Penn World Scholars Class of 2019

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Adamseged Abebe
Ethiopia
Adamseged Abebe

Academic areas of interest : Biology, chemistry, African studies, politics, and medicine.

Activities and interests: Student government, Ethiopian/African dance, soccer, and community service

Future plans: To be a doctor, Ethiopian prime minister, fix social and economical problems, and improve the African educational system.

Muhammad Mustafa Amjad
Pakistan
Muhammad Mustafa Amjad

Academic areas of interest: Economics, politics, and computer science.

Activities and interests: Parliamentary debates, Model United Nations, community service, entrepreneurship, and  traveling.

Future plans: I would like to contribute to the socioeconomic development of Pakistan and make a career out of my interest in technology and entrepreneurship.

Rafael Castro
El Salvador
Rafael Castro

Academic areas of interest: Computer science, cognitive science, and entrepreneurship.

Activities and interests: I am interested in technology in general, debating, public speaking, programming, and running.

Future plans: I want to start my own tech company while at Penn or afterwards.

Yiyi Chen
China
Yiyi Chen

Academic areas of interest: Health & societies, economics, language, and history.

Activities and interests: Traveling, learning about different cultures, reading, volunteering, and community service.

Future plans: For now I am thinking of pursuing a career in the healthcare industry.  Regardless of which career path I choose, I hope to contribute to society in a positive way.

Paulina Destarac
Guatemala
Paulina Destarac

Academic areas of interest: Physics/astrophysics, math, philosophy, and literature. 

Activities and interests: I love dancing, hiking, reading, singing, photography, and volunteering. 

Future plans: I plan to pursue a postgraduate degree in astrophysics and conduct my own research.

Andre Hamra
Brazil
Andre Hamra

Academic areas of interest: Management, entrepreneurship, finance, economics, social impact & responsibility, and philosophy.

Activities and interests: Business reading, volunteer work, social entrepreneurship, writing, tutoring, student government, and soccer.

Future plans: I want to be a world reference in the business area in which I choose to work, be it management, finance, or entrepreneurship.  In the long run, I intend to be an important benefactor of Brazil with regards to improving the life quality of people, especially through education.  Finally, I plan to leave a positive legacy for my country; generating succession, influencing people, and building something eternal.

Gary Li
Canada
Gary Li

Academic areas of interest: Economics, marketing, international studies, and politics.

Activities and interests: Swimming, singing, playing the clarinet, student government, volunteering in music therapy and music education, French studies, honing skills related to entrepreneurship, and of course, Netflix!

Future plans: Venturing in public policy or social enterprise, and exploring every continent across the globe.

Shadrack Lilan
Kenya
Shadrack Lilan

Academic areas of interest: Chemical / biomolecular engineering and economics.

Activities and interests: Soccer, field hockey, jogging, movies, hiking, random trips, community service, and cycling.

Future plans: To work across the globe.  Once I have amassed enough skills, experience, and resources, I will return to my home country (Kenya) and try my best to bring some economic change to my nation.

Trang Luu
Vietnam
Trang Luu

Academic areas of interest: English and theatre arts.

Activities and interests: Drama, community service, reading, writing, Western riding, tutoring, and Benjamin Franklin Scholars.

Future plans: I hope to pursue a career in academia or go into publishing.

Vanessa Makuvaro
Zimbabwe
Vanessa Makuvaro

Academic areas of interest: Computer engineering, communication systems, philosophy.

Activities and interests: Baking, tennis, outdoor obstacle courses, community service, debate, alternative and folk music.

Future plans: Software engineering, entrepreneurship, and the development of educational support technologies for Zimbabwe and similar countries.

Mia Mansour
France/Lebanon
Mia Mansour

Academic areas of interest: Mechanical engineering, applied mechanics, physics, business/economics, and criminology.

Activities and interests: Serving social justice and fully engaging in my community, painting (especially with oil), Choral Arts, swimming, Model United Nations and other debate opportunities, kayaking/mountaineering/hiking/biking and outdoor activities, student government, and creative writing.

Future plans: Engaging in space exploration and the aircraft industry (while continuing to draw, sing, and research physics), contributing to women's leadership in science and technology, bridging the gap between socially and economically diverse groups.

Santiago Pereira
Uruguay
Santiago Pereira

Academic areas of interest: Business, international relations, entrepreneurship, management, politics, and media.

Activities and interests: Entertainment (TV, movies, books), event organization, Model UN, musical theatre, and writing. 

Future plans: I would eventually desire to manage my own business, but other professional interests are international politics, campaign management, and the entertainment, retail, and technological industries.

Andre Rappaccioli
Nicaragua
Andre Rappaccioli

Academic areas of interest: Systems engineering, actuarial mathematics, computer science, and entrepreneurship.

Activities and Interests: Technology, debate, travel, entrepreneurship, social activism, politics, and student involvement.

Future plans: Create and manage a transitional consulting company that contributes to the social and economic development of Nicaragua. Eventually get involved in Nicaraguan politics.

Saku Rimali
Finland
Saku Rimali

Academic areas of interest: Engineering, physics, economics, and business.

Activities and interests: Running, sports, piano, music, hiking, traveling, and technology.

Future plans: To develop and commercialize cutting-edge technology fighting global issues.

Halima Said
Kenya
Halima Said

Academic areas of interest: Business and international studies. 

Activities and interests: Swimming, reading, cooking, 1950's jazz music, and community service.

Future plans: Start a socially responsible agribusiness which will empower the small-scale farmers of sub-Saharan Africa, and become the Secretary General of the United Nations.

Shane Shearman
Trinidad & Tobago
Shane Shearman

Academic areas of interest: Engineering, math, physics, history, and political science.

Activities and interests: Music, playing steel pan (national instrument), education, soccer, and karate.

Future plans: Education, scientific research, entrepreneurship, and magnanimity. 

Elen Bianca Souza
Brazil
Elen Bianca Souza

Academic areas of interest: Business, engineering, and language. 

Activities and interests: Sports (particularly volleyball and soccer), community service, and traveling.

Future plans: Through social entrepreneurship, promote equality and improve people's lives in Brazil and worldwide.

Profile image of Sandra Urusaro
Rwanda
Sandra Urusaro

Academic areas of interest:  Global health, Oncology, Medicine, Nursing, Research, Languages and culture, Health Leadership, Health administration.

Activities and interestsWorking with the international community, volunteering or being hands on in clinical settings, reading, cooking, traveling, community service and leadership

Future plansI am interested in being a clinicians in low-middle income settings, bridging the gap between leadership in healthcare and delivery of care to improve outcomes, translating skills learned to settings with very limited resources such as Rwanda. Regardless of where, I want to create a positive impact in healthcare. 

Orhan Efe Yavuz
Turkey
Orhan Efe Yavuz

Academic areas of interest: Physics, aerospace engineering, astrophysics, math, quantum physics, and computer science.

Activities and interests: Co-founder at a youth astronomy society in Turkey, stargazing, professional astronomy observation research, snooker, robotics, computational physics.

Future plans: Working as a rocket scientist/aerospace engineer at a space exploration company/organization to make mankind a multi planetary species. Start a research institute for astrophysics, robotics, and synthetic biology.