Excellence Beyond College
Scholar Stories
Franklin & Marshall College
HEALTHCARE
Luis Lemos Lopes
Cohort 2020
- Bachelor of Arts in Biology, Spanish minor, Franklin & Marshall College, May 2020
- Master of Public Health, George Washington University, June 2024
- Doctor of Medicine, George Washington University, School of Medicine, June 2024
Luis Lopes will receive his Doctor of Medicine and Masters of Public Health in June 2024. He is excited to begin his anesthesiology postgraduate year-one medical residency in June 2024. Luis’s success is a pure reflection of his indomitable spirit. A native of Brazil, he scored only 15% on his first U.S. math test, despite grasping the advanced concepts, because of his English proficiency. Studying tirelessly to master a new language, he excelled, graduating high school as Salutatorian. His mastery of Taekwon-do, “his refuge,” led him to represent the U.S. in the World Taekwon-do Cup! At Franklin & Marshall College, his fighting spirit and consistently outstanding academic performance earned him Magna Cum Laude distinction, and induction into Phi Beta Kappa Society.
EDUCATION
Elijah Brown
Cohort 2020
- Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Rutgers University – Newark, 2020
- Masters of Education, Educational Administration, Rutgers University – New Brunswick, 2022
Elijah Brown is a model example of Scholars paying it forward! Elijah has served as a Teacher across Greater Newark, NJ for the past 4 years, while simultaneously serving as the Senior Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Newark, providing spiritual leadership and pastoral care.
For the past 3 summers, Elijah has led young Scholars as Co-Director of Cooperman College Scholars Pre-College Academy. Elijah has been recognized for making a difference in his community, honored with the Rutgers Excellence in Leadership Award, the New Jersey State Legislature-Joint Legislative Resolution Award and the Clement Price Scholarship Award. In 2022, Elijah proudly returned to his hometown district, East Orange, NJ, where he currently serves as a Social Studies Teacher at Cicely Tyson High School of Performing Arts.
Rutgers University – Newark
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Carnegie Mellon University
BUSINESS
Qian Weng
Cohort 2020
- Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Carnegie Mellon University, May 2020
- NYU Stern School of Business, MBA Candidate, May 2026
Qian Weng earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an additional Major in Statistics & Machine Learning. Her intellectual prowess earned her membership into Phi Beta Kappa Society, a prestigious U.S. academic honor society, and induction into the international business honor society of Beta Gamma Sigma.
Qian currently conducts data analysis and visualization as a Data Analytics and Value Creation Consultant with Stax Consulting in Illinois. Prior to this, she worked for 3 years as a Strategy Consultant at Accenture guiding Fortune 500 clients across various industries. Diversely talented, Qian is also a dancer, performing in the opening show for Chicago NBA 2023 Lunar New Year Game. She was recently accepted to NYU Stern School of Business to pursue her MBA, beginning in August 2024.
EDUCATION
Gianna Cook
Cohort 2023
- Bachelor of Arts, English, Criminal Justice Minor, George Washington University, 2023
Gianna Cook joined Teach for America as a 7th Grade Special Education Teacher in Washington, DC in August 2023. Passionate about educational equity, she mentored young women in Newark, NJ for the past 6 years through Visions of Belle. At GW, she served as the Black Student Union President, graduating Cum Laude in English with a minor in Criminal Justice. She plans to pursue a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration.
George Washington University
Rutgers University- Newark
DATA SCIENCE
Aaron Amankwaah
Cohort 2023
- Bachelor of Science, Applied Mathematics and Data Science, Rutgers University – Newark, December 2023
Aaron Amankwaah, a driven, quick-thinking leader in his cohort, actively fostered his interest and professional goals in financial tech and data management. At Rutgers, he was Vice President of the Rutgers Black Professionals Network and Financial Officer of the Student Governing Association. He completed internships at JP Morgan Chase and Prudential, ultimately starting a position at Prudential Financial as a Data Engineer in Spring of 2024.
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FINANCE
Leonid Rempel
Cohort 2020
- Bachelor of Arts in Economics and International Studies, Boston College, 2020
- Master of Science in Applied Economics, Boston College, 2021
Leonid Rempel joined the New York Federal Reserve Bank as a Risk Modeling and Analytics Associate in June 2023, where he works on projects within the Dodd Frank Stress Testing Act, a law which aims to protect American families and build a more stable financial system. Prior to this role, Leonid worked as a senior research assistant within Supervision at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston for two years and as a research assistant with the Center for Retirement Research.
As a young Scholar, Leonid was known for embracing the mindset that failure creates an opportunity to learn and move forward toward your goals. His passion for knowledge and resilience were instrumental in earning Cum Laude distinctions and Honors Thesis recognition for his undergraduate work in Economics and International Studies.
Boston College
The College of New Jersey
FINANCE
Claudia Goncalves
Cohort 2022
- Bachelor of Arts, Psychology and Communication, Specialization Interpersonal Communications, The College of New Jersey, 2022
Claudia Goncalves pursued experiential learning while attending The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), including studying abroad in Milan, Italy, and interning with J.P Morgan Chase as a Summer Analyst in the Asset Management Clients division where she focused on marketing tactics and product analysis. In January 2023, Claudia joined Goldman Sachs Investment Bank. She has served in various analytical roles, and is currently a Change Management Analyst.
Claudia completed her Bachelor of Arts with double majors in Psychology and Communications, specializing in Organizational and Interpersonal Communication. She achieved Psychology Departmental honors for her work, and earned a membership in Lambda Pi Eta, a National Communication Association’s official honor society.
EDUCATION
Shirley Celi-Landeo
Cohort 2022
- Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, Modern Languages & Linguistics, Rowan University, 2022
- Master of the Arts, Higher Education – Administration, May 2025
Shirley Celi-Landeo is a shining example of a Scholar who makes the most of every opportunity and is focused on helping others do the same, especially students who are first in their families to go to college. At Rowan, she double-majored in Anthropology and Modern Language & Linguistics and minored in Latin American Studies, completing three certificates of undergraduate studies, in Spanish, German, and Forensic Science. Her desire to give back to other students is everywhere apparent: she served as a peer mentor, Vice President of the United Latino Association, and coordinator for the Women of Color Alliance Events. She is currently in a Master’s Program for Higher Education and the Graduate Coordinator for the Office of Social Justice, Inclusion & Conflict Resolution at Rowan.
Rowan University
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Franklin & Marshall College
NON-PROFIT/NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO)
Jevelson Jean
Cohort 2021
- Bachelor of Arts in Geosciences, Minor in Studio Art, Franklin & Marshall College, May 2021
Jevelson Jean is a geoscientist, cultural ambassador, and Princeton in Asia Fellow dedicated to empowering marginalized communities. Jevelson is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. He oversees the Language and Student Affairs Program at one of Japan’s largest and most successful NGOs, The Ashinaga Foundation, which provides scholarships and support to orphans and disadvantaged students. During his time at Franklin & Marshall College, he was founder and president of co-ed Club Volleyball, a Geomorphology Departmental Award recipient, and a student researcher for Lancaster’s Center for Sustainability. Following graduation, Jevelson earned certificates in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and N3 intermediate Japanese through Japan’s National Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). He was also a JET Program recipient and Fulbright alternate.
HEALTHCARE
Kim Boerrigter
Cohort 2021
- Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Biology,Harvard University, May 2021
- Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. First- Year M.D. Candidate, May 2027
Kim Boerrigter will complete her first-year of medical school in June 2024. She earned her degree in Integrative Biology from Harvard University, conducting 2 years of research with the Stephanie Pierce Lab, Dept. of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology and University of Sydney. For 2 years, she was a patient intake-care coordinator at the Bellevue Program for Survivors of Torture.
Although acutely science focused, Kim is an impressive example of a well-balanced Scholar. At Shabazz High School, Kim received a Scholar-Athlete award from the Newark Athletic Hall of Fame. A language enthusiast, she has communicative competence in German, Spanish, French and Mandarin. Kim’s love of science, compassion for the grieving, and her heartfelt recognition of shared humanity inspired her goal of a career in forensic pathology.
Harvard University
University of Pennsylvania
HEALTHCARE
Bruce Osei-Frimpong
Cohort 2020
- Bachelor of Arts, BA, Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 2020
- Doctor of Medicine, Hackensack School of Medicine, June 2025
Bruce Osei-Frimpong is currently in his 3rd year at Hackensack School of Medicine, where he intends to focus on internal medicine after he graduates in 2025. Before matriculating, Bruce conducted research at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, characterizing phenotypes and recognizing defects. Bruce majored in Biology at UPenn, where he also served as House Manager for over 400 residents. In 2019, Bruce worked with the National Institute of Health investigating mitochondrial disease. For this work, Bruce earned the Clinical Translational Science Award.
In high school, Bruce’s teachers already recognized his innate intelligence matched with humility, and how tremendously loved he was by the student body. Independent from a young age, Bruce developed his trademark maturity through learning to value introspection and connection with others.
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FINANCE
Ruby Chen
Cohort 2021
- Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration & International Studies, Franklin & Marshall College, 2021
Ruby Chen graduated Magna Cum Laude from F&M with a BA in Business and International Studies and a Chinese Minor, leveraging key opportunities to build financial industry expertise. Selected to participate in the Winning Women Summit by JP Morgan Chase, she worked as a Credit Analytics Intern with Toorak Capital Partners, studied abroad at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, and participated in opportunities with ViableEDU and Wall Street Bound, eventually becoming an S&P Global Market Intelligence Associate Sales Specialist. She is committed to giving back to her community. At F&M she was Asian American Alliance’s Senior Advisor and Community Outreach Coordinator. Currently she serves as a squad moderator for Ellevate Network, a global community of women dedicated to fostering and promoting workplace gender equality.
Franklin & Marshall College
Rutgers University New Brunswick
ENGINEERING
Daria Timura
Cohort 2021
- Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering (Aerospace Concentration), Rutgers University New Brunswick, 2021
- Master of Science, Systems Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, June 2025
Moving to the U.S. from Russia as a teenager, Daria Timura began a challenging International Baccalaureate program at Science Park High School, rigorously perfecting her English and setting a foundation for academic success in a new environment. She credits this experience with teaching her how to take risks and overcome fears as she tackled new things. Daria is the first Cooperman Scholar to graduate from the Rutgers University School of Engineering, where she majored in Mechanical Engineering with an Aerospace concentration. Her perseverance and determination paid off as she became a Data Engineer at Boeing, later beginning a role as a 757/767 Flight Crew Operating Manual Lead Engineer. Alongside her work, she is currently in a Master’s Program for Systems Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
ENGINEERING
Coriyanna Osbourne - Willis
Cohort 2022
- Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, Music & Theatre Technology Minor, Spelman College, 2022
At Spelman College, Coriyanna Osbourne – Willis combined her interest in computers with her strong musical and theatrical background to pursue a career strengthening and enhancing the use of technology in the Arts. She graduated with a degree in Computer Science and a minor in Music & Theater Technology. Coriyanna currently works at The Weather Company as a Broadcast Software Engineer, specializing in the intricacies of video production, including distribution and delivery. Prior to this, she served as an intern with IBM as a Software Engineer, and participated in Google’s Atlanta HBCU Hack-a-thon.
Coriyanna’s academic excellence earned her membership in the distinctive Phi Beta Kappa Society. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Spelman College in 2022.
Spelman College
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Villanova University
BUSINESS
Alan Orellana
Cohort 2024
- Bachelor of Business Administration, Management Information Systems & Management, Villanova University, December 2023
Alan Orellana is always finding opportunities and climbing to new heights! At Villanova, he double majored in Management Information Systems as well as Management Consulting. He is a 2023 Hispanic Scholarship Fund recipient and was one of 25 Villanova students to receive a scholarship for the Envestnet, Inc. Institute On Campus (EIOC): Wealth Management Certification Program. With his focus on networking and building relationships, he graduated with several job offers and will begin as a risk management Analyst for Deloitte in 2024.