Assi Askala hails from rural Finland. She studied at the United World College of the Atlantic, Wales, before arriving at Middlebury. A member of the class of 2015, Assi plans to declare as an Environmental Studies major with a focus in Economics. She is an active member of the Sunday Night Group, the Socially Responsible Investment Club, and the Divestment Campaign among other activities, here at Middlebury. She hopes to study abroad in Kunming, China during her junior year. With deep roots and awareness of the world around her, Assi’s strong familial ties drive her to be a changemaker.

Fernando Sandoval Jimenez is from Mexico and is a member of the class of 2015. Fernando studied at the United World College-USA and took a gap year, traveling to Europe, Algeria, Jordan, Palestine and Israel, before coming to Middlebury. He intends to declare as an Environmental Studies major with a focus in Geography. This past summer, along with a team of Middlebury students, Fernando helped teach social entrepreneurship to young leaders in Mexico. Fernando is a first year seminar mentor and intern at the MCSE. His conviction to correct the injustices he has witnessed drives him to live a life of changemaking.

Jeannie Bartlett is from western Massachusetts and a member of the class of 2015. She is the co-president of the Socially Responsible Investment Club and an active member of the Weybridge House, Middlebury Mountain Club, and the Sunday Night Group. She is an Environmental Studies, Conservation Biology major. Keenly aware of the environmental and social injustices she wants toaddress, Jeannie’s analytical mindset and search for a path of positive social impact inspire her to be an agent of change.

Krisztina Pjeczka is from Hungary and a member of the class of 2015. Before Middlebury, Krisztina studied at the United World College of South East Asia, Singapore and took a gap year to work in India. She is an Environmental Economics major. Krisztina is involved with the Atwater Commonsresidential life team and has joined the Middlebury Solar Decathlon team. This past summer, Krisztina interned at the MCSE and helped teach social entrepreneurship and changemaking to a group of young leaders in Mexico. Krisztina’s growing awareness of many of the world’s injustices and great humility lead her to a life of social change.

Rana Abdelhamid is from New York City and of Egyptian decent. She is a member of the class of 2015 and a Posse Scholar. Rana is the sophomoresenator to the Student Government Association, a member of Amnesty International, Middlebury Alternative Break Trips, and the Islamic Society at Middlebury College among other activities. At the age of 17, Rana created Unbreakable Strength, a self-defense and empowerment program. Unbreakable Strength creates a safe space for women to discuss self-esteem, body image, violence, and identity.  Rana’s experience as a social entrepreneur and her spirit lead her to a life of changemaking.

Mika Tan hails from Singapore. A member of the class of 2015, she is an EnvironmentalStudies, Conservation Biology major.  She is a leader for Middlebury Alternative Break – Cherokee Nation, a board member of the International Student Organization, a member of the College’s Environmental Council and a member of the Middlebury College Birding Club. Through past work in youthactivism and the environmental field including attending sustainable development negotiations in Rio de Janeiro, Mika has been exposed to many different models of social change, but her desire to find the most effective one brings her to social entrepreneurship.  Mika’s rich background in the many models of changemaking and her own desire to make a difference inspire her to lead a life of social change.