Meet Prashanti Anderson
Being a Teaching Assistant (TA) has been the highlight of my CMU experience. It has been great introducing theoretical computer science to so many students and hopefully inspiring them as I was by the TAs who came before me. I also am very thankful for the professors, PhD students, and undergrads involved in theoretical computer science (both through teaching and research) at CMU. It is an amazing and supportive community, and I am so lucky to have been a part of it for these last four years.
View Prashanti's Nomination Letter
Extracurricular Activities
On Missing CMU
What's Next for Prashanti
Meet Maegan Bogetti
During my time at CMU, I was elected President of CMU's intersectional feminist student organization, CMU FEMME. In this role, I was able to support and organize 25+ educational and social events on issues of intersectional inequities for the student body, co-found the CMU Gender Equity Coalition of student organizations, encourage student civic engagement, and work with the Title IX Office and Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to advocate for greater student involvement in social equity work and on-campus advocacy. CMU FEMME helped fill a gap of student access to spaces to learn about and discuss gender-based inequities and the ways in which they overlap with other systems of oppression. I also was the first student to declare the new additional major in Environmental and Sustainability Studies and helped solidify a path for future students to enroll in a program centered on environmental justice and interdisciplinary environmental education.
Through these significant experiences, I hope that I've inspired students to consider the ways many huge challenges of our generation (gender, racial, and other inequities; a global climate crisis; rampant economic inequality, etc.) have overlapping causes and consequences. While this can be overwhelming, it also means that we have the opportunity to find overlapping solutions that allow us to create a vibrant future that is environmentally and socially sustainable for all.
View Maegan's Nomination Letter
Extracurricular Activities
- President of CMU FEMME
- Founder of CMU Gender Equity Coalition
- Member of CMU Mortar Board ETA Chapter
- Member of Andrew Carnegie Scholars
- Presenter at MOSAIC Conference on Intersectionality
- Outreach Coordinator for Green Village Initiative, Digital Media and Communications with Breathe Project
On Missing CMU
I'll most miss being surrounded by a community of students who are so passionate, talented, and immersed in their disciplines. What is so unique about CMU is that this student community also holds immense focus on the importance of interdisciplinary education and exploration of different fields, hobbies, and talents alongside their deep engagement in their primary field of focus. Yet I can't wait to see where all of these amazing peers go next.
What's Next for Maegan
Meet Nicole Guccione
Some of my most significant experiences at CMU are related to discovering my passion in the intersection of music/the arts and social justice, which has been supported through my studies as a music major (euphonium performance) with a double minor in gender studies and ethics. I’ve been involved in various activism efforts on this front including advocating for curriculum reform and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives within the School of Music and working with the College of Fine Arts DEI office. The projects in this area that I’m proudest of and were the most formative have been my two euphonium recitals, called "Demarginalize" in the Spring of 2022 and "Mosaic" in the Spring of 2023. They were both multimedia performances and social advocacy events that highlighted the value of intersectional and inclusive art.
Extracurricular Activities
- School of Music Student Advisory Board
- FEMME (Feminists Engaged in Multicultural Matters and Education)
- Humanist League
- School of Music DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Committee
- Mosaic Conference for Intersectionality Planning Committee
On Missing CMU
What's Next for Nicole
Nikki Hasson
College of Engineering
My time at Carnegie Mellon has highlighted that there is more to an individual than simply the GPA or academic achievements. Through involvement on campus in various organizations, I have begun to expand my passions which have become an integral part of my identity. Surrounding myself with challenging, incredible peers and faculty that bring out the best in me both personally and professionally has been instrumental to my undergraduate career.
Extracurricular Activities
- Women in Mechanical Engineering Executive Board Member
- Mechanical Engineering Student Advisory Council (SAC) Member
- Tartan Ambassadors Tour Guide
- Varsity Women’s Soccer
- Delta Gamma Member and Booth Build Chair
On Missing CMU
What's Next for Nikki
Meet Sophia Philip
Heinz College
My first significant experience with CMU occurred before I even applied. I met with professor Kristen Kurland in August 2020 via Zoom as I was very intimidated by graduate school and was not sure I wanted to attend graduate school at all. She took the time to talk through my concerns and said, “Even if you don’t end up applying to Carnegie Mellon, you can always reach out to me if you have questions." It was this kindness, without any agenda that convinced me to apply to Carnegie Mellon, and I have continued to be met with more kindness throughout my time here that has led to immense growth and opportunities for me.
My second experience speaks to the incredible program director I have, who also nominated me for this scholarship, Alex Lutz. Alex has modeled the type of leadership that can be the most difficult. At times, I struggled immensely with the culture of Carnegie Mellon, I did not want to stay or challenged the status quo — which was not always welcomed. She always heard me out and validated my feelings. On top of that, she set expectations and was transparent of what could be done or what could not, connecting me with key people to find resolution to the problem or help me understand how I might approach obstacles differently. Being a leader does mean you cannot always get the outcome everyone wants, but the transparency and integrity of her process has instilled my faith in her leadership that I hope to reflect in my own as I move forward to life post CMU.
View Sophia's Nomination Letter
Extracurricular Activities
On Missing CMU
What's Next for Sophia
Meet Ayushi Ray
Tepper School of Business
I came to CMU as a first-year knowing that I wanted to major in Economics, and I immediately fell in love with the interdisciplinary coursework offered through the Dietrich College and the Tepper School of Business. My courses have ranged from topics like climate change to digital marketing to public policy, and yet have still seamlessly connected with one another in riveting ways. I am also very grateful to have had the opportunities to apply the knowledge gained from my curriculum to real-world problems — from conducting research as a first-year to being able to participate in programs such as the Google Ads Grant Nonprofit Marketing Immersion program. These academic experiences were supplemented by the student organizations I was a part of, which gave me a strong network of close friends and peers who have all shaped me to be the individual I am today.
Extracurricular Activities
- CMU Jiya, Manager
- Equilibrium: Society for Women in Economics, President
- Dietrich College Communications, Social Media Student Assistant
- Department of Undergraduate Economics, Teacher's Assistant and Research Assistant
- Department of Social and Decision Sciences, Teacher's Assistant
- Omicron Delta Epsilon
On Missing CMU
What's Next for Ayushi
Meet Mona Yuan
Mellon College of Science
Being a student-athlete and TA for the Biology department have been some of my most memorable experiences at CMU. I am also grateful to have had the opportunity to foster a sense of mentorship and community among pre-health students through Alpha Epsilon Delta and research. I'm thankful for the relationships I have built through these activities and the continuous support from my professors, coaches, and peers as they have contributed to my growth in more ways than one.
Extracurricular Activities
- CMU Women’s Varsity Cross Country and Track & Field
- Alpha Epsilon Delta (pre-health fraternity)
- Kappa Alpha Theta
- Teacher’s Assistant
- NeuroSAC