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.
Comanche Tribal Nation
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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Jane Hailemariam
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Lesley Kamoto
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Jeremiah Myint
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Anastacia Mikaele
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Hailey Bass
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Makena Togia
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Hailemikael Yirdaw
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Pedro Caballero
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Jacob Pati
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Leah Tran
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Emoni Valdovines
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Francisco Tzintzun
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Sophia Hernandez
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Nattu Abraha
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Angela Lopez
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Fatima Gbla
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Thiên Thanh (Tina) Nguyễn
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Tristan Hopkins
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Jane Hailemariam
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.