Natiana Alexandra Fonseca 

College: Rhode Island School of Design 

Degree/Major: Textiles 

Hometown: Taunton, MA 

Next Steps: Natiana will begin working in a studio space where they can continue to create artwork, specifically weaving. They will soon show their work at a group gallery show at the Cambridge Art Association. In the coming months, they plan to research more artist opportunities like grants for larger projects, artist residencies, and curating shows. Natiana notes that the grassroots art organizations in Providence are vast and thriving, including groups like Queer Archive, Dirt Palace, The Avenue Concept, and many more that are committed to bringing together the community and sharing resources and skills with others. They are excited to get more involved with many of these groups as they settle into life as an artist there. 

Katrina Kowalyk

College: Assumption University  

Degree/Major: BA in Elementary Education 

Hometown: Chelmsford, MA 

Next Steps: This summer, Katrina will be teaching at The Paul Center for Learning and Recreation. This center helps individuals with various disabilities, and she has worked there for several summers in various roles. During the school year, she has been studying Elementary Education and has been student-teaching in Worcester. Katrina is excited to begin teaching at the Paul Center and hopes to use the skills she learned from her professors and student-teaching experience to help in her own classroom. Down the road, she plans to go back to school for a master's in special education.

Michaela Kowalyk

College: Worcester State University 

Degree/Major: Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders 

Hometown: Chelmsford, MA 

Next steps: Michaela plans to become a Speech Language Pathologist working in early intervention or early childhood. During college, she worked at a summer camp for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, where she was able to see real-world applications of her coursework. This greatly influenced her career choice, and she is excited to continue serving her community through her work with children and families. 

Katie Muise

College: Seton Hill University 

Degree/Major: Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and Bachelor of Arts in Spanish 

Hometown: Epsom, NH 

Next steps: Katie is currently completing the first of 9 rotations of clinical practice before she graduates with a Master’s in Science next May. For the first rotation, she studied at a pediatric clinic in Austin, TX, where she was able to complete several procedures and observe the diagnosis of issues such as heart conditions and tongue ties. Next, she will do rotations in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Florida before finishing her degree. Upon graduation, Katie plans to use her Spanish language skills to provide care for underserved communities. She also has a passion for finding forever homes for animals in need, and is dedicated to continuing even if her house looks like a petting zoo. 

Indira Ortiz

College: Suffolk University 

Degree/Major: Bachelor of Law with a minor in Real Estate 

Hometown: Roxbury, MA 

Next steps: Indira will be working as a paralegal at Northeastern University’s Office of General Counsel. She will also continue to contribute to her neighborhood through community service and by actively participating in non-profit organizations like Egleston Square Main Street and Project Citizenship. Her goal is to give back to the community and assist those who are in need of support. 

Saran Ousseini

College: Southern New Hampshire University 

Degree/Major: Biology 

Hometown: Burlington, VT 

Next steps: Saran has been accepted into the post-baccalaureate nursing program at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy Health and Science. She would like to take a gap year to work as a research nurse after that, and return to school later to become a Nurse Practitioner. Saran plans to continue serving her community by mentoring and tutoring. She would like to use her experience as a first-generation college graduate to guide high school students who are trying to determine their path forward. 

Nicole Rivera

College: Elms College  

Degree/Major: Bachelor of Social Work, High Honors 

Hometown: Pittsfield, MA 

Next steps: Nicole is applying for her social work license so she can practice in the state of Massachusetts. Concerned by the lack of bilingual therapists serving low-income families in her area, her goal is to goal is to obtain her MSW and serve those who currently do not have access to behavioral health services due to the language barrier or inability to pay for services. Nicole is already making a difference for underrepresented populations, as a member of the Berkshire Alliance to Support the Immigrant Community, through which she and her colleagues have successfully advocated for improved language access for immigrant families, and help navigating the school system. She also serves as a mentor for Latinas living in Berkshire county. In her words, “serving as a mentor has allowed me to give back and empower another person in the same way I was once empowered to follow my dreams and continue my education.” 

Salar Salim

College: Holy Cross 

Degree/Major: BA in Sociology; minor in Business, Ethics, and Society 

Hometown: Westbrook, ME 

Next Steps: Salar will soon begin the Emerging Leaders Rotational Program at Fidelity Investments in Boston. Through this program, he will gain comprehensive experience across various departments and functions, including customer & agile immersion, support functions, data analytics, and products & services. Salar also notes that Fidelity has a robust Citizenship & Volunteering program, where he will have the opportunity to engage in volunteer activities across Boston and make a positive impact. 

Salome Salgado

College: University of New Hampshire 

Degree/Major: Bachelor’s in Neuroscience & Behavior 

Hometown: Ossipee, NH 

Next steps: Salome is working for a year in a dental clinic that will give her experience in patient care before she goes to dental school next year. In the future, she hopes to volunteer her dental services to help underserved communities at home and abroad. She credits her parents with instilling the value of volunteering in her—they always encouraged her to dedicate her time to causes she believed in, and she will continue this after college.  

Lenny Tejeda

College: Denison University  

Degree/Major: Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology & Sociology and a Bachelor of Arts in Global Health, Cum Laude 

Hometown: Beverly, MA 

Next Steps: Lenny is currently working full-time as a Case Specialist at the Massachusetts Trial Court while simultaneously studying for the LSAT exam. He plans to apply to law school for the 2025-2026 cycle, having gained a strong foundation of practical knowledge and legal expertise. Lenny notes that his experience working with immigrant-refugee communities in Central Ohio while in college heightened his passion for human rights and immigration law. Moving forward, he will continue playing an active role in his community and serving those in need.