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Campus & Community

WellsLink Hosts 18th Annual Transitions Ceremony; Welcomes Nic Stone as Keynote

Monday, February 7, 2022, By Shannon Andre
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BIPOC Student Success Programs and Services
Nic Stone

Nic Stone

The WellsLink Leadership Program, a nationally recognized academic and leadership excellence program for first-year students of color, invites the campus community to the 18th Annual WellsLink Transitions Ceremony on Friday, Feb. 11. The ceremony is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel and will feature a keynote address from Nic Stone, author of New York Times bestselling books “Dear Martin” and “Dear Justyce.”

The WellsLink Transitions Ceremony celebrates students who have successfully transitioned to their second year at Syracuse University after participating in the WellsLink Leadership Program during their first year. In addition to the keynote from Stone, the ceremony includes remarks, musical performances and the presentation of stoles to the WellsLink Scholars.

“Throughout their experience in the WellsLink Leadership Program, our WellsLink Scholars embody what it means to be Orange—making the most of the opportunities on campus that support them in pursuing academic excellence, personal and professional development and campus and community leadership. We look forward to celebrating their achievements and recognizing the impact they have and will continue to make on campus and beyond,” says Huey Hsiao, associate director in Multicultural Affairs and the Kessler Scholars Program.

Following the ceremony, a reception will take place in the Noble Room of Hendricks Chapel. A book signing will also take place with Stone.

The WellsLink Leadership Program Class of 2024

  • Nykara Agosto (College of Visual and Performing Arts)
  • Maram Ahmed (College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Mira Ahuja (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications)
  • Faith Akoachere (College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Aaron Alakkadan (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • Rohail Alvi (College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Ana Aponte (College of Visual and Performing Arts)
  • Anayancy Barajas (College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Maile Barry (College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Juanitta Bekoe (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • Kyra Brown (School of Architecture)
  • Thomas Cahill (School of Information Studies)
  • Christopher Calderon Suarez (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • Timothy Chao (College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Nina Chen (College of Visual and Performing Arts)
  • Pich Chet (Martin J. Whitman School of Management/S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications)
  • Joshua Carl Cully (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • Arren Cuyler (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications)
  • Afua Danso Dankwa (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs)
  • Dennis Dao (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • Kamran Darabi (College of Visual and Performing Arts)
  • Hamere Debebe (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs)
  • Valentina Diaz (College of Arts and Sciences/S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications)
  • Samantha Esparza (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • Akweshie Fon-Ndikum (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • Dylan France (Martin J. Whitman School of Management)
  • Astrid Gedeon (Martin J. Whitman School of Management)
  • Guerdyna Gelin (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs)
  • Yash Godiwala (Martin J. Whitman School of Management)
  • Miguel Gomez Fernandez (Martin J. Whitman School of Management)
  • Erickson Gomez Fernandez (Martin J. Whitman School of Management)
  • Ralph Graham (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • David Griffin Jr (Martin J. Whitman School of Management)
  • Mia Gutarra (David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics)
  • Ka‘ai I (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs)
  • Ena Izawa (Martin J. Whitman School of Management)
  • Lexie Johnson (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs)
  • Leah Jones (College of Arts and Sciences)
  • MaryKate Keevins (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs/S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications)
  • Nicola Kim (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs)
  • Maya Lee (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • Jacob Leisawitz (College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Dao Ming Lin (School of Information Studies/Martin J. Whitman School of Management)
  • Kevin Loza Montiel (Martin J. Whitman School of Management)
  • Hayley Melendez (College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Lizmarie Montemayor (College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Jalen Morales (Martin J. Whitman School of Management)
  • Anna Nguyen (College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Lisa Nguyen (School of Information Studies)
  • Zikora Nnam (David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics)
  • Nicole Nunez (Martin J. Whitman School of Management)
  • Alejandro Parra (David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics)
  • Destiny Pearson (College of Arts and Sciences/School of Education)
  • Fabiana Perez (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • LJ Perry (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs/Martin J. Whitman School of Management)
  • Ejay Ramos (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs)
  • Jose Reyes Soto (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs)
  • Fidel Rivera (School of Information Studies)
  • Tamara Rodriguez (College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Julia Ruiz (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • Elliot Salas (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • Julian Serrano (College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Jeffrey Sims (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs)
  • Kailani Small (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • Ryan St Jean (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs)
  • Tasfia Sultana (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • Melissa Tang (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • Marivi Urdaneta (College of Arts and Sciences/School of Education)
  • Lizbeth Vidal (College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Nathan Viramontes (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • Nia Williams (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • Michael Wong (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • Myra Wong (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs/S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications)
  • Reyad Yassin (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • Yulun Zeng (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
  • Grace Zhang (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs)
  • Andrew Zheng (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs)

About The WellsLink Leadership Program

The WellsLink Leadership Program is a nationally recognized academic and leadership excellence program for first-year students of color. 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, inaugural coordinator of Syracuse University’s first Office of Minority Affairs in 1976 and retired senior vice president and dean of student affairs.

The WellsLink Leadership Program is sponsored by Multicultural Affairs in the Division of 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.

  • Author

Shannon Andre

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