Michael De Vita, Ben Schumacher, Cassy Tully, Rishi Wadhera, Seppi Lehner
(Not pictured: Aaron Cohen)
Aaron Cohn is a senior majoring in Biology. He will travel to Jerusalem this summer to work with Dr. Aharon Lev-Tov of Hebrew University’s Ein Kerem medical school. Aaron plans to work in Dr. Lev-Tov’s electrophysiology lab recording neuron activity in rodent spinal cords. He will be contributing to work that hopefully will lead to new interventional therapies for spinal cord injuries. His work in Israel will help him realize his plans become a physician specializing in rehabilitative medicine.
Michael De Vita is a senior majoring in Biology. This summer he will travel to Managua, Nicaragua to volunteer with the Manna Project International. There he will assist with projects in the areas of health, literacy, arts and youth sports. He will then have the opportunity to focus his efforts on a specific project. He hopes to be able to focus on public health issues, something which will help him in his future medical career.
Ben Schumaker is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, and is currently enrolled in the Masters of Social Work program. He is also founder of the “Memory Project,” which grew out of work he did in an orphanage in Guatamala after receiving a Zillman Award three years ago. The project collects photographs of children living in orphanages and recruits high school art students to make portraits from these photos. The portraits are then given to the children, providing them with a way to capture the memories of their youth. This summer, he plans to deliver finished portraits to three orphanages, giving him a chance to witness first hand the reactions of the children who receive the portraits. This will provide valuable feedback as he continues to work on the project, something which he hopes to do full time after graduation.
Cassy Tully is a senior Bachelor of Fine Art candidate. Cassy will be researching Italian relief artwork in Florence, Italy this summer in order to develop her skills and knowledge as a ceramic artist. Her research in Italy will contribute to a final BFA exhibition. Cassy plans to pursue graduate studies in art, as well as a professional career as an artist.
Rishi Wadhera is a senior majoring in Biology. Rishi, like Michael, will be traveling to Managua, Nicaragua to work with the Manna Project International. In Nicaragua, Rishi will help to develop health education programs in Spanish to increase awareness amongst local villagers, particularly about HIV and AIDS. Rishi’s current plans continue a commitment to improve the quality of health care for individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds, a commitment he showed last summer when volunteering in New Delhi, India. He will be pursuing a dual medical and masters in public health next year.
Joseph Lehner is a senior majoring in Anthropology, with a certificate in Archaeology. Joseph will join an archeological project this summer at the site of Kerkenes Dag, a low granitic mountain in central Turkey. Joseph plans to go to graduate school to study the archaeology of ancient Anatolia (modern central and east Turkey). This summer’s project will help Joseph to expand his aspirations and qualifications as a future Anatolian archaeology.
Other Zillman Award Winners:
2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012,
2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2005