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Fellows
2022-2023
Justine Abbo
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor; Class of 2020 Marketing Designer at Emporia by Design in Ann Arbor, Mi
Justine graduated from the University of Michigan in 2020 with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from Stamps School of Art & Design and a minor in Entrepreneurship. Her artwork focused on designing with sustainable materials and addressing social issues. During her time at Michigan, she taught fine arts to Detroit youth, studied abroad in Nepal, and designed products sold around the world, all while making time to watch football and hockey on the weekends. Today, Justine leads marketing and design strategies for small businesses across Michigan, and launched her own. She is additionally working on hiking through as many National Parks as she can. In her free time, she enjoys doing yoga and spending time with friends and family. She is excited to join the Ripple Fellowship!
Southern Methodist University; Class of 2020 Product Manager at Fiserv
I graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2020 with degrees in economics and statistical science. During college, I held internships at AT&T, Wells Fargo, and PwC. Additionally, I held leadership positions in the economics club and Just For Kidz, a youth-run, youth-led non-profit. Following college, I joined Goldman Sachs as an analyst within the consumer wealth management division in a strategy and analytics capacity. Currently, I’m a product manager at Fiserv, a payments technology firm. At Fiserv, I’m also the founder and co-lead for the Young Professionals ERG. Outside of work, I enjoy volunteering, spending time with family and friends, reading on social impact and fintech, and competing in a local bowling league.
Sumair Bhimani
Veronica Bido
Rutgers University New Brunswick; Class of 2021 Work First Fellow at America Works of Maryland
Veronica Bido (she/hers/her) is a New Jersey native passionate about reimagining and rebuilding how we approach social justice issues, like domestic violence and the criminal justice system. Her alma mater is Rutgers University New Brunswick where she served as a student ambassador and resident assistant. She is currently serving the Baltimore community as a Work First Fellow, working with the ex-offender reentry and bail diversion program. In her free time she volunteer’s as a crisis response advocate for victims of domestic violence and just joined a local kickball team. Veronica is excited to join the Ripple Fellowship and learn how to become an effective advocate through social impact business.
Tulane University; Class of 2026
My full name is Oscar Orlando Foster. My high school education was at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). Some academic highlights I’ve achieved are: Posse Foundation Full-Tuition Leadership Scholarship (2013-2017) and Math, Science, English, and History Honors courses 2018-2022. I’ve worked in the culinary industry doing mostly catering events like Carnival Du Vin and Boudin Bourbon and Beer. I’ve also worked in restaurant service at By Water Brew Pub. I’ve participated in the Audubon Zoo’s wetlands conservation program. Personally I love to cook, garden, play video games, and explore LatinX cultures. I take care of 4 cats, 1 dog, and 1 bearded dragon. I speak Spanish fluently, and I speak French.
Oscar Foster
Chloe May Lamenzo
University of North Carolina Asheville; Class of 2021 Professional Soccer Player for Italian team AC Perugia Calcio Femminile through June 2022
I have an incredible passion to play the sport of soccer; it has led me to many places in the world, such as Egypt and Italy where I have played professionally which has been my lifelong dream. I also have a drive and motivation to help others accomplish their goals in life which steered me to different amazing opportunities during my time in college where I studied psychology and environmental studies. One was being a writing tutor where I helped develop students’ skills with all types of writing at any stage in the writing process. A second is being a volunteer on the Bulldogs Against Racism Council where we want to create a space to focus on improving education and training, along with having conversations that raise awareness about social injustice and racial inequality, together with increasing leadership opportunities and improving representation for student-athletes, coaches, and staff members of color within our department and on our campus. I was also a volunteer for Marvelous Math Club (MMC) which is an organization that works with historically underserved youth at an elementary school level. The mission of MMC is to be an option of support, while encouraging the youths’ leadership skills and “celebrating math.” In my free time I like to explore new places and ideas, hike, do art, and spend time with friends and loved ones. I have one younger sister and I love being a big sister!
Johns Hopkins University; Class of 2025
Stephanie Njeri is a first-year student at Johns Hopkins University. She is studying international relations, and hopes to work in West or East Africa on economic development and human rights issues. She is a member of her school’s International Studies Leadership Council where she works on the speaker committee to search for and host events with prominent figures in international affairs. She is also involved in Hopkin’s African Students Association where she recently modeled in a fashion show featuring the designs of African designers from across the nation. Her hobbies include reading, biking, and spending time with her family.
Stephanie Njeri
Rachel Percy
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Macalester College; Class of 2022
Rachel Percy is a recent graduate of Macalester College where she earned a degree in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in International Development and a minor in Chinese Language and Culture. Through her experiences interning with organizations throughout Minnesota and Massachusetts, Rachel has worked on coordinating sustainable practices between different states, improving access to urban waterways, and analyzing trends in solar energy deployment. A growing interest of hers is using data as a tool to highlight patterns of inequity, especially with regards to environmental justice. As a current Increasing Diversity in Environmental Careers (IDEC) fellow with Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa, she is determined to see environmental organizations have staff and leadership teams that reflect the communities they serve.
In her free time, Rachel enjoys running along the trails of the Mississippi River and co-hosting a radio show where she invites students to share interesting facts and stories about their hometowns. This experience has inspired her to one day host her own radio show where she interviews scientists about their research to help communicate it to a general audience.
College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University; Class of 2023 Part-time on-campus job: Campus Minister a part of the LMD (Los Mayordomos de Dios) team
My name is Brenda Rojas Gutierrez and I am a rising senior at the College of Saint Benedict & Saint John’s University located in Minnesota. I am an aspiring first-generation college student majoring in Political Science and minoring in Global Business Leadership on a pre-law track. I also serve on my college’s senate and am a part of various clubs and organizations on campus. When I’m not navigating my way through my school work and college schedule, I enjoy going on walks, singing, and simply trying new things. Apart from my studies and involvement, I also enjoy learning about helping out my community in various impactful ways. Thanks to opportunities at CSB/SJU, I was able to intern with the National Immigration Forum in the summer of 2020. I am a current entrepreneurial scholar at my institution as well. I am fascinated with learning how to make a difference in this world and make it a better place for future generations to come!
Brenda Rojas Gutierrez
Alexander Saigh
Missouri S&T; Class of 2025
I’m a business and management technologies student that is determined to start a company and become a CEO. I have been inventing things throughout high school and college and it is my intent to make the problem-solving visions in my head into tangible solutions for the future. Having been diagnosed with the gift of Autism, I seek mentors and employers who will understand how to work with my abilities and challenges so I can get the skills to market my abilities, and to ultimately start my own company. I collect coins, watches, and Roman artifacts. I have one younger brother and along with my mother live in University City with 4 cats one of which is a part-time resident.
University of California San Diego; Class of 2025
Hello everyone! My name is Sky Yang, and I am so excited to be a fellow in the first cohort of The Ripple Center Fellowship. I am the Founder, CEO, and Chairman of the Board at Break the Outbreak Inc. 501c(3), located in 53 cities and 18 states. And I am going to serve as the recent President-elect of Associated Students at UC San Diego managing an annually 7+ million dollar budget. I have served in C-level positions in several other companies and organizations, such as COO and Co-founder of Kook-surf Inc., Chief Web Manager of Aurtem Group International Inc., and many other roles. I have been featured on over 30+ news media and commended by Senator Dianne Feinstein. Currently, I am studying Management Science, Political Science, and Computer Science at UC San Diego. I have picked up surfing ever since I came to La Jolla, it has been one of my primary hobbies. I love the outdoors, have been on 40+ campouts, and summited Mt.Shasta in Norcal (16,000ft elevation). I love reading and have published a book before on Apple Books.
Sky Yang
Gracen Williams
Oregon State University; Class of 2023
My name is Gracen Williams, I am a junior at Oregon State University double majoring in business administration and sustainability. I am currently living in Corvallis, Oregon but I am originally from Moorpark, California. I am a full time student and I also work as a barista/administrative assistant at Allan’s Coffee and Tea. In my free time I enjoy playing soccer, rock climbing, reading, cooking, and traveling. I am also a volunteer for the Food Recovery Network at Oregon State, which is an organization present on many campuses that fights food waste by redistributing leftovers from dining halls to food insecure individuals and others who need it. A couple fun facts about me are that I love Formula One racing and I play the oboe, on which I have achieved level 7 certificate of merit which evaluates music theory knowledge and playing skills.
Cornell University; Class of 2022
Chloe Elise Young is a recent graduate from Cornell University in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She is graduating with a degree in Biology & Society with minors in Law & Society, Inequality Studies, and Nutrition & Society, she also hopes to attend Medical School and/or Law School to be a better advocate for those who need help medically and legally. During her time at Cornell she was a 4 year member of the Varsity Women’s Rowing Team, a leader in Body Positive Cornell, and conducted over 2 years of biological research. Chloe fell into Entrepreneurship her sophomore Summer when she worked with Leda Health which enabled her to earn a spot in the prestigious Kessler Fellowship from the Cornell College of Engineering. In this role she was responsible for increasing access to lactation support for mothers on Medicaid across the country. Outside of academic and professional life Chloe enjoys spending time with her family and friends, making meals with them, and playing with her dog, Ivy Charlotte Bronte.
Chloe Young
