The 16th Annual WellsLink Transition Ceremony will honor WellsLink Scholars who have successfully transitioned to their second year at Syracuse University. The WellsLink Leadership Program, led by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, provides first-year students with structured academic, social and cultural enrichment activities that develop their leadership capital and enhance their success.
Jose Antonio Vargas
The campus community is invited to the Transitions Ceremony, which will feature keynote speaker Jose Antonio Vargas, on Friday, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be provided.
Vargas is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and Tony-nominated producer. A leading voice for the human rights of immigrants, he founded the nonprofit media and culture organization Define American, which has been named on the World’s Most Innovated Companies list by Fast Company. He is also the author of best-selling memoir, “Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen,”published by HarperCollins in 2019. Most recently, he co-produced Heidi Schreck’s acclaimed Broadway play, “What the Constitution Means to Me,” which was nominated for two 2019 Tony awards, including best play.
“The Transitions Ceremony marks an exciting time in our scholars’ career at Syracuse University. As we bring together the many peers, mentors, staff and faculty who support the success of our students and the program, we will celebrate our scholars’ achievements, as well as what’s next as they continue to grow as leaders, researchers, change-makers and engaged citizens on and off campus,” says Huey Hsiao, associate director in the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
The Class of 2022 WellsLink Scholars are:
Amanda Addison (College of Arts and Sciences)
Bianca L. Andrada (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
Andrea P. Arce (College of Visual and Performing Arts)
Amaar Asif (College of Arts and Sciences)
Aria K. Atwal (College of Arts and Sciences)
Nicole Ayora-Gonzalez (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
Angelique Bey (College of Arts and Sciences)
Shelly Bhanot (Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics)
Anthony P. Broccole (College of Arts and Sciences)
Jayla J. Brown (College of Arts and Sciences)
Justin J. Cayago (College of Arts and Sciences)
Richard J. Chang (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications)
Can Chen (College of Arts and Sciences)
Torian T. Clarke (College of Arts and Sciences/School of Education)
David Coghiel (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
Viviana D. Collymore (College of Arts and Sciences)
Soraya K. Cordero (College of Visual and Performing Arts)
Camille J. Cosmiano (School of Architecture)
Elvis L. Crespo (Falk College)
Leah Dawit (College of Arts and Sciences)
T-Keyah Doeman (School of Education)
Edwin E. Duke (Whitman School of Management)
Alyssa L. Edwards (College of Arts and Sciences)
Andrew Fisher (College of Arts and Sciences)
Anita N. Frasier (College of Visual and Performing Arts/School of Education)
Parthenia Gharavi (College of Arts and Sciences/College of Engineering and Computer Science)
Marco A. Gonzalez Jr (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
Skyla Gordon (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
Brycen J. Greco (School of Information Studies)
Valkyrie Hardy (College of Arts and Sciences)
Victoria L.R. Hathaway (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
Sophie G. Hernandez (College of Arts and Sciences)
Taylia Hinds (College of Visual and Performing Arts)
Christopher Kalaw (Falk College)
Dassy T. Kemedjio (College of Arts and Sciences)
Zainab Kumandan (College of Arts and Sciences)
Desiree M. Kurtti (College of Visual and Performing Arts)
Ashley M. Lambert (Falk College)
Charisma Leach (College of Arts and Sciences)
Eunice S. Lee (Whitman School)
Hadiya A. Lee (College of Arts and Sciences)
Aleksi R. Lewis (College of Arts and Sciences)
Jiaqi Li (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
Erik Liu (College of Arts and Sciences)
Vanessa L. Luangaphay (Whitman School)
Diego A. Luna (College of Arts and Sciences)
Hee Jin Lyou (College of Arts and Sciences)
Diarra Mack (College of Arts and Sciences)
Denise Magny (College of Arts and Sciences)
Emily F. Marsh (College of Arts and Sciences)
Angela L. Martinez (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
Lauren J. Mclean (School of Architecture)
Ashley M. Mendez (College of Arts and Sciences)
Raffi R. Mendoza (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
Philip Moon (School of Education)
Miguel E. Morales (College of Arts and Sciences)
Nathena A. Murray (College of Arts and Sciences)
Alister Murray Jr (School of Information Studies)
Mya Newsham (College of Arts and Sciences)
Danielle Nimako (College of Arts and Sciences)
Sophia Perida (College of Arts and Sciences)
Kaitlyn L. Philavanh (College of Visual and Performing Arts)
Haniyah S. Philogene (College of Arts and Sciences/Newhouse School)
Jennifer Porter (College of Arts and Sciences)
Marel J. Pryor (College of Arts and Sciences)
Mena S. Sawyer (College of Arts and Sciences)
Kianna G. Shakir (College of Arts and Sciences)
Fantasia A. Sherman (College of Arts and Sciences)
Darnelle Stinfort (College of Arts and Sciences)
Morgan Storino (College of Arts and Sciences)
Tiffany D. Tang (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
Dorbor Tarley (Falk College)
Jasmine O. Taylor (College of Arts and Sciences)
Remilekun O. Teru (Falk College)
Haley A. Tomasso (Falk College)
Mitchell Vargas (College of Arts and Sciences/Whitman School)
Xinyi Wang (Whitman School)
David J. Williams (College of Arts and Sciences)
About The WellsLink Leadership Program
The WellsLink Leadership Program is a nationally recognized academic and leadership excellence program for first-year students. Through structured academic, social and cultural enrichment activities, WellsLink Scholars develop the leadership capital necessary for exceptional success at Syracuse University and beyond. The program name was chosen to honor Barry L. Wells, founding director of Syracuse University’s first Office of Minority Affairs in 1976 and former senior vice president and dean of student affairs.
The WellsLink Leadership Program is sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs in the Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience, and was designed by Director James K. Duah-Agyeman and former Associate Director Paul M. Buckley. Since the program’s inception in 2003, WellsLink Scholars have demonstrated outstanding leadership at the University with representation at the executive levels of many student organizations, task forces, committees and networks of service. They are high academic performers and balanced community citizens.
