Upon finishing their high school and undergraduate studies, many Penn State EnvironMentors were accepted into various colleges and universities throughout the nation to continue exploring their interests and further their educations. Others have gone on to pursue careers or create their own start-ups. Below are several of our past EnvironMentors and their current achievements.
High School Student Alumni
“Being a part of the Penn State Shenango EnvironMentors program has been a fantastic experience. From this program, I have gained many skills starting from working in a lab to writing up lab work and so much more. My mentor and the undergraduate student I was paired with made my experience even better. At the start of this program, I was not sure what to expect because I had never done research and lab work before. Both of them taught me so much and were very helpful during this whole journey. Coming out of this program, my confidence in the lab has increased significantly which is a quality I will be able to use in my future schooling. The EnvironMentors program was an opportunity of a lifetime for me!”
Princess Ochweri; Biology Pre-Med, Stanford University
“I participated in Penn State (PSU) EnvironMentors in 2019 as a senior at State College Area High School. As a PSU EnvironMentors, I worked with Dr. Gregory Jenkins and Bryttani Wooten from the meteorology department at the Pennsylvania State University on air pollution. The EnvironMentors Program introduced me to the process of collaboration in STEM research, and I met many faculties at Penn State and peers who shared common interests in STEM with me. EnvironMentors was a great opportunity to experience college research, and I really enjoyed how I could bring my own voice into the STEM community when I gave a presentation at the end of the program. During the current pandemic, I am staying off-campus, and I am searching for research opportunities at USC in math and physics to continue the research momentum that I have gained from EnvironMentors.”
Larry Li; Math, and Physics, University of Southern California (USC)
“Hello, I am Natalia Carrasco-Munoz! I am currently an undergraduate student, studying Chemical Engineering with a focus on renewable energy at the University of Notre Dame. I am currently a member of various STEM clubs, including the Society for Women Engineers and the Society of Hispanic Engineers, and a student on the Dean’s list. With the research and networking opportunities that Environmentors provided, not only was I able to further understand the environmental issues we are facing today but also realize that I have the ability to help give back with a career in STEM, and ultimately fueling my passion to become an engineer”
Natalia Carrasco-Munoz; Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame
“As a sophomore in college, I have explored many paths and made plans for my future. I am now trying to reach the requirements to become a cybersecurity major. I am using the resources available to me to achieve this. I believe that the skills I gain in my college experience will shine through. I believe that EnvironMentors has increased and reinforced my passion for STEM. This can be seen in my interest in computers and coding. EnvironMentors has also helped me become more confident in my skills in leading in important moments”
Shawn Oputa; Cyber Security, Penn State
“EnvironMentors gave me insight into the reality of what goes into research and how to collaborate within a group. I also ended up working on a project that introduced me to specialized fields of science I’d have never learned about before. I’m very thankful to have had an early research experience. I look forward to continuing with STEM and research in college, and beyond.”
Victoria Sodeinde; Molecular Biology, Yale University
“EnvironMentors was such an amazing program for me. After working with my mentor and seeing how passionate he was about his field, it made me want to that also. It was an eye-opening opportunity into research and has added to my passion to pursue STEM “
Garrick Zheng; Biochemistry Molecular Biology, Penn State
Undergraduate Student Alumni
“I graduated from Penn State with a degree in BioRenewable Systems and a minor in Sustainability Leadership. I appreciated the opportunity to participate in the EnvironMentors Program because it allowed me to tap into the great community of STEM scholars of color at Penn State. A countless number of people mentored me while I was receiving my education, so I appreciated the opportunity to keep the tradition going by mentoring a high school student. After I graduated from Penn State, I transitioned into the University of Cincinnati College of Law. My interests include real estate, commercial, and environmental law. I aim to connect social justice into areas of law that directly impact communities of color.”
Janelle Thompson, Class of 2019
“Hello, I am a recent graduate from the Earth and Mineral Sciences College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Energy Engineering and minors in Environmental Engineering and New Venture Creation. Since being a mentor for the EnvironMentors program, I took on a role as Campus Events Director for the Martin Luther King Student Commemoration Committee to host numerous events such as “Mental Health in Minority Communities” seminar, Speak For Peace: An Oratorical Contest about justice, a dance showcase with StepAfrika and the Penn State Performing Arts Center, and much more. My post-graduation pursuits encompass new endeavors revolving around business and energy consulting as I look to help businesses create a more sustainable energy portfolio that will better their business and the environment around them. On the side, I am working on my own venture called Miliano Et Compagnie: a brand that promotes unity among humanity through innovative design and redefining how we wear clothing.”
Jamihl Braimah, class of 2020
“Hello! I recently graduated from Penn State with a major in Meteorology and Atmospheric Science with a minor in Geography. While at Penn State, I was the president of Minorities in EMS and the Epsilon Gamma Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority Inc on Penn State’s campus. My research interests include the intersection of climate change/extreme weather and human health. After Penn State, I will be moving on to pursue a doctorate degree at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill this coming fall”
Bryttani Wooten, Class 2021
