Student Ambassadors

Student Ambassadors

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.

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.

Theron WahkinneyYelm, WA
Comanche Tribal Nation
Theron Wahkinney

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.

  • Jane Hailemariam

    She/Her/Hers

  • Lesley Kamoto

    She/Her/Hers

  • Jeremiah Myint

    He/Him/His

  • Anastacia Mikaele

    She/Her/Hers

  • Hailey Bass

    She/Her/Hers

  • Makena Togia

    She/Her/Hers

  • Hailemikael Yirdaw

    He/Him/His

  • Pedro Caballero

    He/Him/His

  • Jacob Pati

    He/Him/His

  • Leah Tran

    She/Her/Hers

  • Emoni Valdovines

    She/Her/Hers

  • Francisco Tzintzun

    He/Him/His

  • Sophia Hernandez

    She/Her/Hers

  • Nattu Abraha

    He/Him/His

  • Angela Lopez

    She/Her/Hers

  • Fatima Gbla

    She/Her/Hers

  • Thiên Thanh (Tina) Nguyễn

    She/Her/Hers

  • Tristan Hopkins

    He/Him/His

Jane Hailemariam

She/Her/Hers

Year: Senior

Hometown: Shoreline, WA

Affinity Group: African American/Black

Major: Public-Health:Global Health

Minor: Nutritional Science

Languages Spoken: English

Why I came to the UW: I was just really gravitated towards UW and it was the best option in all aspects!

Lesley Kamoto

She/Her/Hers

Year: Sophomore

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Affinity Group: Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

Major: Geography

Minor: Business &OPIS

Languages Spoken: English + Tongan

Why I came to the UW: I couldn’t see myself pursuing such a high quality education, anywhere else.

Jeremiah Myint

He/Him/His

Year: Junior

Hometown: Kent, WA

Affinity Group: Southeast Asian

Major: Biochemistry

Languages Spoken: English, Falam, Burmese (Limited), Spanish (Limited)

Why I came to the UW: The diversity and closeness to home really appealed to me.

Anastacia Mikaele

She/Her/Hers

Year: Sophomore

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

Hailey Bass

She/Her/Hers

Year: Senior

Hometown: White Swan

Affinity Group: Hispanic/Latinx, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

Major: Law Societies and Justice

Languages Spoken: English

Why I came to the UW: UW was the only school I felt connected too. There were so many people who made me feel welcomed .

Makena Togia

She/Her/Hers

Year: Sophomore

Hometown: Federal Way, WA

Affinity Group: Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

Major: Nutritional Science

Languages Spoken: English

Why I came to the UW: I chose UW because it was very close to my hometown and I felt like I’d find a strong sense of community on campus.

Hailemikael Yirdaw

He/Him/His

Year: Senior

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Affinity Group: African American/Black, Ethiopian

Major: Bioengineering (Pre-Med)

Languages Spoken: English and Amharic

Why I came to the UW: UW is more diverse and a big school, with good amount of opportunities toward my career, and I felt I belonged here.

Pedro Caballero

He/Him/His

Year: Junior

Hometown: Granger, WA

Affinity Group: Hispanic/Latinx

Major: Public Health, Political Science

Languages Spoken: English, Spanish

Why I came to the UW: The reason I chose to come to the UW has to be because it was the only college that made me feel at home. It allowed me to become a better person and best version of myself because of the resources it has to offer.

Jacob Pati

He/Him/His

Year: Senior

Hometown: Olympia, WA

Affinity Group: Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

Major: American Ethnic Studies

Minor: Diversity

Languages Spoken: English

Why I came to the UW: I chose UW because it was always my dream school growing up.

Leah Tran

She/Her/Hers

Year: Senior

Hometown: Tacoma, WA

Affinity Group: Southeast Asian

Major: American Ethnic Studies

Minor: Diversity and Education, Learning & Societies

Languages Spoken: English and Vietnamese

Why I came to the UW: I chose UW because of the opportunities they had to offer for me as a first-gen student.

Emoni Valdovines

She/Her/Hers

Year: Sophomore

Hometown: Richland, WA

Affinity Group: African American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx

Major: Intended Bioengineering

Minor: Diversity

Languages Spoken: English, Spanish

Why I came to the UW: The UW was the school I saw myself being the most successful due to the many opportunities for someone in STEM and also the diverse student body creating a welcoming environment.

Francisco Tzintzun

He/Him/His

Year: Junior

Hometown: White Swan, WA

Affinity Group: Hispanic/Latinx

Major: Business

Minor: Real Estate

Languages Spoken: Spanish-Language

Why I came to the UW: UW was the first University I felt fully supported as a Latinx first-generation student!

Sophia Hernandez

She/Her/Hers

Year: Sophomore

Hometown: Wenatchee, WA

Affinity Group: Hispanic/Latinx

Major: Education, Communities, and Organizations (E.C.O.) & Political Science

Languages Spoken: English, Spanish

Why I came to the UW: I came to UW because it was the most accessible and affordable option as a first-generation college student. I am continuing my husky journey because I have been exposed to so many resources and opportunities that have allowed me to thrive throughout my experience.

Nattu Abraha

He/Him/His

Year: Junior

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Affinity Group: African American/Black

Major: Business Administration

Languages Spoken: English, Tigrinya

Why I came to the UW: No other school in the state has the network and access to professional and academic resources like UW. There is a a community for everyone if you’re willing to find it.

Angela Lopez

She/Her/Hers

Year: Junior

Hometown: Wapato, WA

Affinity Group: Hispanic/Latinx

Major: Double majoring in Psychology and Sociology

Minor: Diversity

Languages Spoken: English and Spanish

Why I came to the UW: I chose to attend the University of Washington because I wanted to take action in expanding my horizons to interact with people from various different cultural groups. I truly believe that attending this school has given me a multitude of knowledge and experience with many different people that have made me more conscious of my position and identity at this school and how I can utilize it to help others as I move forward as an individual.

Fatima Gbla

She/Her/Hers

Year: Junior

Hometown: New York City

Affinity Group:African American/Black

Major: Molecular, Cell, Developmental Biology

Languages Spoken: Mandinka, English

Why I came to the UW: I chose to come to UW because of the many opportunities and resources it provides for those interested in STEM and the proximity to my family.

Thiên Thanh (Tina) Nguyễn

She/Her/Hers

Year: Senior

Hometown: Born in Sàigòn, raised in Seattle, WA! (among 3 other states we don’t talk about)

Affinity Group: Southeast Asian

Major: Informatics + Applied Mathematics

Minor: Business

Languages Spoken: Vietnamese, Spanish, English

Why I came to the UW: I chose to come to UW because I knew I would thrive with the abundant opportunities available at a big school 🙂 … and financial aid because I get to graduate debt free!

Tristan Hopkins

He/Him/His

Year: Sophomore

Hometown: Puyallup, Washington

Affinity Group: American Indian/Alaska Native

Major: Intended LSJ

Languages Spoken: English

Why I came to the UW: I chose to come to the University of Washington because it has always been my number one school for a very long time and once going to college became serious I had exceptional grades and determination to know that UW was and is the best fit for me.

Become a Student Ambassador

Application Deadline: December 2, 2022

Apply (PDF)

Apply (Word)