Providing near-to-peer support and mentorship
Student Ambassadors work collaboratively with the MOR admissions counseling team to connect with and support underrepresented and underserved students of color communities with an empowering perspective that validates students’ cultural backgrounds.
About the Program
As diverse student role models for high school youth, Student Ambassadors develop and assist with outreach events held on campus where they share their perspectives, conduct motivational workshops, and provide information about the UW admissions process, financial aid, academic requirements, and University resources.
Program History
The Student Outreach Ambassador Program was born out of the passion of UW students who rallied to counter the negative impacts of a 1998 Washington State Initiative (I-200) that effectively outlawed affirmative action. The program has since evolved from an all volunteer organization to a paid team of Student Ambassadors supported by MOR staff.
The program was awarded the 2002 Brotman Diversity Award in recognition of their exemplary advancement of the diversity of our university community and in 2003, MOR staff presented our model at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity.
Join us in celebrating 25 years of the Student Ambassador Program!
Since 1999, MOR’s Student Ambassador Program has proudly connected and empowered underrepresented students through mentorship and support. For 25 years, Student Ambassadors have been role models, guiding students on their path to higher education and celebrating their unique backgrounds. Here’s to 25 years of impact!
As a MOR ambassador, I developed the skills necessary to represent, serve, and contribute to student success, accessibility, and community. My experiences through MOR provided the foundation for my success and serves to highlight the importance of MOR’s work in higher education.
Comanche Tribal Nation
Application
Apply to be a Student Ambassador! Contact Program Manager Rose Nguyen to learn more about the program.
Meet Our Ambassadors
Have a question for a specific Student Ambassador? We encourage you to email reach@uw.edu with “ATTN: [Ambassador Name]” in the subject line and the Student Ambassador will reply.
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Lesley Kamoto
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Penina Logotala
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Kaloeaholokai (Noah) Lum
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Xitlaly Mendoza
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Anastacia Mikaele
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Emoni Valdovines
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Bryan Aguilar Campos
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Abigail Moran
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Clarissa Morninggun
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Noelia Rivera Garcia
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Graciela Knudsen
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Esmeralda Valdes Guerrero
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Iyanu Sofowora
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Thuwaybah Sheikh
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Joanna Pena-Rodriguez
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Isa Saiz
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Jasmine Darmadi
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Kimberly Il
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Lesley Kamoto
Year: Senior
Hometown: Burien, WA
Affinity Group: Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Major: Geography
Minor: Business & Oceanic Pacific Islander Studies
Languages Spoken: English + Tongan
Why I came to the UW: I couldn’t see myself pursuing such a high quality education, anywhere else.
Penina Logotala
Year: Senior
Hometown: Renton, WA
Affinity Group: Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Major: American Ethnic Studies
Minor: Oceania Pacific Islander Studies (OPIS)
Languages Spoken: English
Why I came to the UW: I chose UW because I remember the the people from the Polynesian Student Alliance (PSA) come to my high school and that was the representation that I needed to see, Pacific Islanders in higher education. I always knew that I wanted to be a part of the PSA UW family and to encourage future pasifika generations to come.
Kaloeaholokai (Noah) Lum
Year: Junior
Hometown: ʻAiea Hawaii and Camas Washington
Affinity Group: Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Major: Political Science and Global/Regional Studies
Minor: Oceania/Pacific Islander Studies
Languages Spoken: English
Why I came to the UW: The reason I chose UW was because of the resources and networking opportunities. It’s also allowed me to connect with students from diverse backgrounds.
Xitlaly Mendoza
Year: Junior
Hometown: Connell, WA
Affinity Group: Hispanic/Latinx
Major: Sociology and Law, Societies, & Justice
Minor: Leadership
Languages Spoken: English and Spanish
Why I came to the UW: Choosing to attend UW was the best decision I ever made in order to further my education, surround myself with opportunities, and most of all make my Mexican parents proud as a first generation student!
Anastacia Mikaele
Year: Senior
Hometown: Vancouver, WA
Affinity Group: Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Major: Medical anthropology
Minor: Oceania and Pacific Islander studies
Languages Spoken: English and Spanish
Why I came to the UW: For years it has been a school close to home where I saw people who looked like me achieving things I wish to accomplish
Emoni Valdovines
Year: Senior
Hometown: Richland, WA
Affinity Group: Hispanic/Latino
Major: Public Health
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Why I came to the UW: I chose the UW because I knew I could find my community with the diverse student body, I wanted to challenge myself academically, and with a bigger school there was more opportunities for things like internships and research.
Bryan Aguilar Campos
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Federal Way, WA
Affinity Group: Hispanic/Latino
Major: Business Administration, Certificate in International Business, Certificate in International Business
Languages Spoken: English & Spanish
Why I came to the UW: I chose the University of Washington not just to pursue higher education, but to become the leader and change-maker for my community, family, and future.
Abigail Moran
Year: Senior
Hometown: Granger, WA
Affinity Group: Hispanic/Latino
Major: Psychology
Minor: Law Societies and Justice
Languages Spoken: English and Spanish
Why I came to the UW: I chose to come to the UW because I knew it could provide me with not only the best quality education, but also with endless opportunities that would help me grow and flourish now and in my future career.
Clarissa Morninggun
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Affinity Group: American Indian/Alaskan Native
Major: Public Health
Languages Spoken: English
Why I came to the UW: UW Medical School.
Noelia Rivera Garcia
Year: Senior
Hometown: Pasco, WA
Affinity Group: Hispanic/Latino
Major: Political Science
Minor: Law, Societies and Justice and Human Rights
Languages Spoken: English and Spanish
Why I came to the UW: I chose to come to the UW because of the great programs and resources they offered me as a First-generation Latina student.
Graciela Knudsen
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Federal Way, WA
Affinity Group: Hispanic/Latino
Major: Speech and Hearing Sciences
Minor: Spanish
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Why I came to the UW: I chose the UW not only for the location, but for the many opportunities it has as a top school in the state and the nation 🙂
Esmeralda Valdes Guerrero
Year: Senior
Hometown: Federal Way, WA
Affinity Group: Hispanic/Latino
Major: Psychology and ECO
Languages Spoken: English and Spanish
Why I came to the UW: I chose to come to the University of Washington because I wanted to get an education from a school that would challenge me and allow me to grow into the adult and scholar I always imagined myself to be.
Iyanu Sofowora
Year: Senior
Hometown: Everett, WA
Affinity Group: Black/African American
Major: Business Admin: Information Systems and Marketing
Languages Spoken: English
Why I came to the UW: There are so many opportunities for students here to thrive and I wanted to partake in that.
Thuwaybah Sheikh
Year: Junior
Hometown: Kent, WA
Affinity Group: Black/African American
Major: Informatics
Languages Spoken: English
Why I came to the UW: I chose the UW not only because of its vibrant community, but also because it stood out to me as the perfect place to grow personally and professionally, surrounded by inspiring people and a culture of innovation!
Joanna Pena-Rodriguez
Year: Senior
Hometown: Wenatchee, WA
Affinity Group: Hispanic/Latino
Major: Law, Societies, and Justice & Political Science
Minor: Informatics
Languages Spoken: Spanish, English
Why I came to the UW: As a first-generation student from a low-income household, receiving the Costco Scholarship was one of the reason I decided to attend the UW.
Isa Saiz
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Madison, WI
Affinity Group: American Indian/Alaskan Native
Major: Environmental Science (Restoration Ecology)
Languages Spoken: English & Spanish
Why I came to the UW: I chose UW because I heard good things about the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences which is the field I knew I wanted to pursue. Plus UW has a lot of research opportunities to offer.
Jasmine Darmadi
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Eugene, OR
Affinity Group: Southeast Asian
Major: Business Administration
Minor: Real Estate
Languages Spoken: English
Why I came to the UW: I was drawn to the University of Washington because of its resources and opportunities for the business program. As a student of color, being supported in a diverse community was also very important to me and I saw that UW had great DEI programs like the Multicultural Outreach and Recruitment program. I wanted to go to UW because it offered great support for their academics and cultural diversity.
Kimberly Il
Year: Senior
Hometown: Lacey, WA
Affinity Group: Southeast Asian
Major: Law, Societies and Justice & Political Science
Minor: Diversity
Languages Spoken: English, Khmer
Why I came to the UW: I choose UW because of its commitment to diversity and support for first generation college students. I knew that I would have access to the best mentoring and academic resources as well as be able to develop my passions and grow.