Recipients

MEET DESIREE W. Desirée Winns is a master’s student of international affairs at the George Washington University. Prior to her graduate studies, Desirée graduated with honors from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s in political science. She has interned at the Carter Center, the Aspen Institute, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, and NASA’s Office […]

MEET KAI H. Kai H. (they/them, he/him) is a second-year medical student at UCSF School of Medicine in the Program in Medical Education – Urban Underserved (PRIME-US) cohort. Kai is passionate about LGBTQ health, especially transgender health, and hopes to serve their community as a future physician and advocate. Their research focuses on Chinese transgender […]

MEET ERVA T. Erva T, who grew up in Eastern Europe, is a first-year medical student at Charles R. Drew University Science and Medicine, CA. After completing her BS in Chemistry in Eastern Europe, she immigrated to the United States to pursue graduate education. She completed her master’s degrees in biomedical sciences and public Health […]

  MEET MELAINE G.   Melaine is a 19-year-old Junior attending the University of Florida majoring in neuroscience. Melaine is the daughter of Cuban immigrants who left their homeland while pregnant with Melaine, with the knowledge that being born in the United States would help them attain a better life for their child. She successfully […]

MEET KEILANA B.  Keilana is an 18-year-old sophomore at the University of Central Florida majoring in computer engineering who completed her freshman year of college while still in high school. Keilana’s dreams lie in the stars…so she is aiming for them. Her goal and mission statement is to write code and build the robotic technology […]

  MEET CONSTANCE H.  Constance is a 21-year-old attending the University of San Francisco majoring in Biology as she pursues a medical degree. Constance originally attended The Virginia Military Institute (VMI) with the aim of becoming a field doctor in the military. VMI is known to challenge their students to prepare them for what lies […]

Meet Sydney W.  Sydney is a freshman attending Florida Institute of Technology, majoring in Aeronautical Science with Flight.  Sydney’s sense of adventure and aviation all started with her parents encouraging her to be anything she wanted to be. Sydney knew she wanted to love her job, and she loved to fly. At 14, Sydney started […]

MEET DESIREE W.        Born in the Orient, educated in Western Europe, Desiree is an                    experienced global traveler. Desiree went to college majoring in film.      Due to her worldwide experiences she had the desire to tell the stories of those who were […]

Meet Jordan S. How an individual deals with adversity tell you much about someone’s character. Nebraskan Jordan S. has dealt with adversity on personal, academic, financial, and emotional levels since childhood. With all that she has had to face, we were astounded by how much love and compassion Jordan brings to her community. Whether it […]

Meet Mary Y. Mary Y is an Upper Classman at Emory University pursuing a dual degree in African Studies (BA) and Nursing (BSN). As a native African, Mary is passionate about bringing healthcare to the west coast of Africa where health care for women is dearly needed. Mary has been honored with several awards such […]

  MEET AMELIA L. Amelia’s efforts in her community, her scholastic accomplishments, as well as her multiple honors and awards impressed the CKMEF review panel, as did her efforts and accomplishments in bettering the LGBTQIA+ community.   Her efforts are directed at members of that community suffering from substance abuse, suicide, PTSD, anxiety, depression and sexual […]

  MEET ALEXANDRA R. Alexandra is a 17-year-old dual enrolled student majoring in aeronautical science at Florida Institute of Technology. Her love for the aeronautical sciences has fueled her desire to become a pilot for a major airline. Just like Carolyn.  She had seen friends and family in her old hometown walk a different and […]

MEET ESHRAT N.  Eshrat is a 25-year-old with dual major in political science and international relations from Florida International University and is now pursuing a master’s degree in International and World Studies. From an early age Eshrat experienced the effects of racism, hate and bigotry. Even though she was too young to understand the seeds […]

MEET CARRICK M.   Carrick M. is a 21-year-old transgender individual pursuing a Political Science major at Indiana University. As a youth and having an abundance of confidence, a strong work ethic and a high level of intensity in everything he pursued, Carrick was placed in leadership roles. The spotlight found him naturally, but Carrick, […]

MEET AMANDA F. Amanda F. is a 21-year-old junior at Oregon State University majoring in Animal Sciences and Agriculture. Amanda is the epitome of a go-getter, diving into all aspects of running a farm and not just the raising of animals and growing of crops. She also is learning the business side so that her […]

MEET ADRIAN H.  Adrian H. is a 20-year-old transgender sophomore attending Tuft’s University majoring in applied environmental studies with a minor in Film/Media Adrian is a motivated champion for the environment, being involved with countless events in the Northern Tri-State area, that advance environmental policy using film and media to influence change in our climate […]