Bios of the 2022 WCCP SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

This year, 2022, we awarded scholarships to 17 very deserving winners. Below are the biographies of all 17 of them. Photos of the WCCP Winners2022_17 StudentsCollage Photos from the awarding ceremony.

Genesis Elizabeth Rivera from Princeton Day School is a recipient of a Women’s College Club of Princeton Scholarship. Genesis is a talented linguist, a native Spanish speaker, fluent in English, and an avid French student. Her French language teacher stated thatGenesis’ capacity to never give up was commendable. In English class her analysis and insight were always on point. She was in the Honors level in Math, fascinated with science especially Biology and loved building robots and problem- solving in the Robotics Club. She is a thinker and learner. Genesis is pro-active, persistent and not shy to ask questions to learn. She loves to read and to learn about other cultures.She was a responsible teenager — as a summer camp counselor to a class of 4-year-olds, Sunday school teacher for 5–8-year-old children; she helped with house chores especially technology-related, worked at Chick-Fil-A summers since her freshman year, and as a PDS tour guide. She credits her mother for encouraging her to be herself, helping her realized her uniqueness brought diversity to her community. Genesis will be successful in whatever she sets her mind to because of her grit, perseverance, and good nature. “Never give up” is her motto. Genesis is thinking of majoring in Psychology minoring in French and pre-med, and is committed to Lehigh University.

Tyler Louree Robinson from Princeton Day School is a recipient of a Women’s College Club of Princeton Scholarship. Tyler is quiet, self-reflective, thoughtful, and kind, empathic and cares about everyone in her group, an avid learner, and has a curious mind. She is a natural leader, intelligent, perceptive, yet flexible on roles to take on in a teamwork situation. Nature has always been a source of grounding for Tyler, from inspecting tadpoles caught for her fourth-grade pond study and being a Butterfly House summer caretaker, to joining ENACT, a student-run Environmental Action Club exploring issues pro-actively working towards changes in her sophomore year. Tyler was chosen to be in the Energy and Climate Scholar Program and attends monthly dinner meetings with Princeton University Ph.D. students to hear about topics on energy, climate science, economics, policy, politics that the grad students were studying. She took a leadership role and led meetings, organized events, and made presentations about diversity and inclusion programs at school. Tyler involved herself also in soccer, served as a teacher’s assistant to third graders in PE activities. Her work ethic is “do your best work.” She is truly passionate about environmental issues and policy advocacy. Tyler will attend Jacksonville University in Florida to major in Environmental Studies.

​Gabriella Elizabeth Thomas, from Princeton Day School is the recipient of The Chow-Soon Chuang Ju Memorial Scholarship. This new award was established this year by her 4 daughters in honor of their mother, a member of the WCCP. Gabby adores learning and is passionate about languages and cultures. She reads, writes, and speaks Dutch and has been learning Chinese since her freshman year; she was persistent, hardworking, dedicated and engaged in learning Chinese, taking her into a Level IV class in her senior year. Her goals for the future are to learn Chinese fluently and to travel the world. She has extraordinary communication skills. She writes well and enjoys creative writing. Gabby is civic-minded and is concerned with incarceration systems and is interested in the Innocence Project and about book donations in helping global literacy. This year she took advance history electives – philosophy and ethics. Gabby’s academic accomplishments are rivaled by her personal strengths; her maturity and generosity are beyond her age. She is well-loved by her peers as well as those who have had the pleasure of teaching her. Her counselor noted that Gabby is “one of the most fascinating and multi-faceted students she had worked with.” She brings enthusiasm and energy in surfing, skiing, opera, violin (performed for senior citizens at nursing homes and churches), sailing (loves outdoors especially the ocean), and ceramics (her birdhouse is going to be published in a Scholastic magazine). She developed hospitality and organizational skills working during school breaks at a local restaurant. She was chosen to be a Peer Leader, one of the highest leadership roles a senior can hold. Advocacy around diversity, equity, and inclusion is important to her. She pushed for social justice within communities, led activities, posted and promoted awareness on social media on health issues and self-care. She strives in her own magical way to engage deeply with any community and learn fully about the individuals that make up the community. She enjoys bucking stereotypes. Curious, deeply kind, and earnest, Gabby radiates an inner calm. She is sharply insightful and creative, and proud of her roots and heritage. “Gabby is, in a word, a delight” according to her history teacher. “Her quiet modesty belies an intellectual strength and independence of thought.” Gabby plans to attend Hamilton College to major in English and history or possibly pre-med or pre-law. 

Julia Adeline Tuliszewski, a student from Princeton High School is the recipient of the Peterson Book Award. Julia loves reading her genres include fantasy, realistic, fiction, utopian, and poetry.  She also writes her own poetry. She took Spanish language classes in her sophomore and junior year, up to Spanish V Advanced.  Her counselor praised her as “an empathic, genuine, creative student and leader”. She is an excellent communicator and advocate for herself and others. Julia has a unique ability to understand and express her emotions and to relate to others. She is insightful, gentle, and can talk to anyone and ensures that others feel heard and understood. Julia is a dedicated singer, and actor, expressing herself on stage and fostering positive and lasting relationships with her fellow actors and crew members. For community services, Julia volunteered at Arm in Arm in Trenton, at the Operation Smile Club, and served as a tutor in the IDEAS Center at Princeton High School. Julia is enrolled at Dickinson College and would like to major in Psychology, attend graduate school, and then go on to become a licensed therapist or social worker. 

Veronica Sophia Vogelman, a student from Princeton Day School is a recipient of a Women’s College Club of Princeton Scholarship.  “My hope for the future is to be a foreign diplomat or ambassador and travel the world, making small differences in each place I go,” wrote Ronnie. She has already traveled extensively with her mother since childhood. It makes one dizzy following her 4 years of extracurricular activities, besides having already great successes in geometry, algebra, psychology, biology, physics, astronomy, engineering, and Spanish. She was a risk taker and leader in class discussions. She is resilient, works hard, is humble and not afraid to ask questions, and very committed to being a life-long learner. Ronnie is not afraid to reinvent herself. She was a valued goalie, Goalkeeper 17, on the varsity soccer team, and was able to shift her energy to stage performances when she realized it was time to “let go” of soccer. She had developed a love for creative writing; she thrives when reading, writing stories and plays, and analyzing literature. A passionate performer and also an impressive playwright, she takes inspiring, concerning, and fragile topics that are taboo, for example, the teen mental health crisis which she channeled nto evocative and innovative plays. Her first original play won a first-place award at PDS’s first-ever-school-sponsored playwriting competition in 2021. She won an Honorable Mention award in the 19 the Annual Young Playwrights Competition of New Jersey the same year. She honed her managerial and organizational skills writing plays, stage-managing, acting, and directing plays. She possesses a natural ability to connect with others, having a maximum empathy and authenticity allowing her to have a well-balanced group of friends in theatre and sports. She was chosen to be a Peer Leader, one of the highest positions a senior can hold by mentoring a group of freshmen to help them acclimate to the school and to develop a sense of belonging.  She was Co-Head of the Student Life Committee of PDS’s Student Council, and a PDS student ambassador and tour guide. She led important race-related conversations and helped write a proposal that changed the school’s 9th and 10th grade classes history curriculum to include information on the history of racial justice. Ronnie was a snowboarding instructor at the Hoods to Woods Foundation, teaching inner-city children and teens every weekend each winter and managing the equipment. She hosted several educational activities to raise money for crafters from South America by selling their wares. She herself was a young entrepreneur by sewing and selling facemasks online while working as an associate at a sporting goods store. She drives her younger brother to/from school and extracurricular activities every day, cooks meals, does laundry, and runs errands for her family. She is a strong collaborator, listens deeply and respectful of each of her teammates. She was able to step into whichever role was necessary for the benefit of the group. She shows positivity and kindness, ever-present thoughtfulness, critical thinking, and curiosity. “Extremely effective communicator, ensuring everyone was on the same page and that no one was feeling left behind,” her Physics teacher wrote of Ronnie.  She is committed to being the best person she can be while inspiring people around her to be better people. She has lots of charm and strength in her character. Her life required a lot of time management, work ethics, and independence, no doubt cultivating and preparing her as a future ambassador. She has chosen to attend Marist College.

Angela Cirelli, a recipient of a Women’s College Club of Princeton Scholarship, is a student at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart.  Her history teacher writes that she is “an exceptionally bright and engaged student,” who delves deeply into her subject areas.   “A deeply positive person” Angela “sincerely believes that commitment, energy, focus and joy are keen ingredients in making one’s life and community better.”  In addition to a straight A average in 4 years of schooling including 5 AP courses, she was active in Student Government all 4 years with the highest position being Class Vice President, was in the Science National Honor Society, was a Peer Leader all 4 years, tutored in writing and as a Youth Advocacy Team Member, and was an International Student Peer Mentor. She was chosen by the science faculty for the Hubert N. Alyea Award given by Princeton University and the Princeton Section of the American Chemical Society.  Angela competed in varsity outdoor track and field and played junior varsity & varsity basketball.  She worked on the Yearbook Committee all 4 years ending as the head photo editor, was a founder and co-head of the Multicultural Club, and served in 5 other clubs.  She did community service for P.E.A.C.E. of Mind, a Catholic youth mental health group for the St. Augustine of Canterbury church for 4 years, and volunteered at Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Hospital, Operation Smile, Seeds to Sew International, and assisted teachers in the Lower School in the classroom.  Angela has completed the Leadership Endorsement Program, a highly coveted and revered position which included facilitating workshops at the Lead at a Girl National Conference, and representing Stuart at the Student Diversity Leadership Conference as a junior.  The Director of College Counseling writes “Despite her accomplishments, her exceptional personal qualities (namely humility and her indness) would never allow her to be boastful.”  She will attend Temple University in the fall with a major in Biology and minor in Spanish and plans to become a dentist.  And as they say, “Nothing stops a Stuart girl!”

Kylie Colvin, the recipient of the Marjory White Memorial Scholarship, is a student at Princeton High School. Her counselor describes Kylie as a respectful, determined and humble young woman, who plans well in advance and takes steady steps towards her goals.  In her 4 years at Princeton High School, she maintained a straight A average, while taking 9 AP courses, and 3 accelerated courses.  She is the senior section editor of the Prince, the high school yearbook, president of International Youth neuroscience, competed in track and field for the high school, and on the high school’s cheer team.  Kylie was a Red Cross volunteer, a Building Bridges tutor, a Food Drive volunteer, a Senior Camp counselor for 4 years, a VBS assistant at Four Lakes Community Church, and on the hospitality staff at UGM Camp Tschimican.  Before living in Princeton, her family lived in Spokane, Washington.  Her mother is a Native American from the Cherokee community, which enabled Kylie to volunteer in that community, and leads her to want to serve native rural communities.  She is learning Cherokee on Zoom.  She plans to attend Wellesley College and major in biology and Spanish, then go to dental school, ultimately becoming a pediatric oral surgeon.  She states “I want to use my skills as a bilingual dentist to become the 4^th generation of my family bringing aid and relief to oppressed people.  To prepare for this goal, she has shadowed her Native doctor of Dental Surgery and has been invited back for a full internship with the dental group this summer. Her future may also include volunteering for Doctors without Borders.  Of course, Kylie has all of this planned out already!!  

Stephanie Dudowitz, a recipient of a Women’s College Club of Princeton Scholarship is a student at The Hun School of Princeton.  According to her mathematics teacher, Stephanie is an incredible math student, who simple “gets math.”  Her English teacher says she is a hard-working, a well-organized student, who is resilient, dedicated, and has a positive attitude.  She also has sincerity of character that endears her to all she meets.  Her counselor points out that she has “successfully completed 5 AP courses and 6 Honor courses, considered “a most demanding curriculum” at Hun. “She is a passionate scholar of the humanities, a staunch social justice advocate, and a deeply empathetic young woman.  She has put theory into practice through Hun’s interdisciplinary experiential learning program, NextTerm.”  Stephanie enrolled in Dear Earth “which used the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as a launch pad to explore sustainable living through gender equality and animal welfare.” Her capstone project this year focused on “animal welfare initiatives and best practices at the Bronx Zoo.” She made a community-wide presentation and created a website for Hun about her findings. “She is a driving force behind the Gender Equity Matters Club (GEM) and Diversity and Inclusion Committee.  For GEM, she served a pivotal role in launching the school’s inaugural Women in the World Summit.  In addition to being part of the steering committee, Stephanie co-hosted a workshop, “raising awareness about the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People including data gaps in the statistics regarding this community.”  For the Coalition for Black and Indigenous Solidarity she talked about the relationship between Missing and Murdered Indigenous People and environmental destruction.  She attended the American University Summer Leadership Program for Political Action and Public Policy in 2021.  She was chosen to be 1 of 12 students from nearly 150 to be a dorm proctor for 2021-22.  She also plays on Hun’s girls’ varsity soccer team. Stephanie plans to major in Public Policy at NYU.

Holland Engel, the recipient of the Katherine Ness Memorial Scholarship, is a student at The Hun School of Princeton.  Her English and Performing Arts teacher describes her as “a person of insight, patience, sound reasoning, and humor”. He says that she has an “innate organizational ability” and collaborates easily with people which “made her a natural leader in class debates.”  Her physics teacher said she is determined and motivated.  “When a group task was given, Holland would take out a sheet of paper and organize everyone’s job.  The group wanted to be successful and that started with a plan and Holland would make the plan.”  She has been able to connect concepts learned in class to the real world, for example, the physics of impulse and momentum as it relates to rowing.  Holland transferred into Hun for her junior and senior years and has an almost straight A average.  Holland was a captain of the Hun Rowing Team, volunteered for the club’s Learn to Row program during the spring and summer, and volunteered for the US Rowing Association ​throughout the year.  In addition, she was an active member of the Red Cross Club, and volunteered at the Flemington Food pantry.  She plans to study data analysis or become a Climate Data Scientist in the STEM field. She will be attending Rutgers University, New Brunswick.

Lydia Garcia, a recipient of a Women’s College Club of Princeton Scholarship, is a student at Princeton High School.   Lydia’s passion is acting and she plans to major in Theater.  Her drama teacher has “consistently witnessed her extraordinary talent, work ethic passion, leadership, dedication, growth and commitment to the arts.  She has outstanding focus, thoughtful actor questioning and feedback, deep reflection, and exemplar collaboration skills.”  “She is a gifted and versatile actor who strives to challenge herself with every new role and assignment.”  She takes direction well, …and likes “the analysis work needed to build strong, three-dimensional characters.”  Her English teacher describes her as mature, highly talented, hardworking and creative.  In her English III class, her teacher wrote “she produced creative pieces that attempted to address her inquiry ‘How does a beginner’s mindset affect relationships?’  Though all her pieces were worthy of publishing, her dramatic piece was her best of the year.  She filmed and submitted material to STANJ, a speech and theater competition held in New Jersey, and won the governor’s award ​for “Best Actress”.  She was a Co-President of Spectacle Theatre and a volunteer with the Princeton Arts Council.  At Princeton High School, she was a Peer Group Leader, a JV lacrosse defender and goalie.  In the community, she volunteered as a stable helper at the Mercer County Equestrian Center, and was a participant in a Summer Youth Employment Program that taught them how to start a business.  She and her company started a sticker company that sold their art. She will be attending The New School in New York City in the fall, majoring in theater.

Isabella Gomez, a student at The Hun School of Princeton is a recipient of a Women’s College Club of Princeton Scholarship. Bella says that for as long as she can remember she has wanted to pursue a career in humanitarian aid and disaster relief. As a professional, she would like to invest her time solving global issues using her love for technology and desire to make the world a better place.  She is a student/athlete at Hun and she has participated in girls’ soccer, and lacrosse, the Student Government Association, Girls Who Code, Model Congress, Model UN and Young Women’s Leadership Cohort.  In 2021, Bella was the leader in establishing the Green Committee, engaging Hun’s entire community and outside experts in projects and programs addressing climate change.  The Hun Climate Summit in 2021 which partnered with non-profits across the nation, provided students with volunteer and internship opportunities.  The program was repeated in 2022. Bella wrote:  “I will always remain grateful for every opportunity this life has afforded me. …. This scholarship will allow me to pursue the educational dreams I have had my whole life, and if nothing else I can say with utmost certainty that I plan to use any and every opportunity I am afforded to spend the rest of my life uplifting others.” Her advisor says:  “She will set the world on fire with her passion for righting wrong.  She is the constellation of grit, vulnerability, stubbornness and charm who is much adored.” Bella will attend Washington University with a double major in computer science and international studies.

Idaliza Perez Jimenez, a student at Princeton Day School is the recipient of the Kathleen Hutchins Scholarship Award. This new scholarship approved by the Board is in recognition of Kathy’s tireless contributions through the years in many roles but in particular her extraordinary leadership as President of the Club.  Ida’s activities encompass her wide range of interests which includes the environment, theater, student life, community service, athletics, and social justice.   She is a poet. Writing poetry for her is a way of learning about herself.  She says she writes in the moment and hardly ever over-edits so her poetry is raw and true. She says the poems that speak the loudest are the ones that put into words what we’re too scared to say aloud. From Middle School Ida has had a passion for learning how historical events have long-lasting impacts so she has taken classes such as Facing Modern Africa, AP US Government, Class Race & Poverty and Psychology.  These classes have led her to become an activist and a coordinator of the “Anti-Hate Squad”. She sees her own future in Public Policy and already has a vision for creating community centers where citizens can find a range of public support. Supporting her ideals Ida is not afraid to be herself. One teacher describes her as “cool, and different and funny and creative and tough”. Ida will attend Hamilton College in the fall.

Lily L’Oiseau, a student at The Hun School of Princeton is a recipient of a Women’s College Club of Princeton Scholarship Award.  Lily is a photographer. Her bold images, exhibited on Hun walls, reflect her wonder of nature and excitement to major in Environmental Science and Studio Art with a major in Photography.  At Hun she has taken courses in biology, human anatomy, physiology and psychology. What really fascinates her is the connectivity of the disciplines. Lily’s current goal is to work in some way with National Geographic. She says she has already started prepping for this career. In college she’d like to continue to take courses that will help her to understand the world around her and her place in it. She believes she is building a foundation in which she can learn anything. Lily is dedicated to being a good friend and at Hun has been elected by her peers to represent them in student government and on the Dorm Council.  She is a member of Art in Action which mixes art and activism. Her teacher said that she is a “skilled collaborative problem solver, that she encourages a setting in which any idea can lead to a solution, that she is compassionate, complex, and ill warm your hearts.” Lily will attend Goucher College in the fall and will major in environmental science and studio art with a major in photography.

Ayaka Numata, a student at Princeton High School is the recipient of the Molly Updike Scholarship Award. Ayaka is multi-faceted, a scientist and a humanist.  How she managed the COVID year out of school shows what she is made of. While other students often were lackadaisical, her English teacher commented that Ayaka was always prepared and said of her: “She wrote stories and essays and poetry with so much joy when things got stagnant.”As a junior year biology student, she was part of the Odyssey of Mind in the Competitive Science Problem Solving & Performance section; her teacher says that her creativity, and leadership were strong assets in making her stand out in the group.  Examples of her joy in helping others go way beyond the boundaries of school. Since 2019 she has volunteered in a Special Education program to help middle school and high school students through music therapy.  Ayaka and a friend taught crafts and Disney songs to 20 ten-year-old Egyptian students in a different time zone on ZOOM during the quarantine.    She is quiet and humble, supported by the attitudes and skills of being a Junior Black Belt in the traditional martial art of Aikido. Ayaka was invited to join a National Society of High School Scholars. Of her virtual year she wrote, “I upheld integrity and honesty in all my work. I still had a lot of fun in this virtual year.”  A teacher said Ayaka is both a bright mind and a caring human who will always make time to help a person who needs it. Ayaka will attend The College of New Jersey to study bio-engineering. 

Jadyn Cruz Piotrowski, a student at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart is the recipient of the Florence Bell Hillier Memorial Scholarship. Jadyn already sees a business future in marketing and graphic design, having had three years of internship experience in Stuart’s Communications Department as it was redesigning the school’s brand.  In addition, she was given the task of designing the 2021 Christmas card and has essentially become the 3^rd member of Stuart’s Communications team. She enjoyed that project immensely and realized that her entrepreneurial side hopes to pursue a freelance graphic career in addition to her business and marketing endeavors.  About her future she says she is convinced that in combining marketing and graphic design she will find a career path that is flexible, relevant and fulfilling.  Jadyn has been a Stuart student since 4th grade. In the 10^th grade she received the Barat Award which recognizes one student in each grade who demonstrates self-sacrifice, compassion, respect for self and others, courtesy, a sense of balance and good judgment, and overall citizenship. She has been deeply involved in the life of Stuart including Student Government where this year she is the Executive President and has focused on diversity initiatives within the framework of Sacred Heart values. This year she was editor-in-chief of the yearbook having worked on it for three previous years. One teacher said: “To know Jadyn is to be dazzled by her intellect, her grit, her humility, her integrity and her heart-forward approach to living.”  Jadyn will attend Villanova University in the fall of 2022.

Saylah Parrish Toussaint, a student at The Hun School of Princeton is a recipient of a Women’s College Club of Princeton Scholarship. Saylah says she sees that since she was young, people have followed her and she embraces her skills and responsibility as a leader.  She says: “I have learned through my journey in becoming a leader that no matter how big the leadership position is, the leader herself has to be of good quality to ensure that every decision is made.” Last year she planned and participated in a ground breaking MLK Summit in a way that a teacher described as esteemed passion.  Her African American history teacher says that her curiosity and passion for the subject helped him to create a richer experience for all by integrating new content from Saylah’s curiosity. In turn, Saylah would create programming for the Black Student Alliance that would mirror those class discussions.  She is a dancer and has been very active in The Hun Dance Company. During the school lockdown, her dance teacher taught her dance parts for Pippin on Zoom and Saylah then practiced them on her own. Her dance teacher says that Saylah accepts corrections willingly and graciously and always puts the work first.  She says that it is clear that during the most stressful moments of rehearsal, she will always manage to say the right thing to lighten the tensions; that she is a born leader.  Saylah thinks that in a lot of ways society encourages women to be small and invisible that she is learning that it is more than okay to take up space with your authentic self.  Saylah will attend Pace University in the fall.  Her ultimate goal is to become a creative director within the music industry.

Marina Curchitser, the recipient of the Carol Stawski Memorial Scholarship is a student at Princeton High School. This is a new scholarship approved by the Board in memory Club member Carol Stawski an individual who many say was “the heart of the Women’s College Club of Princeton and kept it alive” while serving in many roles over the years. According to her social studies teacher, Marina is an insightful, compassionate student, whose natural curiosity and deep engagement with the content makes it clear she is more interested in her intellectual growth than her report card. Her science teacher agrees and adds Marina is capable of competing with the very best students. Well, no wonder, she has straight A’s throughout 4 years of high school. Marina is a competitive mountain biker and team captain for the Princeton Progressions team of the New Jersey Interscholastic Cycling League finishing in the top three clubs in New Jersey for five seasons, 12th place in the USA Cycling Nationals in 2019. She was the founder of the New Jersey Interscholastic Cycling League’s environmental committee, helping the league’s events have a positive environmental impact. Continuing her concern for the environment, she has volunteered for the Ridgeview Conservancy in collecting and analyzing forest data, and community education advocating for preservation and accessibility of local forest. She completed independent research at Rutgers University studying the impact of temperature on the metabolism of marine diatoms. Another major interest of Marina is music, spending 6 years studying cello. She is Co-Founder of the Princeton High School Chamber Music Club, a participant in the honors music program of Westminster Conservatory of Rider University, a participant in the Philadelphia International Music Festival in 2020 & 2021 requiring 6+ hours of music study per day, taught by members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She exhibited her leadership as an executive board member of the Princeton High School Ideas Center, where she organized student support programs providing free tutoring, orientations for transfer students, and international interscholastic partnerships. She volunteered to tutor students at Princeton High School in 5 different subjects. Finally, she volunteered as a summer camp counselor and mentor for 8-12-year-old girls. She wants to explore the world through multiple perspectives that can potentially intersect. She plans to study biology at Johns Hopkins and cello at the Peabody Conservatory. Yes, both at the same time! She may become a college teacher.

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