Three emerging leaders have been selected as recipients of the 2024-25 Luce Scholars Program, with three Yale students among the 18 individuals chosen for this prestigious opportunity.
Awa Cisse, Adriana Golden, and Anna Lenaker have been named as the recipients of the Luce Scholarships, offering them a 13-month fellowship that includes stipends, language training, and immersive professional placements in Asia tailored to their interests and career aspirations.
Awa Cisse, currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in molecular biology and a Bachelor of Arts in French studies at Yale, expressed her excitement about the scholarship, stating, “The scholarship presents an opportunity to dive into a new culture, gain valuable experience, and make a meaningful impact in my chosen field.”
Adriana Golden, a Bachelor of Arts student in English with a concentration in creative writing, shared her enthusiasm for the program, mentioning her interest in a career as a physician-writer. She highlighted her involvement in various activities at Yale, including performing with a comedy group and conducting mental health evaluations for recent immigrants.
Anna Lenaker, a Master of Environmental Management student at Yale School of the Environment, emphasized her commitment to addressing climate change and its impacts on vulnerable populations. She stated, “Calling climate change the moral issue of my lifetime, I am dedicated to developing and supporting science- and place-based solutions to the climate crisis that are just and effective.”
The Luce Scholars Program, established in 1974 by the Henry Luce Foundation, aims to foster relationships across geographical boundaries by providing young Americans with the opportunity to gain experience in Asia. This year’s scholars were selected from a pool of 386 applicants nationwide.
Applications for the next year’s Luce Scholarship will open in April and must be submitted by October.
