Michelle Martin Moore Endowed Scholarship

Isabella Sponaugle is an accounting major at the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, where she transferred after receiving her two-year degree from community college. Isabella currently works while attending school and has a goal of obtaining her Certified Public Accountant licensure. Earning her bachelor's degree will allow Isabella to achieve this while learning at one of the top business schools in the U.S.

Andrew Naithram grew up in the area, so University of Maryland is his local school.  Attending Maryland has been a very unique experience as it varies from semester-to-semester. Andrew has met people from all walks of life and with different academic pursuits. The field of Public Health is quite diverse and the possibilities for career and educational growth are endless.  By developing strong communication skills and leadership at a young age, Andrew has been able to help my peers grow and succeed.

Dante Leoni is a 32-year-old man who has returned to university to finish a task he had left unfinished. Dante has become obsessed with what it means to reconcile our past and all of our relationships, and so it made sense to him to become more qualified so that he can help people do the same. Dante’s end goal is to become a pediatrician, and his Maryland experience is all about getting there. Dante is currently in Pre-SOMA (Students for Osteopathic Medicine), is on the leadership team with Greek InterVarsity (a Greek facing Christian organization focused on mentorship) and is a chemistry TA.

At UMD, Abel Amene is involved in a number of student organizations and leadership positions. Abel serves as one of the co-secretaries of the UMD Student for Justice in Palestine. He’s also involved in the Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter on our campus. Abel is also involved in his local Student Government Association. Abel serves as an officer of the organization, a member of the legislature as the representative for off-campus students who live outside the immediate area around the campus.

Sejin Chung arrived in the United States as part of the 1.5 generation. As the eldest daughter of immigrant parents, she exerted her utmost effort to engage in school activities, taking on leadership roles such as president in various clubs and choirs. Immediately after high school graduation, she entered the workforce to financially support her parents. While working full-time, Sejin remained committed to her academic pursuits, studying simultaneously on a full or part-time basis. Through gradual steps, she achieved her goal of transferring to the University of Maryland to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Management at the Robert H. Smith School of Business. In her first semester, she accomplished the feat of earning straight A's, which allowed her to join the Tau Sigma Honor Society. Moreover, the excellent career programs provided by our business school played a crucial role; she received internship offers for the upcoming summer. Sejin is immensely grateful for the opportunities UMD has given me, allowing her to realize her academic and professional dreams and serving as a testament to her perseverance. She  looks forward to continuing my educational career at UMD.

Aisha Munawar is currently pursuing a psychology degree after having to take off several semesters due to health issues. She plans on graduating in May 2024. After graduation, she intends to work as a research assistant before applying to graduate school in clinical psychology. Ultimately, Aisha hopes to receive a Ph.D. in Psychology.  She is very passionate about the field of mental health. In the past, and currently, she’s worked with individuals with mental health conditions. In her position in Hyattsville, MD, Aisha worked with members of the community who experienced psychological and substance use disorders. She is currently working at Sheppard Pratt Residential Crisis where I support those with mental health conditions.  

Alyssa Ruffing is a junior in the B.S. in Architecture program at UMD. Prior to coming to UMD, she worked and attended her local community college in eastern NC part time, while she figured out what she really wanted to study. At this point Alyssa is a non traditional student, being 5 or 6 years older than most of her peers in the program. This summer, she was selected to study abroad in Florence, Italy for the month of June with professor Brian Kelly, and a handful of her ARCH400 studio classmates. She’s also active in the Women in Architecture (WIA) and the LGBTQIA+ Design Collective groups within the college, and is a brother in the architecture fraternity on campus, called APX (Olynthius chapter). Alyssa has held a work study job within the architecture dept. in the dean's office suite since the beginning of her freshman year.

Jestina Ricci is a junior at the University of Maryland studying Disability Justice and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Her previous career experience before returning to college include retail management, campaign organizing, and disability advocacy education. She is an active member of Disability: Identity, Culture, and Education on campus.

Xavier Linton, a Maryland native, is a 3rd year inquisitive challenge seeker achieving a degree in Computer Science. After returning to college to expand upon his education, Xavier made it his goal to be deeply invested in academic extracurriculars. He currently holds a position in the Southern Management Leadership program which develops students into community leaders. His interest in Computer Science stems from adolescence, as he would experiment with computer components and gizmos. He aims to push machine learning into the medical field to create autonomous health devices. Outside of school, Xavier is an advocate for diabetic research and health equity, and loves teaching basketball to the youth.