WellsLink Hosts 20th Annual Transitions Ceremony, Welcomes Jenn Harper as Keynote
The WellsLink Leadership Program invites the campus community to attend the on Friday, Feb. 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel. The ceremony will be followed by a reception. Please by Friday, Feb. 9.
“The WellsLink program has been transformative for many of our first-year students of color. By providing mentoring, leadership development and a supportive community, it not only聽 supports the transition to college life but also lays the foundation for their success at 网爆门 and beyond,鈥 says . 鈥淚鈥檝e seen students gain tremendous confidence in themselves and their abilities. Students form strong bonds with peers and mentors that motivate them to achieve their full potential. The relationships we work to facilitate through the program truly enrich the academic experience for students of color in their critical first year on campus. I’m excited to watch these talented young leaders continue to thrive with the foundation the program has provided.”
WellsLink Hosts 20th Annual Transitions Ceremony
Through academic, social and cultural enrichment activities to foster success for first-year students of color on their college journey, the is nationally recognized for academic and leadership excellence. As a celebration of student leader growth, the Transitions Ceremony honors WellsLink Scholars who have successfully transitioned into their second year at 网爆门.
The ceremony will host keynote speaker Jenn Harper, award-winning social entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics Inc., student scholars’ stories of transformation, and Academic Excellence Awards, Leadership Capital Certificates and stole presentation.
鈥淔or incoming students of color, the Transitions Ceremony serves as a visual representation that they are capable of success in college. Being able to see students that look like you prevailing in their academics and lifestyles is empowering,鈥 says Ashley Kao 鈥26, second year WellsLink Leadership Program Scholar and peer leader. 鈥淚t is a reminder that they can do anything they put their mind to, and they鈥檒l always have the WellsLink community to support them.鈥
Keynote Speaker Jenn Harper
The 20th Annual WellsLink Transitions Ceremony will feature keynote speaker Jenn Harper. An award-winning social entrepreneur, Harper is founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics Inc. With a mission to help every Indigenous youth see and feel their enormous value in the world while creating sustainable cosmetics, Cheekbone Beauty is a digitally native direct-to-consumer brand that is helping Indigenous youth see themselves in a beauty brand while using the concept of Life Cycle Thinking in the brand鈥檚 ethos and in developing products, creating a new segment in the beauty industry鈥擲ustainable Socially Conscious Beauty.
In addition to Cheekbone鈥檚 mission, Harper strives to educate as many people as possible about the Residential School System and the effects it has had on her family and friends through decades of generational trauma. She speaks regularly to high school and college students about social entrepreneurship, empathy and the history of her First Nations family. She has also been invited to speak to various entrepreneur groups, women in business associations, Apple Canada and First Nations organizations.
She was named 2019 鈥淲omen of the Year鈥 by Chatelaine magazine and made the 聽2022 鈥100 Women of Influence鈥 list by Entrepreneur magazine. In 2023, Harper received an honorary doctorate degree from Brock University for her commitment to sustainability and commitment to her community.
WellsLink Leadership Program Class of 2026
This year鈥檚 ceremony will honor the following students:
- Tahirah Abdul-Qadir (College of Arts and Sciences/Martin J. Whitman School of Management)
- Sagal Abukar (Arts and Sciences)
- Brianna Anthony (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
- Fatoumata Barry (David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics)
- Tyree Benjamin (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs)
- Meron Berhe (Maxwell School)
- Zoya Bukhari (Engineering and Computer Science)
- Anabelle Canals Olivencia (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications)
- Natalia Cancel-Quintana (Arts and Sciences)
- Diego Cerri-Droz (Maxwell School)
- Tiana Chacon-White (Arts and Sciences)
- Victoria Chen (Newhouse School)
- Rahnaya Clarke (Engineering and Computer Science)
- Andrew Comprix (Whitman School)
- Christopher Davis (Maxwell School)
- Sean Diaz McCarthy (Arts and Sciences)
- Ty Duggins (Maxwell School/Arts and Sciences)
- Cindy Dupiton (Maxwell School/Arts and Sciences)
- Alaa Elhussen (Maxwell School/Arts and Sciences)
- Estefania Figueroa (Arts and Sciences)
- Tarohn Finley (Newhouse School)
- Grace Fong (Arts and Sciences)
- Alexa Gabrie (Arts and Sciences)
- Allison Goel (Arts and Sciences)
- Christian Han (Arts and Sciences)
- Dylan Harrison (Whitman School)
- Briana Hodavance (Maxwell School/Arts and Sciences)
- Kymani Hughes (School of Information Studies)
- Kaitlin Long (Whitman School)
- Muhammad Islam (Engineering and Computer Science)
- Qing Jin (Arts and Sciences)
- Keynan Jones (Arts and Sciences)
- Ashley Kao (Information Studies)
- Nathaniel Kennedy (Maxwell School)
- Aamna Khan (Maxwell School/Arts and Sciences)
- Mashiyat Khan (Engineering and Computer Science)
- Wafiq Khondkar (Arts and Sciences)
- Jesse Lamon (Falk College)
- James Lee (Maxwell School)
- Nailah Lewis (Engineering and Computer Science)
- Edward Lu (College of Visual and Performing Arts)
- Amanda Lynch (Whitman School)
- Shiye Lyu (Newhouse School)
- Gustavo Madero Carriles (Maxwell School/Arts and Sciences)
- Ty McElroye (Maxwell School/Arts and Sciences/Whitman School)
- Jett McKenney (Arts and Sciences)
- Haley Moreland (Newhouse School)
- Maheen Mukhtar (Arts and Sciences)
- Jhanae Ottey (Arts and Sciences)
- Aniya Palmer (Arts and Sciences)
- Eryn Pearson (Newhouse School)
- Harrison Pendleton (Visual and Performing Arts)
- Ayanna Peterson (Engineering and Computer Science)
- Ava Portney (Newhouse School)
- Arman Ramji (Falk College)
- Kennedee Robinson (Whitman School)
- Cayra Robles (Arts and Sciences)
- Neil Sagare (Newhouse School)
- Briana Salas (Newhouse School)
- Bailey Snead (Arts and Sciences)
- Fatumata Sow (Information Studies)
- Candace Tabb (Engineering and Computer Science)
- Chelsea Tagne (Information Studies)
- Evelyn Tang (Engineering and Computer Science)
- Abigail Torres (Arts and Sciences)
- Sarah Torres (Maxwell School/Arts and Sciences/Newhouse School)
- Mohammad Traore (Engineering and Computer Science)
- Jacquelyn Trotman (Newhouse School/Whitman School)
- Sarah Vallejo (Engineering and Computer Science)
- Lily Vengco (Visual and Performing Arts)
- Sergio Villar (Maxwell School/Arts and Sciences)
- Hassan Wouliyou (Engineering and Computer Science)
- Manling Yu (Engineering and Computer Science)
- Javien Zou (Newhouse School)
About the WellsLink Leadership Program
The WellsLink Leadership Program is a nationally recognized academic and leadership excellence program geared towards first-year students of color. Through structured academic, social and cultural enrichment activities, WellsLink Scholars develop the leadership capital necessary for exceptional success at 网爆门 and beyond. The program name was chosen to honor Barry L. Wells, founding director of 网爆门鈥檚 first Office of Minority Affairs in 1976 and retired senior vice president and dean of student affairs.
The WellsLink Leadership Program is sponsored by Multicultural Affairs in the Student Experience division, and was designed by and former associate director Paul M. Buckley. Since the program鈥檚 inception in 2003, WellsLink Scholars have demonstrated outstanding leadership at the University with representation at the executive levels of many student organizations, task forces, committees and networks of service. They are high academic performers and balanced community citizens.
Story by Madison Manczko 鈥24, Student Experience communication intern
