Every year between 12 and 30 students are beneficiaries of our scholarship and mentorship programs.

Meet this year’s

RUAM COHORT

Ruam means to gather, share, and unite in the Thai language. With this name, we hope students can come together as a supportive community for each other, as well as build new connections with the people they meet on their journeys to Thailand, Cambodia, Peru, and Bolivia.

Be sure to hover on each image to read each student’s profile!

Hello! My name is Anabelle, my sun sign is aries, my moon is in virgo and my rising is libra. I turned 19 this past April, and will turn 20 while abroad! I’ve lived in Portland, Oregon for about two and a half years. I was born in a small town in California and lived there really my whole life. I’ve grown up with a single mother, and a little brother who is just about to turn 16. I graduated from Rosemary Anderson High school, and frequented a lot of their programs in natural resources. I work at a children’s play place as a manager, and I actually really love my job. I’m at PCC studying to be a high school teacher, Although I have not landed between History or English. In my free time, you’ll probably catch me playing DND, writing, and probably playing Stardew Valley.I could lie, and tell you I know exactly where my life is heading, but I really don’t. I don’t think anyone really does. I just know I want to do everything, want to see everything, and want to just experience being human with other people. Cya!

ANNABELLE WAGY

Hello, my name is Andrea Luna! I live in Hillsboro, and I am the first of my two siblings to graduate high school and attend college. A fun fact about me is that I migrated to Oregon when I was in sixth grade. I was born and raised in a small town in Oaxaca, Mexico. Growing up, I learned how to speak my Spanish, and my native language, Mixteco. I enjoy dancing, reading Latin American literature, and learning about pre-columbian history. During my first year of college at PCC, my favorite class was Writing because it gave me the opportunity to explore different points of views to express and discover the joy of writing.

ANDREA DE JESUS LUNA

My name is Arieanna Morehead, but I go by Arie. I was born and raised in Portland, OR and I proudly represent my region as your Miss Rose City Volunteer 2024. I am a sophomore associate’s degree candidate in the American Sign Language Interpreting Program and a Future Connect Scholar at Portland Community College.

In 2020, I was inspired by ASL interpreters I met during my involvement in the BLM Movement. One thing that stood out to me specifically was that there were 3 Black Deaf interpreters as well, and it made me more curious about the relationship between being Black and Deaf. I want to become an Interpreter to bridge the gaps of intersectionality in the field of interpreting between the hearing and Deaf community.

I started my own social justice group at just 12 years old after recognizing the lack of Black history I hadn’t been taught. Now in my quest, I have taken initiative to motivate call to action for change in the PNW. Recently, I’ve been inspired to create an organization that supports young people by connecting them to resources when they have a family member who is going through substance abuse: G.R.O.W: Guiding Resilience Our Way is born from my own experiences as a child.

One of my greatest strengths is my ability to be aware of broken systems that are not serving communities with the resources they need the most. I have a true desire and drive to do something about it! I believe when you see something that bothers you, moves you, inspires you, and there’s little to no awareness being brought to it, it is important for you to be the person to help be a part of the change you want to see.

ARIE MOREHEAD

I am a first generation college student from a family of 4. Both my parents did actually go to college, but neither of them earned their degree due to not finishing. I was born in Cancun, Mexico late 2004 and immigrated to the U.S.A when I was 1-2 years old.

Leaving Mexico and living in the U.S.A. is definitely different than Mexico. Yes, I was given a lot of opportunities here, but I miss Mexico dearly. Since living here I feel like there is something missing, and what I know from my culture is very little that my mother has taught me or I have figured out for myself.

I am extremely understanding, easy going, friendly, hard working and fun to be around (I like to think I’m funny, my friends and I say so). I have had a hard deck of cards given to me over the years, but I still always smile and manage to make people laugh. And I am always wanting to learn something new, and especially about a new country and culture.

JADE CHAPIN PLATA

Hi my name is Jakob, and I am a dually-enrolled student at PCC and PSU. My family Yup'ik (Alaskan Native) and White. I grew up in a small town in Kansas and moved out the PNW in 2019, doing seasonal work and living outside for about two years. I always dreamed of the pine forests and mountains and immediately found my second home in this natural environment. Since 2022, I have been growing roots in Portland, taking classes at PCC and finding a place in the intersection of the Native and environmental community. I am going for an Associate's in Music & Sonic Arts at PCC and a Bachelor's in Indigenous Studies at PSU. My pastimes include making music, hiking, camping, reading, walking, baking goodies, and calling family. I want to learn more farming and other self-sufficiency/life skills. Family is at the core of my values and the biggest challenge of living in a new place. My life experiences have taught me that love is where we all begin and end, and I wish to do my beat to open my heart to others and learn each day how to give. I hope to carry that to all the places we visit.

JAKOB FOLEY

LORELEI RUIZ

My name’s Michaela Cowan, though I’ve gone by Kayla for as long as I can remember. I’m currently a sophomore at Portland Community College with no clue what I’m doing! I’m interested in the humanities and social sciences, but I haven’t encountered a field or career that “clicks” with me. Which is fine, it’s only my second year, as I’ve been told, but is it really? I’m hitting a point in my life where I’m beginning to feel stagnant: that I’m stuck in place while the world is moving around me, almost like I’m being left behind. It also doesn’t help that I tend to isolate myself and avoid change at all costs. So what better way to break out of this than to sign myself up for a two month long program that forces me outside of my comfort zone?


I come from a relatively “small” but tight knight lower class family. Addiction and mental health issues run rampant in my family and it’s greatly shaped how I view the world around me. Because of my family’s finances, I accepted the fact that I would likely never travel; just as I once thought I’d never attend college. Despite these beliefs I once held, I set out and proved myself wrong time and time again. Experiencing the pandemic taught me that education in a classroom can only go so far. I want to learn by interacting with the world around me, and hopefully grow as a person along the way!

MICHAELA COWAN

I am 19 years old and have been driven to become a case manager for fostered youth since I began classes at a community college. This motive comes directly from my own experience going through the foster system. Within seven months of being a foster child, was the time that I rapidly mentally matured after going through a series of unfortunate events. For most of my younger years, I felt like I had to take care of my family by keeping quiet and holding heavy secrets. Being a natural observer, I often find myself looking at my surroundings, spending much time processing things, and determining what other people might be feeling. When I was taken away from my mom, I always wondered how she was coping or if she felt strong enough to carry out her responsibilities. Witnessing my father become extremely emotional and distant after being deported kept my mind busy as well. I felt like I had a duty to feel their emotions with them to understand fully what was happening and what I could do to help. So, I never got to fully process my own emotions and trauma during these ACEs until recently.

Thinking about my emotions, identity, and reason can become overwhelming. However, one thing I know for sure about myself is that I am not letting my past define entirely who I will become. As I am on a journey to discover what I want to make out of life, I take my experiences as a chance to grow. It is still a long process until I have complete control over my repressed memories and feelings derived from them, but as the phrase goes, “If there is a will, there is a way.” My desire for control is a weakness and strength. When I feel that I have no control over a situation or my reaction to one, anxiety takes over, and I feel completely vulnerable. As life went on, I continued to learn that everything happens for a reason, and I eventually made that my go-to motto. My strength comes from the resistance that I have pursued and the endless motivation for my goals. I have much to learn, but I am always ready for a new challenge. An experience like this is the exact kind of challenge I’m looking for.

NATALIE TURNER-LOPEZ

I'm Nevaeh Hudson, and I've only ever lived in Portland, Oregon. I've gone to the same schools my whole life and have been very sheltered. I like to read and spend time with my family.  My whole life I've wanted to see the world, something outside of the  friends and family I see all the time. I dream of attending a historically black college, but I am concerned that my dream may not be possible. I’ve been helping my family since I was a little girl and I want the opportunity to do something solely for me before I take on the many other responsibilities of life. These years are the times to have fun and explore, and I want nothing more than to do that somewhere I have never even dreamed I could go. I haven't seen much of the world, and I think I can change that through the Carpe Mundi program. I've always wanted to travel, and when I heard about the Carpe Mundi program, I saw that my dream can become a reality sooner than I realized. I’m dedicated to my education and my future career in education. I am a hard working teaching advocate at my college, and I am committed to being a role model for my family and community.

NEVAEH HUDSON

Hello, my name is Ruby. I graduated from Reynolds’s high school in year 2022. I am recently starting my college career in PCC.  My college coach suggested Carpe Mundi as an opportunity to travel and learn. I didn’t know too much about the program but I went ahead and applied. Shortly after  I applied, I got an interview, and finally then accepted. I am exited and ready to learn and grow with the team I’m with and go see a little bit of the world experiencing  how life is outside of my hometown.  I’m exited to see what I can bring or contribute with into this cohort, a long with seeing what this program will bring!! Thailand here I come !! 

RUBY SANTIAGO