Meet 2020-2022 UY Student Leaders – now U of M Graduates!
Congrats on completing your degrees UY Student Leaders:
2021 – 2022
Antonio Horn, Bianey Neri-Ochoa, Chloe Zurn, Haddy Bayo, Ishra Yusef, Jack McGrath, Jesus Encarnacion, Kendra Anderson, Kevin Singh, Leah Jordan, Lilly Bolton, Lindsey Quam, Luis Romero, Maria Schirado, Mary Miranda, Maui Agular, Molly Rolfes, Morgan Pence, Ndina Minga, PangCha Khang, Suldano Osman, Vivian Dinh
2020 – 2021
Emilee Vang, Fadumo Hagi, Jalayna Lockhart, Jasmine Vang, Jolie Vu, Josie Marben, Kathy Xiong, Labiba Mahmud, Mai Dang-Huynh, Mattea Bui, Natalie Swanson, Nate Taye, Paia Xiong, Phia Neng Yang, Sara Ho, Sophia Kamke, Stephanie Ramon, Stephanie Schmidt
UY Student Leader Grad Highlights:
Josie Marben graduated in 2021 with a B.S. in Kinesiology with a minor in Health & Wellness Promotion. She has played many roles during her three years at the UY, ranging from being a Mentor, Site Lead, and Program Manager. Josie is involved with the Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport outside of the UY. Josie's long-term goal is to become a pediatric occupational therapist, where she hopes to provide pro-bono therapy services to marginalized families and children because everyone deserves equal opportunity. Josie's ambition is to own or co-own a pediatric clinic that provides occupational, physical, speech, and family therapy services--- all while advocating for social justice and working against racism.
Jasmine Vang graduated from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in 2021 with a B.S. in Youth Studies. During her time at the U of M, she participated in volunteer work with the UY, Girls Taking Action, and WATCH: The Advocates for Human Rights. Jasmine finished her undergraduate work with an Internship with the UY. When she is not working, she enjoys her time in the outdoors, playing volleyball, and hanging out with friends and family. Jasmine intends to continue engaging with young people to help them reach their goals as she progresses.
Labiba Mahmud graduated with a B.S. in Biology at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. While at the U, Labiba focused on choosing roles where she mentored the youth and peers, which she did for all four years at several organizations; she also engaged in plant research for two years. Specifically, at the UY, Labiba was both a Y Mentor and Y-CAP Peer Mentor Lead. Mentorship is something she has always done and does not intend to stop practicing. She plans to take a year off from school to work in a lab, where she can gain more clarity about her career path before returning to school to pursue a graduate degree. Her professional ambitions encompass pursuing a career that is both rewarding and flexible.
Paia Xiong graduated in 2021 with a B.S in Business and Marketing Education from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. During her tenure at the UY, she held a range of positions, including Communications and Marketing Intern and Y Mentor. She is also a first-generation student that enjoys collecting vinyl records, and inspiring youths to pursue higher education. Paia’s goals for the future is to become a better version of herself because she knows she is only halfway there. Paia wants to live a life she will not regret and to inspire others while she pursues her career.
Sara Ho graduated in 2021 with a B.A. Developmental Psychology and B.A. Spanish Studies, with a minor in Family Therapy. During her time at the UY, she was part of the Comic Book Club, Y Cards4Kids, and Y Remote College Reader, taking on many roles as a Mentor and Site Lead. She is also a proud first-generation Vietnamese American student. Sara has always enjoyed working with children and assisting them in reaching their goals, as they inspire her. She was also involved in the Vietnamese Student Association of Minnesota (VSAM), the Developmental Psychology Student Organization, and Unmasked as an undergrad. As she moves forward, she plans to work full time with youth on the Autism spectrum to support their development and engage them in activities that accommodate their individual needs. Her future goals are working within a frame of inclusion, equity, anti-racist, and intersectionality. Eventually, Sara wants to continue to grow within fields of mental health to work in some capacity with families and students.
Sophia Kamke graduated with a B.S. in Youth Studies from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. During her time at the UY, she played various roles varying from a Mentor, Site Lead, and Pen Pal Lead. After graduation, her plans involve moving to Ann Arbor with her church to start a new college ministry at the University of Michigan and hopes to become a school counselor at a high school in the area. Her future ambitions include having a family to love, students to love, friends to love, neighbors to love, and a community to love!
Stephanie Ramon earned a B.S. in Business and Marketing with a minor in Leadership from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, in 2021. She was a member of the Entre Club, Ad Club, Y-CAP, and the University's YMCA Communications and Marketing Intern as an undergrad. Moving forward, she intends to serve as an intern and implement her business idea over the summer before returning to the workforce in the fall. Stephanie also plans to continue engaging with the UY community.
