SPARK Alumni

Bachelor of Health Sciences in Medical Laboratory Science, Minors in Spanish and Music Performance 

College of Health Sciences, Class of 2022

Project: "An Examination of the Motivators and Barriers to Blood Donation among African-Americans in Lexington, Kentucky"

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Minors in Cello Performance and Spanish

College of Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022

Project: "The Role and Impact of Recovery Programs and Community Services on the Recovery and Reintegration of Survivors of Sex Trafficking"

Bachelor of Science in Public Health

College of Public Health, Class of 2020

Project: "Identifying Facilitators and Barriers of Physical Activity in a Rural Trail Town"

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

College of Arts and Sciences, Class of 2021

Project: "Riskful drug-use behavior among people who use heroin in Washington Heights."

Bachelor of Science in Human Health Science, Minor in Biology

College of Health Sciences, Class of 2022

Project: “Exploring the Association Between Depression, Traumatic Life Events, and Coping Among Incarcerated African American Men.”

Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience

College of Arts and Sciences, Class of 2021

Project: “Adult Education and Childhood Developmental Disorders.”

College: Arts and Sciences

Major: Biology and Neuroscience

Riya is in the College of Arts and Sciences where she is double majoring in Biology and Neuroscience. She is interested in a career in the medical field, specifically in the neurosurgery specialty; however, she is also interested in being a Primary Care Physician. Having a CNA Certification and volunteer experience at hospitals has allowed her to strengthen her wish to further a medical career.

Kentucky State University (KSU)

College: Agriculture, Community and the Sciences

Major: Biology

Michael is at KSU where he majors in Biology. He also volunteers with Circle K International and worked with KSU faculty to re-establish the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students chapter on campus, where he serves as Vice President. He aspires to be an anesthesiologist and for fun he enjoys reading, playing video games, and being with friends.

College: Public Health

Major: Public Health

Year: Sophomore

Princess is an international student from Ghana. She is a sophomore in the College of Public Health. She is pursuing a Public Health major and is on the pre-medical track. Her goals include earning MD and MPH degrees and work in the global health field to improve healthcare accessibility for impoverished and underserved communities. 

College: Arts and Sciences and Public Health

Major: Environmental Sustainability Studies and Public Health

Meron is in the College of Public Health and the College of Arts and Sciences, double majoring in Public Health and Environmental Sustainability Studies. After graduating, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in Global Health. She hopes to work on projects that apply principles from her main areas of interest: global health and environmental sustainability. She believes that having an interdisciplinary background will prepare her to best serve her community by implementing strategies to achieve health equity and environmental justice.

College: Arts and Sciences

Major: Biology and Mathematics

Sairakshitha Yalla is a first-generation immigrant from India who graduated from the MSTC program at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, Kentucky. Sai aspires to be a physician-scientist who translates fundamental research into clinical interventions that drive effective and impactful healthcare outcomes. In her spare time, she enjoys reading comics, lifting weights, running after her nieces, and mentoring high schoolers.

College: UK College of Human Health Sciences
 

Major: Pre-med track
 

Carey Beth is in the College of Health Sciences and the Lewis Honors College. She hopes to become a physician and own her own medical practice. Her rural Kentucky upbringing sparked her interest in exploring health disparities. Carey Beth is also the Vice President of Programming of her sorority, Delta Zeta. She enjoys reading, going to the University of Kentucky basketball games, and hanging out with her friends.

College: UK College of Public Health
 

Major: Public Health with a minor in Health Promotions
 

Jade is in the College of Public Health at the University of Kentucky. She is pursuing a public health major with a minor in health promotion. After graduating from the BPH program, she plans on obtaining an MPH with a concentration in Health Behaviors. Postmasters, she intends to work for a health department to assist in reforming adolescent health curriculum to ensure it is comprehensive and accessible for impoverished and underserved communities.

College: Kentucky State University 
 

Major: Pre-Professional Biology, with a minor in Military Science 
 

Ellis Jackson is a first-generation college student who is currently enrolled Kentucky State University. Ellis is majoring in Pre-Professional Biology with a minor in Military Science. After graduating, Ellis plans to attend Medical School in the service to become a Radiation Oncologist. In his spare time Ellis enjoys reading, volunteering, lifting weights, and watching movies. 

College: Kentucky State University
 

Major: Pre-Professional Biology with minors in Mass Communication and Sociology
 

Segen Mussie is at Kentucky State University (KSU) where she majors in Biology and a double minor in Mass Communications and Sociology. She works with KSU’s counseling center and student government association to connect students to resources they need to enjoy holistic health while achieving academic excellence. After graduating, Segen aspires to be a primary care physician and continue to serve overlooked and underrepresented communities.

College: UK Lewis Honors College
 

Major: Neuroscience with a minor in Appalachian Studies
 

Maddie is at the University of Kentucky Lewis Honors College. She is majoring in neuroscience and minoring in Appalachian studies. She is President of the Appalachian Health Initiative at the University of Kentucky. Maddie’s research experience focuses on opioid misuse and abuse in rural areas. Her future goals include a career in primary care in Appalachia, where she hopes to promote and provide equitable healthcare for everyone.

College: UK College of Arts and Sciences
 

Major: Health, Society, and Populations
 

Treasure has a Health, Society, and Populations major and a minor in Psychology from the College of Arts and Sciences. She serves as the Community Service Chair for UK’s Hues in Medicine, a campus organization for BIPOC students in healthcare. She is interested in a career in the healthcare field with a focus on preventive care. Her goal is to use the skills she would gain in health equity research to become a better physician in the future. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending time with her friends and family.