2012 KENNETH COLE FELLOWS

Courtney Bradford is a Columbia college sophomore majoring in African-American studies. She is a forward/center on the Columbia University Women's basketball team. This past summer, she worked for Columbia University's General Counsel. After completing her undergraduate studies, she desires to be a lawyer and a life coach. Her goal in life is to advocate for the socially and economically disadvantaged.

Alexis Connolly is a sophomore in Columbia College, and plans to major in Urban Studies with a concentration in Business Management. She was raised in Marlboro, New Jersey and enjoys frequent trips home to visit her family. In her free time, Alexis loves looking for designer items at consignment shops and attending hip hop concerts at venues throughout the city.  She recently discovered her interest for civic engagement and social justice by enrolling in The Social World and interning at Democracy Prep Charter School. On her bus trips to The Garden State she enjoys bringing food and gloves to the panhandlers in Port Authority, but she hopes that the Kenneth Cole Program and Seminar will give her more tools and resources to have a more lasting effect for her homeless friends. Alexis has adopted her mother’s fervor for assisting the poor, and is considering pursuing a law degree in the hopes of causing reform throughout the prison and justice systems. 

Jessica Eaton is a sophomore in Columbia College who is a perspective major in human rights and English. She lives in Gaborone Botswana but has spent the last 3 years in the United States, one on a high school exchange program in Connecticut, and two in New York at Columbia. She is the secretary of the Columbia University Students for Human Rights group on campus, a tutor for the America Reads program, and is involved in the Undergraduate Recruitment Committee, leading tours and holding information sessions. She hopes that her involvement in the Kenneth Cole Community Engagement Program will help her to apply her theoretical knowledge of social injustice and interest in human rights issues to real and practical situations.

Sebastian Garcia is a third year student studying civil engineering at Columbia University. As a child he was fascinated by graceful designs of buildings and structures and the cause of their stability, which led him to pursue a degree in the structural engineering field. Inspired by the desire to bring change to communities that need it he plans to use his knowledge in the engineering field to aid these poor and developing communities to allow for easily accessible resources and housing. After graduation, Sebastian intends on pursuing a master's degree in civil engineering to become even more knowledgeable and have a greater impact in the field. In his free time he enjoys dancing a variety of styles of dance, ranging from Latin club dances to Ballroom dances and participates in competitions as part of the Columbia University Ballroom Club. His other interests include general health and fitness (he became a personal trainer two years ago) as well as drawing from time to time.

Derion Givens is a third year in Columbia College studying sociology and creative writing.  He is from Memphis, Tennessee.  On campus, he is the vice chair of the Asian American Alliance, publicity chair of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and a facilitator with the group Respecting Ourselves and Others Through Education.  In terms of civic engagement and community activism, he is interested in the way youth, education, masculinity, and gender intersect and affect urban violence and in housing rights and reform.  He hopes to learn more about these issues through real world experience in the Kenneth Cole Community Engagement Program and to learn more techniques for effective community building.  In his free time, he cooks, walks, and writes.

Samantha Hightower was born and raised in southeastern Kansas, where she developed a passion for community service and an interest in hands-on scientific pursuits. She is currently a junior in Columbia University's School of Engineering and Applied Science, majoring in Chemical Engineering. Her future plans include obtaining a Master’s of Public Health and going into a career in environmental health, nutrition, and/or urban planning. She also hopes to use an intersectional analysis of public health issues to empower those facing multiple marginalizations.

Sophie Luo is currently a sophomore at Columbia College pursuing a double major in History and American Studies. Originally from Naperville, IL, she developed a strong interest in community engagement after interning at several community-oriented organizations, such as the education non-profit World Savvy and the bicycling non-profit Bike New York. On campus, she is involved with Green Umbrella and EcoReps, two groups advocating for a more environmentally sustainable campus, and tutors high school students through the Double Discovery Center. In her spare time, Sophie enjoys biking, cooking, doing crossword puzzles, and exploring the many nooks and crannies of New York City. 

Alberto Luzarraga is a Columbia College junior majoring in Urban Studies with a concentration in History. Raised in Short Hills, NJ, he is interested in a variety of fields, most notably urban planning, education, and the law. (Alberto is also somewhat indecisive.) He believes that sustainable community change inevitably derives from improving educational standards for children of all ages. On campus, he is currently active with Peer Health Exchange, a group that teaches ninth graders in cities across the country crucial information on a variety of health issues relevant to teenagers. He also likes to cook, ski, and play tennis in his spare time.

Grace McCarty is a junior in Columbia College, majoring in American Studies and Hispanic Studies. Since her arrival at Columbia, Grace has devoted much of her time, both inside and outside the classroom, to improving educational opportunity for students in New York City. Through her participation in the Kenneth Cole Community Engagement Program, she hopes to theoretically and practically explore the relationship between community building and academic success.

Mica Moore is a current sophomore in Columbia College, double majoring in Political Science and English and Comparative Literature. Growing up in the Washington DC area, Mica has always been interested in political and grassroots volunteerism and recently interned with the Fairfax County Democratic Committee. Mica also enjoys reading and writing, has contributed to the Columbia Spectator, and is on the editorial board of the Columbia Review. She hopes to attend law school after college, and is very excited to be a Kenneth Cole fellow!

Victoria Nneji is a sophomore in Columbia Engineering studying Applied Mathematics. She is passionate about using her technical talents to solve social problems. Upon graduating from North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics, Victoria proceeded to expand her venture: The Digital STEM. She and her team are working to close the digital divide by teaching young girls from underprivileged backgrounds how to refurbish computers. Victoria sees every opportunity in life as a blessing from God.

Tieisha Tift is currently a junior in Columbia College, majoring in Urban Studies, with a specialization in Education. Born and raised in Trenton, NJ, Tieisha has witnessed firsthand some of the damaging effects of poverty and a fractured education system on urban and minority youth. She believes that all students should have access not only to a quality education, but also to the tools, resources, and support services that will ensure their personal, intellectual, and civic development. Through her studies and experiences with Community Impact, she has also gained insight into the variety of issues that plague urban issues, and looks forward to collaborating with communities and other Columbia scholars through the Kenneth Cole Community Engagement Program to brainstorm ways to address community needs.