Annual Report 2017
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THE JOHNSON SCHOLARS PROGRAM
A Year in Review—2017
Santa Clara University is California’s oldest operating higher-education institution. Located in Silicon Valley, as a comprehensive Jesuit, Catholic University, it demonstrates faith-inspired values of ethics and is committed to leaving the world a better place. The Johnson Scholars Program aligns with this vision of developing the whole person by encouraging creativity, serving our communities, and cultivating knowledge and faith to build a more humane, just, and sustainable world. Johnson Scholars receive a merit scholarship covering full tuition during the academic year, renewable annually for up to four years. Scholars are also eligible for additional costs of attendance, such as standard room and board fees as well as book and other customary expenses. Johnson Scholars have access to the University Honors and Johnson Leadership Fellows Programs, faculty mentoring, and research experiences. Being a part of this distinctive community opens a wide variety of doors for the scholars during their four years at Santa Clara. This year, the program welcomed a new cohort of 10 scholars. In the following pages read their stories, review the highlights of the past year, and learn how the program continues to support scholars dedicated to leadership and service for the common good in their professional, civic, and personal lives.
Highlights from the Year The Johnson Scholars enjoy being a part of a distinctive community at Santa Clara. During 2017, scholars were involved in various special leadership opportunities.
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participated in cohort leadership workshops led by Leadership Coordinator Bill Mains and Program Director Maitreya Badami; organized and hosted a reception during SCU’s Family Weekend; discussed ethical leadership at a dinner in January with Robbie Bach, former Xbox president at Microsoft; shared SCU student experiences at a Q&A parent session and performed at the evening dinner during Scholarship Weekend; lunched with Chip Adams, founder and president of the Center for Conscientious Leadership and board member at Under Armour, in May;
Chip Adams met with the Class of 2018 scholars for a conversation on work and leadership.
hosted Gregory Boyle, S.J., of Homeboy Industries at a student leader luncheon and as a keynote speaker at an evening event open to the campus and local community, with more than 4,000 people in attendance, in May; attended and helped facilitate workshops at the fall and spring leadership retreats; and celebrated the inaugural Johnson Scholars graduating class of 2017 with surprise gifts, speeches, and a Sunday brunch.
Gregory Boyle, S.J. presents keynote address.
Cynthia Le ’17 choreographed a dance to the Disney soundtrack “Frozen” and performed along with two other Johnson Scholars, Rachael Han ’20 and Taylor Tagawa ’18, at the Johnson Scholarship weekend evening dinner.
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Johnson Scholars Vanessa Shin, ’19 and Nick Spragg ’20 share with other Johnson Scholars their experiences on the East L.A. Immersion at a dinner discussion on service and leadership.
Robbie Bach shares dinner and conversation with Johnson Scholars on ethical leadership and decision making.
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Introducing the Class of 2021 Johnson Scholars Sean Even In high school, Sean achieved Brophy College Preparatory Distinguished Student Award, the AP Scholar with Distinction Award, his Eagle Scout Rank, and the Arizona Republic’s (Phoenix newspaper) Runner-Up for Student Athlete of the Month. During high school, Sean was a two-sport athlete, playing basketball for three years and volleyball for four years in addition to serving in National Honor Society, Key Club, and the Big Brother’s Program at Brophy. Two experiences in high school that impacted Sean were a 30-day immersion trip to Peru in the summer of 2015, and serving as a leader for a Kairos retreat for other Brophy students in the spring of 2017. The Peru immersion trip opened Sean’s eyes to the tremendous needs in our world and challenged him to use his skills and talents to meet these needs right now. The Kairos retreat helped Sean grow tremendously in his own faith and also helped him become a man for others in order to help them grow in their own faith. Finally, just for fun, Sean helped to organize an ultimate frisbee team at his high school that competes locally with other high schools and occasionally in tournaments out of state. Sean is very excited about being a part of the Johnson Scholars Community and he can’t wait to use his talents to help serve the needs of others in the Santa Clara community.
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona High School: Brophy College Preparatory Major: Mechanical Engineering
Mollie Mertes Mollie is honored and grateful to be selected as a Johnson Scholar and is excited to grow her love of learning at Santa Clara University. At Edina, Mollie was named a National Merit Commended Scholar and an AP Scholar with Distinction. Participating in Model United Nations, she received committee awards from The Humphrey School of Public Affairs and Macalester College. Mollie was elected to Student Council for three years and served as senior class vice president. As a cellist in the Edina Symphony Orchestra, she performed on Easter Sunday in Vienna. She was a member of the Twin Cities Youth Rowing Club and hopes to continue her experience on the water as a member of the Bronco Crew Team. Mollie is active in her church, volunteering as a group leader for eight Teens Encounter Christ retreats. Supported by a community of compassionate mentors at SCU, Mollie looks forward to growing into the leader she knows she can become.
Hometown: Edina, Minnesota High School: Edina High School Major: Business
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Katie Neighbors Hometown: Georgetown, Texas High School: Meridian World School Major: Bioengineering | Minor: Spanish
As part of the second graduating class of a K–12 IB world school, Katie has spent her four years of high school actively working to develop a supportive and engaging school environment. As class president, National Honor Society vice president, and a student council representative, Katie helped to raise over $10,000 for her school community. She was named a National Merit Commended Scholar, led her Destination Imagination team to take 5th place at Global Finals in 2016, and received an honorable mention for her team’s entry into Moody’s M3 Mega Math Challenge. Katie loves animals and traveling, and is a tireless advocate for women’s rights, racial equality, and other social justice issues. Her travels to Spain and Ecuador have helped her to see the imbalance in the world with regard to these issues, and she is excited to serve as an agent for social change during her time at Santa Clara. She cannot wait to embrace the global and service oriented education that is at the heart of the Johnson Scholars Program and Santa Clara University.
Alex Quan Hometown: San Diego, California High School: Canyon Crest Academy Major: Neuroscience | Double Minor: Art History and Philosophy
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Alex is a San Diego native and a proud graduate of Canyon Crest Academy. As a member of CCA’s unique Humanities Conservatory Program, he served on projects such as creating an 11th grade U.S. history curriculum that encourages students to interpret primary sources. Alex was a national finalist in the philosophy category of the 2017 MIT Inspire Humanities Research Competition with his project titled “Does Modern Psychology Influence Philosophical Theories of Punishment?” Fascinated by the brain, he explored the world of clinical neuroscience by volunteering with a UCSD clinical research study using transcranial magnetic stimulation to treat traumatic brain injury headaches. In his free time, Alex enjoys travel, reading, hiking, playing piano and baritone saxophone, and most of all, yoyoing. An aspiring physician, Alex enjoys discovering the bridges between the humanities and medicine. At Santa Clara, Alex looks forward to diving in and wrestling with issues of justice, faith, and purpose through the lenses of philosophy and art history while pursuing deeper knowledge in neuroscience.
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Introducing the Class of 2021 Johnson Scholars Alexandra Rivera Hometown: Lacey, Washington High School: Pope John Paul II High School Major: Mechanical Engineering
Alexandra was the student body president at Pope John Paul II High School and was a president, vice president, and founding member of JPII’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter. She is an inaugural member of JPII’s National Honor Society and was recognized as a National Merit Commended Student, National Hispanic Recognition Scholar, and AP Scholar. Alexandra is a member of JPII’s Knowledge Bowl team, helping to win three state championships. She is also vice chair and youth commissioner on the city of Lacey’s Board of Park Commissioners, as well as teen representative on the board of directors for the local nonprofit organization, Homeless Backpacks. Alexandra is driven by a love of the arts, has studied classical piano and ballet for more than 10 years, and performs regularly at the city of Olympia’s Washington Center for the Performing Arts. Alexandra is committed to leadership within and service to her community and sees the SCU vision of building a more humane, just, and sustainable world as further inspiration to help her accomplish her goals.
Emma Rosicky Hometown: Portland, Oregon High School: Beaverton High School Major: Mechanical Engineering | Minor: Studio Art
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Emma has excelled academically in National Honor Society, as an AP scholar with distinction, and with honors distinctions in multiple subjects. She is passionate about mentoring and leadership and has volunteered as a LINK leader—helping freshmen acclimate to high school, serving as an AVID tutor, and supporting at-risk youth toward the goal of graduation. She is a dedicated athlete, competing in multiple sports including club soccer, with varsity letters in soccer, water polo, tennis, and swimming. Her involvement in Jewish life has been extensive, leading her peers as youth religious and cultural vice president for several years. With her Jewish peers, she has traveled to the American South to learn about the Civil Rights Movement and to Washington, D.C., to petition her congresspersons on behalf of LGBT youth. In 2016, she spent a month in Israel, which helped her to understand the religious and cultural conflicts of the Middle East and the historical context of the long and complicated struggle continuing today. Emma is also an artist, enjoying various media and constantly experimenting with style and form. She is so pleased to join the Santa Clara community, with the opportunity to build on her life experiences and expand her interests through mentoring, leadership, and learning.
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Riley Scherr Hometown: San Juan Bautista, California High School: St. Francis Salesian College Preparatory Major: Anthropology
Riley is a curious and driven student of the world focused on improving himself and the wider community. Involved in leadership throughout high school, Riley was the senior class vice president and secretary for the campus California Scholarship Federation. Inquisitive in the classroom, Riley was the St. Francis class of 2017 valedictorian and recipient of the math and English departments’ career awards. A four-time lead for St. Francis’s spring musical, he is also involved in Music Ministry and counsels at Kids Rule Theatre Camp. Riley serves at the Aromas Food Distribution and is the founder of the Helping to Heal campaign, providing funds for therapy and other services to survivors of childhood sexual abuse, a cause about which he is extremely passionate. Riley is drawn to Santa Clara’s mission of persistent compassion and justice and is grateful to be a part of a community of like-minded individuals.
Rob Stallman Hometown: Ashland, Oregon High School: Ashland High School Major: Mechanical Engineering
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Rob has found ways to be a leader since playing Little League baseball in elementary school. In high school, he served as president of the Global Citizens Corps and Math Honor Society. Rob was a strong contributor to his school’s debate team, attending the national competition three years in a row where he won second place internationally in World Schools Debate in 2015 and finished in the top 35 in Policy Debate in 2016. He learned the importance of service from an early age when he volunteered with his local Rotary chapter growing fresh produce for the local food bank. When he isn’t at a debate tournament or school, he can be found playing tennis, making delicious food, or flying radio-controlled planes. He values education highly and is looking forward to learning both in and out of the classroom at Santa Clara.
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Introducing the Class of 2021 Johnson Scholars Cole Steere Hometown: Bellevue, Washington High School: Bellevue High School Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Cole is both humbled and excited to be a Johnson Scholar at SCU. While attending high school, he earned the Wolverine Guard award (for greater than 100 hours of community service in a year), Spirit of the Wolverine (nominated by coaches, for best representing academics and leadership in sports), and served as captain of the varsity soccer team. Outside of school, Cole was actively involved in Boy Scouts, earning Eagle, Order of the Arrow, and enjoying the amazing outdoor activities such as backpacking and snowboarding that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. He also played premier club soccer for 10 years, travelling throughout the West Coast and winning State Cup in that time. Cole is most excited by the opportunity at SCU to grow his ability to apply technology to solving real-world problems. He brings energy to every challenge he faces and believes that college is the time to take risks and stretch oneself. He is excited to test this out and see how much he can grow while giving back to those around him.
Mallika Yeleswarapu Hometown: San Jose, California High School: Notre Dame High School Major: Business and Women’s and Gender Studies
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Mallika is a valedictorian of her graduating class of 2017 at Notre Dame High School in San Jose. She is a member of the National Honor Society and is also the founder of DiversiTEAs, a space for interfaith dialogue at her high school. She has been actively involved in many community service and leadership activities. During her senior year, Mallika worked with The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose to help create long-term mentoring programs and other support systems for girls in STEM. She is also a recipient of the museum’s David H. Liu Scholarship. Mallika has been learning Kuchipudi, an Indian classical dance, for more than eight years. She is also an avid reader and photographer. Mallika is excited to be part of the Johnson Scholars Program. She looks forward to leadership and advocacy opportunities and working with a community that is energized about social justice.
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Selection of the Class of 2021 Scholars: Facts and Figures ■■
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Through early and regular admission applications, 318 semifinalists were admitted to Santa Clara and identified for the Class of 2021 Johnson Scholar selection process. Semifinalists were asked to submit an essay reflecting on the book Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory Boyle, S.J. After reviewing the essays, a selection committee composed of faculty and staff identified 61 finalists who were invited for a one-day, on-campus selection process, coupled with SCU’s annual Preview Day for admitted students. 42 finalists attended the selection-day activities, from which the current 10 Johnson Scholars were selected.
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60% engineering majors
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20% business majors
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10% social science majors
The 2021 Johnson Scholars cohort has an average: ■■
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Finalists participate in team-building exercises organized by the Center for Student Involvement as part of the selection activities for the scholarship.
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High school GPA of 3.96 compared to the class average of 3.68 SAT score in math and critical reading of more than 1,400 compared to the class average of 1,371 Composite ACT score of 34 compared to the class average of 29
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The 2017 Johnson Leadership Stipend Projects After their first year, Johnson Scholars are eligible to use their $7,500 leadership development grant to create self-tailored enrichment experiences designed to enhance learning, cultivate leadership, and build ethical decision making skills. Experiences may include internships, independent research, attending conferences and workshops and cultural immersion travel.
In 2017, one fifth-year senior, five rising seniors, seven rising juniors, and two rising sophomore Johnson Scholars were awarded a stipend to use toward the following projects:
Steven Parks Class of 2017, expected graduation winter 2018 Summer internship with Indonesian Institute for Energy Economics in Indonesia
Hannah Kortbawi Class of 2018 Research at the University of Washington in Seattle on elegans and mammalian cells
Taylor Tagawa Class of 2018 Conference attendance to survey corporate financial and data analysis for professional development
Taylor Tagawa Johnson Scholar – Class of 2018 “One interesting lesson I learned about leadership from this experience was the unique challenges data analysts face in today’s business environment. Even when not in a management or executive position, many employees have to be leaders and trailblazers when it comes to new technologies, tools, and methods. Through this project, I learned that this kind of leadership will be critical in my career, even in my early roles at a lower level.”
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2017 Johnson Leadership Stipend Projects Erika Sasaki Class of 2018 Shadowing two physicians at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and working in Associate Professor Linda Brunauer’s biochemistry research lab on campus
Owen Huelsbeck Class of 2018 Intern with the Innocence Project in Alaska, a nonprofit legal organization committed to exonerating wrongly convicted people
Marli Dunn Class of 2018 Assessment and research on psychological transformation with Professor Thomas Plante on campus
Liah D’sa Class of 2019 Fundraising and event planning intern with Wayfarer Entertainment and the Wayfarer Foundation, a nonprofit started by actor and philanthropist, Justin Baldoni
Liah D’sa Johnson Scholar – Class of 2019 “I had the privilege to assist the executive director of the Wayfarer Foundation in creating the foundation and scaffolding of the young nonprofit. Because of the startup-like atmosphere, I became a jack-of-all trades in the multiple specialties of the nonprofit world including (but not limited to) event planning, volunteer recruitment, fundraising, grant writing, and more. Furthermore, I was able to interact with the leaders of the housing insecurity nonprofits in the greater Los Angeles area such as the Union Rescue Mission, Volunteers of America, and the Dream Center. All of these experiences have helped affirm my desire to continue working in the nonprofit sector, as well as hone the direction as to where I would like to go in the future.”
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2017 Johnson Leadership Stipend Projects Maria Khouri-Haddad Class of 2019 Intern at social enterprise Asila Luxury, which aims to empower women artisanal entrepreneurs in Morocco
Vanessa Shin Class of 2019 Global Fellows internship at Association for Social and Environmental Development, a social enterprise that seeks to create an ecologically resilient society through the empowerment and education of youth in Kolkata, India
Eoin Lyons Class of 2019 Intern in Hyderabad, India, at Franklin Templeton Investments with the Investment Compliance team
Cooper Scherr Class of 2019 Medical volunteer in Cusco, Peru, for five weeks in the emergency department aiding doctors and nurses in various aspects of patient care
Eoin Lyons Johnson Scholar – Class of 2019 “This internship opened my eyes to the world of compliance. As a finance and political science double major with a pre-law emphasis, I have been searching for ways to combine my two majors and interests. I gained many hard and soft skills through being in a corporate environment and working for such a reputable and established firm. Beyond the office, I experienced unmatched development and growth as well. Exploring Hyderabad, being independent in my responsibilities, experiencing Bollywood, and having to generally take care of myself all combined to develop my problem-solving skills, independence, and maturity. I am excited to take the lessons I learned beyond the classroom and Santa Clara, and I cannot wait to share my experiences—either directly or indirectly—with those I meet.”
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Jon Tuttle Class of 2019 Internship at Bolivia 4Ward, an educational nonprofit in Cochabamba, Bolivia, that provides educational summer programming to disadvantaged students
Rachel Goldstein Class of 2019 Internship at ATP labs, a young startup in the agricultural/tech field, working on a plot landscape classifier in Tel Aviv, Israel
Alexander James (A.J.) Elfar Class of 2020 Housing and travel in New York City for an engineering practicum internship with Google
Nick Spragg Class of 2020 Working with Nomi Network in Cambodia, an organization that works to end human trafficking with a fashion incubator program that provides occupational training for women
Nick Spragg Johnson Scholar – Class of 2020 “During my time in Cambodia, I was speaking with Hom, our project manager, about the political state of his country and he said something that was quite moving for me personally. Hom had the opportunity to move out of his rural village and attend a university. He told me, ‘you know, Nick, I know my country is not wealthy but I am very hopeful that we are making progress.’ Hom is among the first generation to receive a formal education, and he sees the great privilege of studying higher education. I love how Hom sees his privilege as an opportunity to serve his people. This project really gave me a heart for global business and a deeper love for different cultures.”
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The Annual Johnson Scholars Leadership Retreats
Scholars participate in a workshop reflecting on personal values at the 2017 fall retreat.
Hannah Kortbawi Johnson Scholar – Class of 2018 “The retreats have been the most transformative aspect of the program for me because of the broad range of issues we have covered over the past few years. The program has shaped me not only as a leader, but as a person who lives out her values of compassion, service, and loyalty every day, which is what I hope my legacy at Santa Clara will be when I graduate this June.”
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Strengthening Community In May, the Johnson Scholars spring retreat took place at NatureBridge in the Golden Gate recreation area. Activities included an Ignatian Examen led by Theresa Ladrigan-Whelpley, director of Bannan Institutes, to reflect on the past academic year and a scholar-led workshop on personality and leadership styles. Scholars also shared their summer plans with one another and spent time bonding and relaxing at the beach, strengthening a sense of community. This year’s annual fall retreat took place in October at Mt. Cross Conference
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Center near Santa Cruz. The theme for the retreat was self care and vocation and involved workshops on values and time management, cultural and emotional intelligence, and decision making. Saturday evening, all the scholars participated in the “passing of the candle,” a retreat tradition to commemorate the start of a new academic quarter. This year, each student shared something they are planning to be intentional about as a Johnson Scholar for the year.
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Upcoming Spring Break Immersion Trip to Appalachia This upcoming spring break, March 2018, 11 Johnson Scholars will travel to the Appalachia Institute at Wheeling Jesuit University to learn firsthand about community development, culture, and environmental issues in rural West Virginia. Immersion trips are available to Johnson Scholars each year as a component of the program to prepare them for a life of leadership and service for the common good. Immersion trip participants engage in a pre-trip retreat, meetings, and reflections organized by a student coordinator with the support of the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education and the Johnson Scholars Program. Scholars who have previously traveled on an immersion are invited to apply to be a student coordinator. Vanessa Shin ’19, from Honolulu, Hawai’i, is studying biology and environmental science and will be leading the Appalachia immersion.
Vanessa Shin Johnson Scholar Immersion Coordinator – Class of 2019 “As the student coordinator for the Appalachia immersion trip, I will be facilitating pre- and post-trip meetings, organizing logistics, and supporting participants as they navigate topics such as privilege and environmental injustice. The promotion of immersion trips through the Johnson Scholars Program exposed me to these opportunities and made my past immersion experiences in Nicaragua and East Los Angeles possible. Immersion trips have been among my most memorable and meaningful weeks as an SCU student. In addition to the reflection and personal growth I have experienced, the opportunity to share these moments with other Johnson Scholars helps build deeper relationships within our community. Because the past Johnson Scholar trip coordinators fostered a safe and supportive environment that empowered me to learn and grow, I am excited to similarly accompany students in their own personal journeys. As an environmental science major, I’m interested in exploring the conflict between the environment and the livelihood of a community with the diverse perspectives and ideas of the immersion group.”
Drew Descourouez Class of 2019 “Although I have done extensive research about Appalachia, I am eager to learn from real human beings about their relationship with the environment. Appalachia can help us learn how modern Americans will transition into greener jobs and healthier relationships with the environment. In short, Appalachia is the perfect place to better learn about human ecology exactly where it is most necessary, and I believe the immersion model of deep listening and accompaniment is the only way to co-create a better future. I am excited to be alive at this point in history, as it becomes more and more clear that we need to reimagine our relationship with the environment. I am drawn to the Appalachia Immersion trip because it feels like a part of my vocation, to learn from marginalized communities about how we can create social, economic, and ecological solutions for our world.”
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Santa Clara University’s Johnson Scholars Program recognizes, rewards, and challenges exceptionally well-qualified students to explore their personal potential and develop deep leadership skills while attaining the highest levels of academic achievement.
The Johnson Scholars Program celebrates the inaugural graduating class of Johnson Scholars!
Amy Shachter, Ph.D. Senior Associate Provost for Research and Faculty Affairs Santa Clara University 500 El Camino Real Santa Clara, CA 95053 408-551-7041 ashachter@scu.edu
PROV-Johnson Scholars AR 11/17 10
For more information about the Johnson Scholars Program, please visit scu.edu/johnsonscholars, or contact:
Photography by: Joanne Lee and Charles Barry
Read full profiles of the Johnson Scholars and learn more about their activities and projects at scu.edu/jscommunity.