Class of 2022

Class of 2022

Rodas Addis is originally from Ethiopia. Growing up, she has always had an inclination towards the STEM fields, and she's very excited about being a Clark Scholar in UVA's School of Engineering and Applied Science. She is beyond blessed to have been granted the opportunity to attend UVA as an engineering undergrad, and furthermore, as a Clark Scholar. The opportunities are endless!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodas-addis-43126916a/

Class of 2022

Teagan is from Staunton, Virginia and plans on studying Environmental Engineering during his time at UVA. Teagan spends much of his free time outdoors, whether it be skiing, running, hiking, or cycling. Flowering from his appreciation of the outdoors, he hopes to gain a unique perspective on applying concepts of sustainability in the field of engineering through UVA’s Clark Scholars Program.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/teaganbaiotto/

Class of 2022

Nazirah was raised in Mexico up until the age of 12, attended school in Oklahoma from 8th to 10th grade, and finished high school in Texas. She wants to major in Mechanical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering and minor in the other. She loves music and knows how to play the guitar and violin. She is really looking forward to studying at UVA and being part of the first cohort of Clark Scholars.

Class of 2022

Stephanie is from Chesterfield, VA and has known since middle school that she wanted to be a chemical engineer.  She is combining that major with a second in environmental sciences so she can further her passion for water quality research. Stephanie is a long-time Latin dancer and marketing chair of the University Salsa Club. Stephanie is also a member of the Clark Scholars Leadership Council, program director for the Latinx Leadership Institute, financial officer for the Latinx Student Alliance, and mentor with the Hispanic/Latinx Peer Mentoring Program. Stephanie will be working at Eli Lilly after graduation. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-gernentz/

Class of 2022

Emma Jensen is from Phoenix, Arizona. She hopes to pursue mechanical or systems engineering. From her involvement in her school's robotics team, Emma saw engineering as a way to create impactful, real-world solutions to further society. She's looking forward to hands-on experience in the engineering labs, research opportunities, and interacting with fellow engineering students.

Class of 2022

Garrett is from Westminster, Colorado and recently moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Garrett plans to major in Biomedical Engineering and is also interested in Exercise Science. He chose UVA because of its academic reputation, research opportunities, and the rich history that is represented on Grounds. While at UVA, he wants to work with faculty to conduct research involving diabetes and cancer. Garrett is overjoyed to be a Clark Scholar because of the connections he made with other scholars and faculty, the global experience he will get to be a part of, and the business and leadership component of the program.

Class of 2022

Jennifer Khuu is from Yorktown, VA and is pursuing a Computer Science Major and an Engineering Business Minor. She wants to become a Software Engineer and is interested in web and mobile design. She has experience in Cyber Security and is a Clark Scholars Mentor. She also likes to volunteer at elementary schools and create and edit videos in her free time.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-khuu/

Class of 2022

Amy is from Woodbridge, Virginia and is majoring in Aerospace Engineering and Spanish. At UVA Engineering, she is most passionate about working with her peers to develop new skills, expanding her knowledge, and building connections with others. She loves to be involved in the UVA community as she is a midshipman in the Naval ROTC program, an executive board member for the Radio Music Society, and a Facility Service Attendant at North Grounds Rec Center. Amy hopes to commission as a Submarine officer upon graduation.

Class of 2022

Katarina is from Kansas City, Missouri. She has been set on engineering as a career since the day she walked into my seventh-grade shop class. After completing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, she wanted to attend a university that acknowledges the importance of a well-rounded foundation of knowledge and skills. While visiting UVA in the spring, it seemed like a perfect fit. She plans to study some combination of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katarina-liddell-b32490176/

Class of 2022

Babafemi Omole is a Computer Science major and Biomedical Engineering minor from Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is originally from the country Nigeria in West Africa and is passionate about giving back to his home country. He is grateful to be a part of the first cohort of Clark Scholars because it provides him with a head start that he would not have had otherwise.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/babafemi-omole/

Class of 2022

Joshua is passionate about using computer science to answer today’s most outlandish questions. Some of his projects include predicting housing prices, creating a map of free food across Grounds, and enabling Google Assistant to become the next big rapping sensation. Unafraid of a good challenge, Joshua looks forward to shaping the Clark Scholars program, improving the UVA community, and solving our world’s most pressing issues.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-sahaya-arul/

Class of 2022

Vishal is from Virginia Beach, VA. He is studying Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis on Automotive Engineering and minor in Computer Science. Vishal chose to study engineering so he could help advance innovation in today's technology, as well as use this innovation to solve the problems that our society currently faces. In the Clark Scholars program and in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, he is excited to learn not just how to be an engineer that builds and design things, but on how to be a leader in the field to keep our world moving forward.

Class of 2022

Emma is a California native, who is studying electrical and computer engineering at UVA. She is excited to study abroad with the Clark Scholars cohort to gain a global perspective on the issues faced in other areas of the world, and transfer that knowledge to her work in the field. Emma plans to obtain her PhD in engineering. She feels UVA is a great place to begin her higher-level education due to the immense support the school provides for undergraduates. While at UVA, she hopes to study further in software development and nano-science.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-wilt/

Class of 2022

Rachel Zhang is from Fairfax, Virginia and is majoring in computer science and statistics with a minor in environmental sciences. Through this interdisciplinary study, she seeks to develop technology that augments cultural resource management efforts. Her previous work includes environmental anthropology research, software development in the context of small-scale-fisheries, and user interface design for a geocoding tool.

Outside of engineering, Rachel is an amateur herpetologist and banjo player. In her free time, she likes to play Frisbee and the trumpet.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/Rachel-H-Zhang/