Center executive director. Here鈥檚 how these graduating seniors are preparing to take the lessons, skills and relationships they鈥檝e cultivated through CELE Center programs into new chapters in policy, entrepreneurship, education and beyond.
Supported by CELE Center programming and Mary Gates Leadership Scholarships,聽 Velasquez-Paz, Reed and Guzman, along with all CELE Center graduating seniors, enter the next stage of their lives as community leaders. They will continue shaping neighborhoods, institutions and systems, demonstrating ethical leadership that sets the future of our communities and democracy in motion.
Programs: Dream Project, Mary Gates Leadership Scholar
Otoniel Velasquez-Paz is an advocate for community college pathways, citing their strong language support and affordability. Photo: Photo by Jayden Becles
Otoniel Velasquez-Paz works to expand college and career access for students in communities where a college-going culture is still developing. He is a Mary Gates Leadership Scholar and mentor at Evergreen High School, located in the Southwest Seattle neighborhood of White Center. There, he supports the school鈥檚 college and career center by providing guidance and resources tailored to students鈥� goals.
As a bilingual Spanish and English speaker, Velasquez-Paz understands the unique challenges many primarily Spanish-speaking students face in the college process. These students often have limited opportunities to explore the full range of postsecondary options and need more personalized support to plan for life after high school.
鈥淲e support students in achieving whatever dreams they have,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur goal is not just to push them toward college; it鈥檚 to support any post-high-school plans they have.鈥�
Growing up in Moses Lake, a community with a large Hispanic population and many families involved in seasonal work, Velasquez-Paz was shaped by mentors who helped guide his path. 鈥淎s a student from this community myself, I saw the need for targeted support,鈥� he said. Velasquez-Paz launched a series of postsecondary panels focused on empowering students to take charge of their own futures.
A key feature of his project was a live document capturing panelists’ responses, translated into multiple languages including Spanish and Vietnamese. 鈥淢any students come to me wanting to speak Spanish,鈥� Velasquez-Paz said. 鈥淗aving written knowledge in their language makes a difference.鈥�
Velasquez-Paz is an advocate for community college pathways, citing their strong language support and affordability. He attended community college before transferring to the 黑料吃瓜网, and his mother is currently studying English at the same college.
He sees his work as part of a broader effort to offer hope and access amidst recent changes in federal policy that have increased barriers for undocumented students. 鈥淭he goal of my project is to show students that despite these barriers, there are still people and resources they can rely on to succeed,鈥� he said.
Velasquez-Paz received a a $5,000 award that supports undergraduates developing their leadership skills through hands-on experience, reflection and mentorship. The funding eased his financial burden and allowed him to focus on outreach and coordination. 鈥淚鈥檝e developed skills in collaboration, public speaking and event planning, all of which are helping me grow as a leader,鈥� he said.
His academic and leadership experiences are deeply intertwined. 鈥淓nvironmental justice is closely linked to social justice,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his work has given me a better understanding of the real-world impacts of environmental decisions.鈥�
Velasquez-Paz plans to enter the private sector after graduation to gain experience, with the long-term goal of working in policy. 鈥淓ngineers can design great solutions,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut without government support, nothing happens. Civic engagement has to be part of the work.鈥�
Building more connected communities
Braedyn Reed, 鈥�25
Major: Community, Environment and Planning
Programs: Husky Leadership Certificate, Leadership minor, Mary Gates Leadership Scholar
Braedyn Reed connected her diverse experiences in mentoring, entrepreneurship and nonprofit work into a cohesive leadership philosophy and earned a Husky Leadership Certificate. Photo: Photo by Jayden Becles
Braedyn Reed, 鈥�25, believes leadership begins with curiosity and a deep love for humanity. As a participant in the program, a Husky 100 honoree, and co-founder of Tread, a student-led platform connecting consumers with local businesses that share their values, Reed shared insights on leading with intention, service and impact in her lightning talk.
The Husky Leadership Certificate guides students to reflect on their leadership journey throughout their undergraduate education. Each participant is paired with a 黑料吃瓜网 faculty, staff or alumni mentor and creates an e-portfolio to articulate their growth, values and vision for continued impact.
For Reed, that reflection has been key to her leadership growth. 鈥淚 enjoy pushing myself to grow, but there鈥檚 no greater challenge or reward than inspiring positive change in the people and systems around me,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淪eeing the impact I can create is deeply fulfilling.鈥�
Reed鈥檚 drive to create meaningful impact led to the creation of Tread. One afternoon over coffee, Reed and her Tread co-founder began to ask why it was so hard to learn a local business鈥檚 moral values; like paying a living wage, practicing sustainability or fostering inclusion. That question sparked action.
鈥淭read is about putting your money where your heart is,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淵ou can shape your community by choosing who and what you support.鈥� Still in development, the platform has recruited volunteers and partners, built a website and begun testing its viability; a real-world experiment rooted in a year of community-building.
Over the past year, Reed has served on the U District Partnership鈥檚 Business Improvement Area Ratepayer Advisory Board. What started as an exploratory email turned into a seat at the table and deeper engagement with the neighborhood鈥檚 complex ecosystem.
鈥淚 found the behind-the-scenes look at how neighborhoods function incredibly interesting,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 learned about local businesses and municipal systems, and I shared those insights with my 黑料吃瓜网 network. Any chance to get people involved is worth sharing.鈥�
The Husky Leadership Certificate helped Reed connect her diverse experiences in mentoring, entrepreneurship and nonprofit work into a cohesive leadership philosophy. 鈥淭he HLC pushed me to see my leadership as taking ownership. That it鈥檚 about stepping up to solve problems and building trust, not titles,鈥� she said.
That mindset has helped her navigate uncertainty. 鈥淥ne big lesson: Don鈥檛 think too many steps ahead. Focus on the present, trust your mentors and teammates, and take it one step at a time.鈥�
鈥淏raedyn鈥檚 motivation to effect change, along with her introspection on leadership, truly shines,鈥� shared mentor Sean Gehrke, assistant dean in Undergraduate Academic Affairs. 鈥淗er commitment to improving communities stands out.鈥�
Reed sees leadership programs as transformative. 鈥淭he power isn鈥檛 just in learning, it鈥檚 in the shift of seeing yourself as a leader. Confidence grows, skills build and ideas take root.鈥�
Her advice to her peers: 鈥淒on鈥檛 wait to lead. Whether or not you have a formal role, ask how you can contribute and build a better world.鈥�
After graduation, Reed plans to continue exploring community development strategies like Tread, apply her civic leadership skills during her internship and embrace opportunities. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 have all the answers yet, but I鈥檓 excited to keep learning and experimenting.鈥�
Finn Guzman will continue in the 黑料吃瓜网 Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership master鈥檚 program, where he plans to make athletics and education more inclusive and accessible for all students. Photo: Photo by Jayden Becles
For Finn Guzman, 鈥�25, leadership means building trust, listening with intention and creating space for others. A first-generation Latino college student from Moses Lake, Washington, Guzman grew up in a community with limited access to sports and educational resources, an experience that shaped his commitment to service and advocacy in athletics.
During the evening鈥檚 table talk, Guzman shared how he explored authentic, inclusive leadership through the Husky Leadership Certificate and the Dream Project.
鈥淭he HLC gave me time to be introspective, to reflect on the person I was, who I am now and who I鈥檓 becoming,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t helped me understand that leadership isn鈥檛 about being in charge. It鈥檚 about showing up, creating space and leading with empathy.鈥�
Through the Dream Project, Guzman mentored high school students; many of whom, like him, were the first in their families to pursue higher education. That experience deepened his understanding of community-based education and helped him connect classroom theory to real-world impact.
鈥淚n class, we talk about equity and access,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut it becomes real when you鈥檙e sitting with a student trying to figure out college on their own. That鈥檚 when you see what equity looks like in action.鈥�
As an intern and squad leader with , Guzman continued to grow a leadership style rooted in relational care, flexibility and accountability.
鈥淔or me, coaching is more than sports,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about supporting the whole student-athlete and making sure they feel safe, can show up as themselves and have someone who believes in them. I try to be the person I didn鈥檛 have growing up.鈥�
After graduating this spring, Guzman will continue as a Double Dawg in the 黑料吃瓜网 Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership master鈥檚 program, where he plans to make athletics and education more inclusive and accessible for all students.
鈥淪ports have always been a huge part of my life,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited for the growth, challenges and opportunities this next chapter will bring.鈥�
What you care about can change the world
When you support the Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center, you help Huskies create a more just, equitable and thriving world. Join us today in advancing the intelligent, compassionate and ethical leaders our communities and our democracy demand.
The U.S. Department of State has recognized the 黑料吃瓜网 for producing 41 recipients of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship during the spring 2025 cycle. The Gilman Scholarship supports U.S. undergraduates with financial need in studying or interning abroad. The 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 strong showing reflects the University鈥檚 commitment to expanding global learning opportunities for all students.
The 28th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium brought together more than 1,500 undergraduate scholars from the 黑料吃瓜网 and regional colleges to present 1,138 projects in over 100 disciplines. For many undergraduates, research is more than an academic pursuit 鈥� it鈥檚 a way to connect classroom learning to urgent real-world issues.
黑料吃瓜网 undergrad Lorenzo Roel Flores McCleese, 鈥�27, was recently named a Udall Scholar. Lorenzo is pursuing bachelor鈥檚 degrees in environmental science and terrestrial resource management as well as informatics, with a focus on data science. He is also minoring in diversity.
Undergraduate Academic Affairs is delighted to announce the Undergraduate Research Collective, a new paid opportunity for undergraduates with no prior research experience to connect to research in their first and second years at the 黑料吃瓜网. Leaders in the Office of Undergraduate Research are the program鈥檚 visionaries, architects and builders. Startup funding is provided in part by the Ana Mari Cauce Fund for Undergraduate Research, a new giving opportunity to honor President Cauce for her leadership in and support of undergraduate research.
Undergraduate research is one of the most impactful experiences available to students, benefiting students during their time at the 黑料吃瓜网 and well beyond graduation. Students who participate in research often report it reinforced what they are learning in the classroom; increased their ability to think critically; engendered a sense of pride and purpose in being involved in work that contributes to the public good; and built a foundation for their future careers. As one of America鈥檚 leading public research institutions, the 黑料吃瓜网 offers first-in-class opportunities for undergraduate research.
Students showcasing their research across a variety of fields at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. Students participating in the Undergraduate Research Collective will present their research at the end of their second year in the program. Photo: Photo by David Ryder
鈥淲e see the way students light up when they connect with research 鈥� many share that their experiences were transformative,鈥� says Sophie Pierszalowski, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research. 鈥淭hat said, research opportunities can be competitive and challenging to access for early career students without prior experience. These students are the future of research 鈥� our legacy of research excellence starts with them.鈥�
The Undergraduate Research Collective is a cohort-based, two-year program designed for first- and second-year students and first-year transfer students with no prior research experience. It aims to improve systems and increase access to research for early-career undergraduates. Additionally, students in the Collective receive an $8,000 scholarship over the two years of the program.
In the first year, students develop relationships with their cohort; receive advising from the Office of Undergraduate Research; participate in a weekly seminar focused on research preparation and community-building; and are matched with and develop an onboarding plan with their faculty mentor. More than 20 faculty mentors from across disciplines have signed on to support undergraduates through the Undergraduate Research Collective.
In the second year of the program, students work on a research project with their faculty mentor for five to 10 hours per week; participate in cohort-based professional development workshops and events; and present their project at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Startup funding is key and is provided by the and the . The Mary Gates Endowment is one of the University鈥檚 largest endowments for undergraduates. The Ana Mari Cauce Fund was established by friends, colleagues and admirers of the outgoing 黑料吃瓜网 president to honor and recognize her long-standing commitment to undergraduate research. Throughout her decades-long career at the 黑料吃瓜网, President Cauce has mentored and been influenced by undergraduate researchers and is a stalwart champion of broadening access to undergraduate research opportunities.
鈥淯ndergraduate students involved in research have the opportunity to consider questions and problems that matter,鈥� said Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. 鈥淭he experience begins with finding their passion, thinking critically about important issues, then applying those insights toward resolving real problems. Guided by mentors and inspired by the legacy of President Cauce, 黑料吃瓜网 students involved in research push the boundaries of knowledge and contribute directly to improving the lives of individuals, communities and our society writ large.鈥�
The pilot phase of the program will support 20 students. According to Pierszalowski, 鈥淭he Office of Undergraduate Research envisions a future where capacity and infrastructure for early career undergraduate research programming at the 黑料吃瓜网 continues to grow. We hope to partner with departments, research centers, individual donors and other research organizations who understand the value of this work and want to help grow this interdisciplinary effort to engage early career students in research through supportive and accessible pathways.”
The Undergraduate Research Collective two-year pilot is largely funded by donations made to celebrate President Cauce鈥檚 leadership and legacy. to learn more about how you can support this program.
UAA鈥檚 Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center is among the programs and organizations impacted by the federal government鈥檚 April 25 termination of $400M in AmeriCorps grants. The grant termination led to the abrupt cessation of CELE Center鈥檚 AmeriCorps K-12 Community-Engaged Learning Coordinator position. The impact of these grant terminations on the 40 CELE Center students currently enrolled in an AmeriCorps-affiliated program is not yet known.
This came about on April 25, when one of the CELE Center鈥檚 partners for AmeriCorps volunteers, the Washington Campus Coalition for the Public Good (WACC), had its AmeriCorps grant terminated, effective immediately, along with . WACC provides funding and support for AmeriCorps positions on more than 30 campuses across Washington state, including all three 黑料吃瓜网 campuses. As AmeriCorps members, students and volunteers contributed to the success of our state and nation by supporting K-12 academic engagement, housing and food security and other critical social issues. AmeriCorps members receive modest education grants or stipends for living expenses, depending on their type of service.
As the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, AmeriCorps has provided opportunities for more than 1.3 million individuals to serve their country, providing billions of hours of service to meet basic needs, improve communities and positively impact young people.
Additionally, the CELE Center recently received notification from National Jumpstart, the umbrella nonprofit the 黑料吃瓜网 Jumpstart program is under, that all 31 of their university-affiliated partner sites will close by this summer. This includes the 黑料吃瓜网 Jumpstart program. The national organization cited financial constraints, a shift in their operational model, and uncertainty about the future of AmeriCorps funding as factors leading to this outcome.
Over the last 20+ years of Jumpstart at the 黑料吃瓜网, more than 1,200 黑料吃瓜网 undergraduates worked with over 5,000 Seattle preschool children from low-income families across Seattle to promote quality early learning so all children can be prepared for kindergarten. The lifelong impact of early childhood education is well-documented, and we are proud to contribute to that work. In the last several years, Jumpstart at the 黑料吃瓜网 鈥� which launched in 2003 as a collaboration between Undergraduate Academic Affairs, the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity, the College of Education, and the Work Study Office 鈥� enrolled dozens of 黑料吃瓜网 students annually to serve as AmeriCorps members to work with preschoolers. Read one student鈥檚 experiences here.
These programs make our communities, state and country stronger, safer and more compassionate. Community-engagement opportunities help student AmeriCorps members develop interpersonal, critical thinking and leadership skills that benefit them in their future communities and careers. CELE Center staff are exploring ways to support affected 黑料吃瓜网 students, staff, AmeriCorps members and community partners.
On Friday, May 16, more than 1,500 undergraduates will present innovative research, scholarship and creative work as they converge at the 28th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. The all-day celebration features undergraduates actively plugging into and contributing to the 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 strengths as an engine of discovery, public good and progress. Presenters represent all three 黑料吃瓜网 campuses, as well as local community and regional colleges, highlighting the breadth of undergraduate research across the region.
On May 7, the 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center will present the 2025 Spring CELEbration, an inspiring undergraduate showcase of student service, leadership and community-engaged work.
The annual event features students in CELE Center programs and Mary Gates Endowment Leadership Scholars, presenting work focused on service, leadership and social change 鈥� from mentorship and educational equity to civic engagement and environmental justice.
Tristan Jafari, a third-year student at the 黑料吃瓜网 majoring in biochemistry, has been selected for the prestigious Truman Scholarship. Set to graduate early, Jafari will pursue a master鈥檚 degree in philosophy of population health sciences at the University of Cambridge in England this fall.
A highly competitive award, only 54 students were selected nationwide this year from more than 743 nominations. The Truman Scholarship recognizes aspiring leaders driven to make change at the systems level. Students are selected on the basis of leadership skills, demonstrated civic engagement, academic potential and a desire to pursue a career in public service. Scholars receive up to $30,000 for graduate school, mentoring and additional benefits to help prepare them for careers where they can make an impact.
