MAP Scholars MAP Scholars MAP Scholars

Each year, the Multicultural Alumni Partnership reaches out to historically underrepresented UW students with financial support. This year’s promising scholars want to address inequities in health, education and leadership.

Ernest Balezi

Ernest Balezi moved from the Democratic Republic of Congo to the U.S. at age 11. “That’s when my passion for service sprouted as I began to notice the inequities that were prevalent in society and how they impacted many of the peers that I grew up with,” he says. Concluding that his peers lacked role models who could show the many possibilities available for them, he was inspired toward community leadership and hopes to find ways to support the people around him.
Alfredo Arreguin Scholarship

Elizabeth Lujano-Caballero, ’23

Elizabeth Lujano-Caballero is completing her master’s degree in the teacher education program. As a first-generation, Spanish-speaking Latina, Lujano-Caballero found that her identity and experiences were not often reflected by her teachers. “I am passionate about being a trustworthy, empathetic educator for young students who may be experiencing the same underrepresentation as I did growing up,” she says. “This way they can think, ‘Sí, se puede.’ ”
Owen G. Lee Scholarship

Muhammad Rahman, ’23

Muhammad Rahman, who studied data science and bioinformatics as an undergraduate, is a first-year medical student at the UW School of Medicine. “My main interests are working and volunteering with organizations that uplift disadvantaged communities, particularly in health care,” he says. “I am also deeply passionate about the intersection between technology and medicine and its applications in clinical research.”
Dr. Lois Price Spratlen Scholarship

Victoria Torres

Victoria Torres, a first-generation college student, is working on a public health degree. “I had the privilege of being raised in a Mexican household where I was taught to work toward my biggest dreams,” she says. “During my time at UW, I hope to gain the knowledge to continue my path toward becoming a physician and continue to bring impactful change to my community.”

Kaliana Guerrero, ’23

Kaliana Guerrero is a public health-global health graduate with an anthropology background. Now pursuing a Master’s in Public Health, she is working to promote health literacy and preventive care. “I am passionate about supporting communities in feeling empowered within the health system through effective communication and an understanding of various cultures and environments,” she says.