Meet Our 2022 Scholars
The RISE for Youth inaugural program was founded in 2022. The program engaged high school juniors, seniors, and undergraduates in a college readiness program designed to enhance opportunities for post-secondary education and entry into the workforce. Learn more about our past RISE for Youth scholars and their future aspirations.
- RISE Up
- RISE High
RISE Up
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Anabelle A (she/her)Annabelle is a sophomore at John Marshall High School. Her hobbies include working at SACC, being involved in student council, and attending school events. She is the Sophomore Class President at her school and a member of the Key Club. In the future, Annabelle's goal is to become a pediatric physician assistant. |
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Anushka K (she/her)Anushka is a junior at Mayo High School. She belongs to her Girl Scout troop, Technovation, and serves as a camp counselor. Anushka is interested in entering the health care field in the future. |
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Blessing O (she/her)Blessing is a senior at Winona State University. In the future, Blessing is interested in a career in the health care field. |
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Disaunie Y (they/them)Disaunie is a junior at Mayo High School. In the future, Disaunie is interested in a career in social work. |
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Eleni A (she/her)Eleni is a junior at Mayo High School. Her hobbies include reading, playing the piano, and writing stories and poems. She belongs to her school's science olympiad team, HOSA, and Key Club. In the future, Eleni's goal is to become an emergency physician. |
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Faizaa O (she/her)Faizaa is a junior at the University of Minnesota — Rochester. She belongs to her universities Black Student Union and is a patient care assistant at Mayo Clinic. In the future, Faizaa's career goal is to become a physician assistant. |
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Favor O (she/her)Favor is a junior at Century High School. In the future, Favor's career goal is to become a surgeon and oncology researcher. |
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Helen G (she/her)Helen Girma is a sophomore at Mayo High School. Her hobbies include playing volleyball, reading, and yoga. She belongs to Mayo Equity Team, Key Club, and her school's student government. In the future, she hopes to enter pediatrics, psychiatry, or law. |
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Ibtisam M (she/her)Ibtisam is a junior at Century High School. Her hobbies include reading, cooking, and gardening. She belongs to Mayo Clinic Young Volunteers and Century High School's Honor Society. In the future, her career plan is to become a physician assistant. |
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Jordan A (he/him)Jordan is a sophomore at Mayo High School. His hobbies include biking, being in nature, writing, gaming, and spending time with friends, family, and his dogs. Jordan holds a job outside of school. In the future, he hopes to become a therapist. |
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Liya A (she/her)Liya is a sophomore at Mayo High School. Liya's hobbies include reading books, drawing, and studying. In the future, Liya hopes to become a cardiovascular surgeon. |
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Marvellous L (she/her)Marvellous is a junior at John Marshall High School. Her hobbies include drawing, volleyball, and painting. She belongs to her local Diversity Council and her school's student council. In the future, Marvellous wants to go to medical school and become a pediatric surgeon. |
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Matthew M (he/him)Matthew is a sophomore at the University of Toledo. In the future, Matthew's career goal is to become a physician. |
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Muhammad F (he/him)Muhammad is a junior at Mayo High School. His hobbies include volunteering with the Ronald McDonald house and his local food bank. In the future, Muhammad's goal is to study exercise science and kinesiology and have a career in sports medicine. |
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Rayanne D (she/her)Rayanne is a senior at John Marshall High School. In the future, Rayanne aspires to be a hematologist and Sickle Cell researcher. |
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Safa M (she/her)Safa is a junior at Century High School. Her hobbies include writing, pottery, and biking. She belongs to Century's Honors Society and Mayo Clinic Young Volunteers. Safa holds a job outside of school and her plan is to become an OBGYN. |
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Safa S (she/her)Safa is a junior at the University of Minnesota — Rochester. In the future, Safa hopes to become a surgeon. |
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Zahra H (she/her)Zahra is a senior at Rochester STEM Academy. She holds a job outside of school and belongs to the Financial Mayo Program. In the future, Zahra plans to pursue a career in the health care field. Her hobbies are writing and volunteering. |
RISE High
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Afnan A (she/her)Afnan is a sophomore at John Marshall High School. Her hobbies include playing soccer with her high school and club team, attending sporting events, and babysitting. She belongs to her school's student council and key club. In the future, Afnan's goal is to become a nurse, midwife, or pediatrician. |
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Aisha Q (she/her)Aisha is a sophomore at Mayo High School. Aisha values her Somali heritage intensely, viewing it as a key pillar of her identity. She assisted her family in founding the Abucar Qassim Education Foundation in Somalia. Entirely sponsoring 23 orphan children, the Foundation gave them the resources needed to provide an education to help them thrive in society and reach their full potential regardless of financial barriers. Aisha aspires to continue helping others in the future, both emotionally and physically, by becoming a prominent medical figure in cardiothoracic or neurosurgery. |
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Alizeh R (she/her)Alizeh is a junior at Mayo High School. Her hobbies include swimming with her high school team, playing and listening to music, going to sporting events with friends, and trying new things. She is a member of many clubs at school, as well as marching band, honor band, and debate team. In the future, Alizeh's goal is to become an oncologist. |
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Andrea B (she/her)Andrea is a junior at John Marshall High School. Her hobbies include art, photography, and music. She volunteers with the Salvation Army, her local community garden, and at school events. In the future, she would like to study psychology and give back to her community. |
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Ashley N (she/her)Ashley is a junior at Century High School. Her hobbies include listening to music and spending time with her friends and family. Ashley holds a job outside of school. In the future, she is interested in becoming a special education teacher. |
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Darian D (he/him)Darian is a junior at Mayo High School. His hobbies include rock climbing, reading, and meeting new people. He belongs to his school's key club, honors society, Asian-American Cultural Club, Stock Club, and participates in the Roca Elite Climb Team, Boy Scouts of America, and Rochester Chamber Music Society. In the future, Darian hopes to become a physician. |
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Hafsa A (she/her)Hafsa is a junior at Mayo High School. Her hobbies include swimming, painting, and drawing. She belongs to the Mayo Young Volunteer program and the Rochester international program. In the future, her career plan is to be an anesthesiologist. |
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Hanad S (he/him)Hanad is a junior at Marshall High School. In the future, Hanad's goal is to study clinical neuroscience. |
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Kayley H (she/her)Kayley is a junior at Mayo High School. Kayley actively participates in Justice and Opportunity for Youth and the Minnesota's Women's Foundation Young Women's Initiative Cabinet. Her hobbies are spending time with family, volunteering, and traveling. In the future, Kayley's goal is to become a registered nurse. |
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Krish K (he/him)Krish is a junior at John Marshall High School. His hobbies include playing tennis, solving Rubik's cubes, and math. Krish holds a job outside of school and volunteers with Mayo Clinic, Sheridan Group, and Feed My Starving Children. In the future, he hopes to have a career in the health care field. |
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Maab M (she/her)Maab is a junior at John Marshall High School. Her hobbies include drawing, watching TV, and going for long walks. She holds a job outside of school and belongs to a mentorship program. In the future, Maab would like to pursue a career in the medical field. |
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Manasa Y (she/her)Manasa is a junior at John Marshall High School. Her hobbies include speech and debate, entrepreneurship, and kickboxing. She belongs to her school's speech and debate, student government, John Marshall Honors Society, and Mayo Clinic Young Volunteers. In the future, Manasa hopes to enter the medical field. |
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Matthew O (he/him)Matthew is a sophomore at Century High School. In the future, Matthew would like to study biomedical sciences and become an oncologist and researcher. |
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Medena M (she/her)Medena is a sophomore at Mayo High School. Forever an ambitious child, despite any struggles she may have faced, Medena visioned three distinct goals to make a part of her future: to become a skilled actuary with a degree in finance, to be an active member in rising her community up and help out those who need it the most, and to forever remain positive, because to Medena, happiness starts full-heartedly with positivity and gratitude. Medena's favorite goal, goal number two, is the one she strives toward most to put into her reality. By volunteering to help out kids in her old neighborhood, Medena hopes to give inspiration and nurturing kindness to children who grew up just like her. |
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Mowha A (she/her)Mowha is a sophomore at John Marshall High School. Her hobbies include volleyball, lacrosse, and dance. She belongs to the Journie Program and Rochester's first Miss Juneteenth. In the future, Mowha hopes to be a cardiothoracic or neurosurgeon. |
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Nasra A (she/her)Nasra is a junior at Rochester STEM Academy. She is the president of her school's National Honors Society, is involved with mentorship, and volunteers at Mayo Clinic. In the future, Nasra is interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy. |
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Roselyn K (she/her)Roselyn is a junior at Mayo High School. Her hobbies include reading, writing, science, and volunteering with her church and school. She belongs to the Diversity Committee, Mayo Equity Team, and Key Club. In the future, Roselyn plans to attend college on the pre-med track and explore careers in healthcare. |
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Sarah Y (she/her)Sarah is a sophomore at Century High School. Her hobbies include tennis, programming, and spending time with her friends. She belongs to her school's student government, debate team, math league, and BDPA programming. In the future, Sarah plans to study computer science and explore a carer in medicine, biomedical engineering, or research. |
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Verry Far H (she/her)Verry Far is a junior at Century High School. She is involved with her church youth group and sings with her high school choir. In the future, Verry Far plans to become an oncologist. |