EMERGE

Meet Anahi Perez, a remarkable EMERGE scholar who is currently pursuing a dual degree in computer science and mathematics at Emory University and biomedical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. This summer, Anahi thrived as a Functional and Industry Technology Intern at PwC's New York office. There she helped developed strategic solutions to enhance client services in the health sector and participated in a pro bono project that placed in the top 9% of a company-wide competition. This internship experience was not only a testament to her technical prowess but also to her commitment to transforming healthcare through technology. During her impressive journey, Anahi has engaged in projects that meld her tech savvy with real-world applications. She played a pivotal role in developing 'Plank,' a banking feature designed at the Capital One Tech Summit Hackathon. This innovative tool simplifies how rewards are transferred into users' accounts, showcasing her ability to impact financial tech. An active participant in her community, Anahi is also a voice for technology’s role in public health. Her ultimate goal is to launch a nonprofit dedicated to developing educational and technological resources for children with learning disabilities. As Anahi continues to break boundaries and forge a path of innovation and service, EMERGE is proud to support her educational journey and future aspirations. Stay tuned as she shapes the future of tech and health!

Please save the date for our 8th Annual Build The Village Luncheon, taking place on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at River Oaks Country Club. We are excited to share that this meaningful event will be co-chaired by Barbara Clark, Janet Clark & Virginia (Ginger) Clark.  We are deeply grateful for their leadership and dedication in helping us make this an unforgettable day. For sponsorship and ticket information, please visit https://lnkd.in/gWh6VqNe

Please save the date for our 8th Annual Build The Village Luncheon, taking place on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at River Oaks Country Club. We are excited to share that this meaningful event will be co-chaired by Barbara Clark, Janet Clark & Virginia (Ginger) Clark.  We are deeply grateful for their leadership and dedication in helping us make this an unforgettable day. For sponsorship and ticket information, please visit https://lnkd.in/gWh6VqNe

EMERGE kicked off the 24-25 Mentorship Program with over 100 mentors and mentees at our Fall Mentor Mingler at the Houston Museum of Natural Science! Students met their mentors for the first time, participated in a photo scavenger hunt around the museum, and completed a “Getting to Know You” activity. We’re thrilled that 74% of our mentors from last year are returning as mentors this year to continue supporting EMERGE. If you have questions about the Mentorship Program or are interested in volunteering at any Mentorship Program events, please visit our website https://lnkd.in/gdEaH_Q8

Meet Elizabell V., a driven EMERGE scholar at Klein High School who embodies commitment and advocacy through her extensive work with Project C.A.R.V. (Creating Awareness for Relationship Violence). Elizabell and her colleagues founded Project C.A.R.V. in 2022 after witnessing a friend's struggle with an abusive relationship. The organization aims to raise awareness of teen dating violence, support its victims, and prevent future cases by educating and providing resources to individuals worldwide. Project C.A.R.V. has already partnered with over 11 organizations, reaching over 40,000 individuals worldwide and across multiple states. They host donation drives, webinars, presentations, and other events in the community to advocate for systematic change against teen dating violence. Elizabell aspires to become a doctor and hopes to pursue a career that allows her to practice medicine while also promoting lasting reforms in healthcare policy for marginalized communities. 🎓 As she prepares for her future, Elizabell has set her sights on prestigious institutions like Yale, Stanford, and Harvard, supported every step of the way by EMERGE. With guidance from her program manager, Ms. Hernandez, and the broader EMERGE community, she has gained invaluable insights into the college application process, ensuring she's ready to take on the world of higher education and beyond. Join us in applauding Elizabell for her outstanding achievements and her relentless pursuit of a future where community service and healthcare innovation go hand in hand. 🌟

We are thrilled to share the inspiring journey of Michael Negussie, an EMERGE alum who is making waves in the community through his dedicated service and impactful career. A graduate of Pomona College, Michael embodies what it means to live a life driven by purpose and commitment. Since graduation, Michael has been deeply involved in social entrepreneurship, striving to make a significant difference in lives around him. Whether it's through his professional role at Didómi , a social enterprise company that provides safe water through the sale of custom-designed water bottles, or his volunteer efforts like constructing a reservoir and pipeline for the Ayata Primary School in Ethiopia, his passion for social justice and community service shines brightly. This fall, Michael is back in Ethiopia on a Fulbright fellowship, helping to start the first international high school debate team in the country. He sees this opportunity as a stepping-stone to his larger life goal of creating the first liberal arts college in Ethiopia. 📚 From his days with EMERGE to his current endeavors, Michael continues to inspire us all. It's stories like these that underscore the powerful impact of dedication, education, and community engagement. Read more about his journey and the lives he's touched in the full article: https://lnkd.in/geQp6jRT

We are thrilled to announce that EMERGE has been invited to speak at the upcoming annual conference for the National Association for College Admission Counseling. This annual gathering will bring over 6,000 attendees to Los Angeles to share best practices, inspirational ideas, cutting-edge research, and professional stories at the premier event for college admission counseling professionals. Cierra Duckworth, M.S. and Bobbye Hampton, M.Ed will be presenting a session titled "Myth-Busting Around Selective College Advising: Key Advising Philosophies and Techniques to Support FGLI Students Interested in top Colleges." We're excited to participate in this important conversation and to share the best practices we've developed in selective college advising for students from underserved backgrounds.

Check out this exciting feature on EMERGE alum Ysenia Bonilla, a 2017 graduate of Westbury High School in Houston ISD who received a journalism degree from St. John's University in 2021. We're thrilled to watch her thrive!

Congratulations to EMERGE alum Dillan M. for receiving a Voyager award for his work on NASA's Psyche operations team. This ambitious project launched a spacecraft on a 2.2 billion-mile journey to study a giant metal-rich asteroid located at the far edge of the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The asteroid, named 16 Psyche, could help researchers better understand how planets are formed. Dillan is a 2016 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School for Engineering Professions in Houston ISD who received a bachelor's in aerospace, aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the The University of Texas at Austin. He also completed a master's degree in the same field from Georgia Institute of Technology.

We're so excited for EMERGE scholar Alexa Piedra, who participated in the highly selective Stanford Law Scholars Institute this summer. Alexa is a 2021 graduate of Energized for STEM Academy in Houston ISD who is majoring in political science and minoring in management and leadership.