October 1

Vang Xiong

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Vang Xiong (he/him & they/them) is a third-year student majoring in computer science with an information systems minor at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Vang writes: “I identify as a Queer Asian HMoob cis-man. My goal in life is to make the world as inclusive as possible for all identities because I think everyone should get to live comfortably as themselves without worries.” Vang is a SEED Resident Assistant at Sanford Hall, UW-La Crosse.

Jaiona Spell

Edgewood College

Jaiona Spell is a thriving student leader and senior majoring in biology at Edgewood College in Madison. After graduation, she plans on taking a year off to work and explore graduate schools in the south. She is seeking a Master’s Degree in Communication to combine with her undergraduate degree in biology. Currently, she is President of the Black Student Union (3 years), a Bonner Leader Scholar (4 years), and works with different committee groups on campus, including the Student Senate at Edgewood College. Jaiona's goals are to leave a legacy and become a sponge and learn from each room she steps in.

Jasmine Neosh

College of Menominee Nation

Jasmine Neosh (Menominee) is a senior completing a B.A. Degree in Public Administration at the College of Menominee Nation, where she previously earned an A.A. Degree in Natural Resources. Jasmine is interested in indigenous environmental scholarship and activism. She is an Undergraduate Student Researcher at CMN’s Sustainable Development Institute, and has been studying and cataloguing wild edible Native plants on the reservation as part of a research project she developed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Jasmine is President of CMN’s Strategies for Ecological Education, Diversity, and Sustainability (SEEDS) Club. She is also author of “Rezilience,” a Tribal College Journal blog on sustainability in Indian country. She ends her essay “Our Place in This Place” (Sept. 2020): “Decolonizing our fields is not just about protocol, or what questions we do and don’t ask. It is also about reintroducing joy, love, and respect. It is about making our presence—not just in universities but on this planet—a positive, reciprocal experience.” Her future aspirations are to attend law school and to teach.

Adrian Rodriguez

Mid-State Technical College

Adrian Rodriguez is a recent graduate of the Mid-State Technical College, located in Wisconsin Rapids, Stevens Point, Marshfield, and Adams. Adrian completed a Business Analyst Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree. As a student, he was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and served as a student ambassador, campus representative, and tutor.

Desiree Conger

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College

Desiree Conger (Ojibwe) is graduating in Spring 2022 with an Associate’s Degree in Small Business Management at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College. She is also in the Internship Program and works at the front desk of the LCOOC. In addition to her studies, Desiree is the mother of five beautiful children.

October 15

Holly Moore

Alverno College

Holly Moore is a senior at Alverno College in the Social Work Program. She is an enrolled member of the Menominee Nation. When she finishes her degree, she plans to move back to the Menominee Reservation to help with the drug epidemic. She is a peer leader, works in Alverno’s Student Affairs Department, and is working on building a Native American Student Association.

Hannah Beauchamp-Pope

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Hannah Beauchamp-Pope is a third-year student majoring in Democracy & Justice Studies and Psychology, with a minor in Sociology & Anthropology at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. She was named a 2021-22 Newman Civic Fellow for her commitment to social justice and change. In her position statement, she writes: “After the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, empowerment of being my authentic self filled me with an energy unlike no other. My dedication to social justice resides in the fact that crimes against humanity are being placed upon the American people every day…” Hannah is Vice President of the Black Student Union and College Fellow for Leaders Igniting Transformations. Outside of her studies, Hannah works as a legal intern at the law firm of Conway, Olejniczak, and Jerry. In October she will be speaking at UW-Green Bay's Annual TedxTalk Convention.

Jasmine Neosh

College of Menominee Nation

Keva Estrada

Waukesha Area Technical College

Keva Rose Estrada is a second-year student in the Human Services Program at Waukesha County Technical College. She is a 2021-22 Wisconsin Technical College System District Ambassador, an active member of the Multicultural Student Mentorship Program as a student mentor, and student representative on the DEI committee. Keva states, “Diversity, equity, and inclusion are the cornerstones upon which change and integrity are built. When we unite and embrace each other’s differences, we can overcome hurdles and create strong leaders.”

Roberto Pacheco

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College

Roberto Pacheco is a second-year student seeking an A.S. Degree in Science at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College. Roberto says, “I am from the Ojibwe, Apache, and Mexica nations. My goal in life is to protect and improve our natural world and show other LGBTQ + BIPOC that we can define our own dreams and positively impact our communities.”