Meet The 2020 Nyah Project Fellows

May 15, 2020 – Today, Nyah Project announced the 12 Fellows who will comprise the 2020 leadership fellowship who will form the program’s seventh annual cohort.  Nyah Project develops youth leaders through transformative experiences abroad. 

We intentionally fill opportunity gaps through access to experiential fellowships based on the pillars of leadership, inclusion, impact and purpose.  

We recognize that there are significant disparities in access to culturally relevant, travel based global competence training, and purpose-inspired leadership experiences for high potential, low income students of color.

We celebrate these amazing young leaders who were selected from over 100 applicants and a rigorous, multi-stage application and review process. The 2020 Fellows demonstrated drive, impact mindset, existing leadership capacity, articulable values, historical civic engagement and cohort fit.

Keep reading to learn more and watch the recap video to see their surprised reactions:

Though deferred until summer 2021, scholars will travel Rwanda for a two-week experiential leadership fellowship featuring pre-travel workshops and in-country Masterclasses with government, business, civic, and social impact leaders.  They will participate in cultural excursions, as well as  youth Impact Days with local educational institutions and enrichment programs.  Fellows will also receive year-long mentorship and college and scholarship strategy coaching.

100% of Nyah Fellows are accepted into college and over 90% have won academic or merit based scholarships, collectively securing over $10 million in scholarship since the program began in 2014.  92%  100% of Fellows report increased cross cultural understanding and leadership skills growth and 92% report feeling supported in navigating the college matriculation process.

2020 Scholars:

Daniela Flores, Sophomore, Miami Senior High School

Kenya Handfield, Junior, Booker T. Washington SHS

Venus Heidt, Sophomore, Miami Beach Senior High School

Ron Hutton, Junior, William H. Turner Technical Arts High School

Amerie Jackson, Sophomore, Jose Marti, MAST Academy

Jonathan Jeancharles, Sophomore, Miami Northwestern Senior High School

Trinity Joseph, Junior, School for Advanced Studies

Malique Lewis, Senior, Miami Lakes Education Center

Shai Lin, Senior, MAST Academy, FIU

Christopher Michel, Junior, William H. Turner Technical Arts High School

Yakira Pinillos Linares, Junior, School for Advanced Studies - Wolfson

Ty Stebenne, Junior, MAST Academy

Visit our Instagram page @nyahproject to meet the newest members of our Nyah Project family.