AEO’s Steven A. Davis Scholarship for Social Justice is a $5 million commitment to advance educational opportunities for associates who are actively driving anti-racism, equality and social justice initiatives. Since the launch in 2021, we have awarded nearly $850,000 to 45 associate scholars who share our passion for creating a more equal and inclusive society.
We are thrilled to announce our third round of scholars from across the U.S., Canada and Mexico who are demonstrating the power of their positive actions and voices to inspire real change.
Meet the 2023 recipients!
Arianna plans to attend Spelman College with a major in Computer Science. She is an active member of many organizations, such as Girls Who Code and the National Center of Women in Technology, and wants to use her degree to help girls in underrepresented communities have access to coding and other STEM programs. Arianna also shares her love for reading on her social media channels, using her platform to promote books by lesser-known, BIPOC, and/or LGBTQIA+ authors.
Carmyn is planning to pursue a degree in Computer Engineering. Three years ago, she founded Carmyn’s Caring Closet, an organization that directly serves children in need in her community. She plans fundraisers and collection drives to source items that are needed for her community. Though her work, she has been able to provide school supplies and clothing to children in need.
Graciela is looking to pursue a major in Political Science at UC Davis. She was a leader in her school’s Teaching Youth Political Engagement group, which focuses on fostering diverse conversations across different perspectives. She was also a board member of her school’s Queer Straight Alliance, formed after Graciela and other students advocated for the school administration to allow LGBTQ+ initiatives. Graciela worked to create real change for students and has helped the school establish a process to recognize gender-expansive students, implement the display of preferred pronouns on the internal school website, and create safe spaces on campus.
Harsh is a fourth-year student pursuing Justice Studies at the University of Guelph Humber. Inspired by her background, Harsh created a program called ‘Future for Me’ that addresses the gap in the education system, especially in low-income areas where students may not have adequate tools to prepare for post-secondary education.
Isabella is working toward her degree in Psychology and Anthropolgy at the University of Oregon, with a minor in Business Administration. She is passionate about bringing representation to the medical field and works to highlight inequity in medical care for BIPOC individuals, especially Black women. She founded the Black Student Union at her high school and continues to return to mentor and inspire her peers to pursue careers in medicine.
Jasmine plans to study Political Science at the University of North Carolina Chapel-Hill. Her goal is to attend law school and work as an advocate in the court system for People of Color. She is part of the Mayor’s Youth Council in Nashville, a group dedicated to making change for the city. They host bi-annual summits with city leadership to discuss positive change and share ideas to better provide for the community. She also serves on the Council’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, working on a wide range of topics including education equity, systemic racism, and affirmative action.
Jordan is enrolled at Miami Dade College North Campus, studying Social Work, with a goal of transferring to Florida University. He is passionate about LGBTQ+ rights and has been part of his school’s Gay Straight Alliance (GSA). He was awarded GSA Leader of the Year by Safe Schools South Florida. In 2022, Jordan received an opportunity to partner with Mosaic Miami and AmeriCorps to launch a diversity program called Student Voices, and run a diversity and inclusion camp called Camp MetroTown. Student Voices is a program where students go through a two day training to share stories about discrimination. Camp MetroTown is a week-long camp where students learn about the diversity issues directly affecting those in Miami and develop skills to promote diversity in their own lives.
Katie attends Queen’s University in Canada as a full-time remote student. Recently, she took on an expanded role at AE to support Canada’s Market Team Leader. In this role, she focuses on driving community based events, creating a safe space for associates, and bringing awareness to different cultures within the community. She has extensive volunteer experience through the Will For Riding Foundation, a group that provides horseback riding lessons to children with physical or mental disabilities.
Maria is a student at the Western Institute of Technology and Higher Studies in Mexico majoring in Educational Sciences. She is passionate about the Scout organization, a program that has given her the opportunity to enjoy nature, meet other people and work on environmental education projects. She also volunteers at TECHO, an organization that works to address housing and habitat issues in Latin America and the Caribbean. She believes that quality education is a basic human right and hopes to positively impact her community with her degree.
Olivia plans to attend the University of Cincinnati and major in Psychology. Olivia worked with Her Drive – a nonprofit organization that provides menstrual care and basic hygiene products for women – to collect supplies in her community. She was selected to participate in her school’s annual “Diaspora” show, which coincides with the start of Black History Month. The photo shoot highlighted Black culture, beauty and relationships in a barbershop setting – a place that holds cultural significance for Black Americans.
Raiyana is attending the University of Calgary, pursuing a Bachelor’s of Design in City Innovation. Raiyana is passionate about accessability and how technology and design can improve the world for those with disabilities. She has worked with Makers Making Change, an organization that connects people with disabilities to volunteer makers who can build affordable assistive technologies. She hopes to bring disability awareness through her chosen career path to make a more equitable experience for all.
Sharonjit is planning to pursue a major in Civil Engineering and a minor in Business at Wentworth Institute of Technology. She is one of the founding members of the U-Club Act, a group with a mission to teach students about diversity and to advocate for diversity initiatives in school for marginalized groups.
Sheila is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Management, with a focus on Human Resources and Labour Relations, at the University of Lethbridge. She was one of the Co-Chairs of the Ubuntu Youth Council, a group that focuses on bringing diversity to the community through events and programming. She also served as a Youth Program Coordinator for the council under Ubuntu Mobilizing Central Alberta, assisting with community engagement programs for BIPOC youth.
Suzy is pursuing her Bachelor’s Degee in Womens and Gender Studies at Wellesley College. She is part of the leadership team for Wellesley for Reproductive Justice (WRJ), an organization that provides information, resources, and donations to organizations providing reproductive care. The group plans events, provides programming to students, and helps expand access to reproductive care for the community, with a particular focus on the impact on BIPOC individuals.
Taela is looking to pursue Psychology at the University of the Southwest while also playing on their volleyball team. As a Native American, Taela has focused her social justice pursuits on Native rights. She is from the Te’Moak Western Shoshone tribe and takes great pride in representing her heritage. She is a member of the Nevada Native American Youth Caucus, an organization that raises awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), combats cultural appropriation, seeks to engage Native American voters and creates policy change for Native peoples.
