Investing in Tomorrow's leaders

Giselle Alonso, ‘28

Hometown: Hawthorne, CA
High School: Da Vinci Science High School

Giselle Alonso is a diligent and outstanding leader who is always trying to lend a helping hand. Her parents raised her to work hard towards her passions and that dedication and persistence will always go a long way. This inspired her passion to help grow future leaders in the youth. Giselle has spent years and dedicated hours volunteering at an elementary school, tutoring in math and assisting students with language barriers. During her sophomore year at Da Vinci Science, she joined a robotics team where she built a robot through engineering; this is where her love for STEM grew. In her junior year, she gained a hardware lead/director position on the team, a group of 100 students in their production of the year’s robot. She was given an outstanding opportunity which she wanted others to experience too. Giselle led multiple volunteer events visiting elementary/middle schools, hosting summer camps, and providing opportunities to undergo the engineering process and expose these students to STEM.

At Redlands, Giselle aspires to continue her engineering journey towards a degree, all while inspiring the younger generation. She plans to continue volunteering as an educational tutor with younger students while learning from future generations. Every day is an opportunity to learn and provide knowledge.

Aya Celine Angeles, ‘28

Hometown: Ontario, CA
High School: Walnut High School

Aya Celine Angeles is a dependable and empathetic individual dedicated to her love of learning, self-improvement, and serving the community. Aya served as a team captain at Discovery Cube Orange County, helping manage volunteer assignments and scheduling while fostering a supportive environment, leading activities to inspire and educate young minds through interactive, science-based museum exhibits and educational programs. She also raised awareness about global humanitarian crises and addressed local homelessness and poverty as secretary of her school’s UNICEF club and as a volunteer with Isaiah’s Rock Fellowship and city hall. Aya organized food drives, distributed meals to low-income communities, volunteered at health fairs, and led toy-packing initiatives for underprivileged families during holidays. As President of the DreamCatchers club of her school, Aya led and organized events at retirement homes and senior centers, fostering intergenerational connections through music and handmade gifts.

With her love for performing arts, Aya was involved in chamber choir, theater, ballet and dance, and was selected for the California All-State Honor Choir. Through music and the stage, Aya performs to touch people’s hearts by spreading joy and conveying meaningful narratives. Beyond the arts, Aya was a starter for her school’s varsity tennis team.

At Redlands, Aya plans to double major in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Music, aspiring to become a speech pathologist. She looks forward to studying abroad and immersing herself in diverse cultures. Aya hopes to bridge the nuances of speech with the artistry of music. She strives to use her education to promote neurodiversity and inclusivity while empowering others to express themselves authentically in all manners.

Hiro Boyás Homma, ‘28

Hometown: Cuernavaca, Mexico
High School: Colegio Suiza de Mexico

Hiro Boyas is driven by a passion for community service and innovative solutions to help others. In his senior year, he conducted research on the biomechanics of ballet dancers, specifically addressing the issue of sickling through the use of surface electromyography (sEMG) sensors. His work reached over 20 dance schools and companies across the state of Morelos, offering a promising alternative to enhance the performance and safety of both amateur and professional dancers in Mexico. During high school, Hiro also became a certified paramedic, gaining firsthand experience in healthcare by having the opportunity to serve his community through local paramedic services and hospitals.

At the University of Redlands, Hiro is eager to integrate his passion for community service with his pursuit of an engineering degree, and hopes to contribute with his background in kinesiology and healthcare to research focused on improving athletic performance and well-being.

Eduardo Corona, ‘28

Hometown: Moreno Valley, CA
High School: Canyon Springs High School

Eduardo Corona has been a leader and learner in his community. He spent his senior year advocating for education justice and reform, serving as the first ever student board member in his district’s Board of Education. He played an active role in state education, serving on the state superintendent youth advisory council. He continues to advocate for education equity and opportunities in education for students by serving on the board of directors for the Moreno Valley Education Foundation. His advocacy translates into his research where he published papers on education reform and critical pedagogy as a fellow with the Institute for Youth in Policy.

Outside of his advocacy work, Eduardo has participated in choral ensembles across the country, singing with the California State Honor Choir in Sacramento, singing at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC with his high school choir for the Memorial Day celebration, and being invited to sing in the National Honor Choir in Hawaii. These experiences have shaped Eduardo to be a skilled, well-rounded, and open-minded leader within his diverse community. He hopes that with this foundation, he can continue to thrive at Redlands alongside like-minded students and passionate faculty who will support his goals. He currently participates in Outdoor Programs at the University of Redlands and is a part of the Chapel Singers Choir and Jazz Choir.

Eduardo is currently in the Johnston program where he plans to study Education Development and social transformation to become a state legislator. He also plans to receive his teaching credential for high school history and obtain his master's in teaching and learning so he can return to his community and teach the next generation of changemakers.

Liam Gore, ‘28

Hometown: Glendora, CA
High School: Damien High School

Liam J. Gore is a driven individual who lives his life by the Latin phrase, "Nil Satis Nisi Optimum,” which translates to, “Nothing but the best is good enough.” His experiences in competitive sports have shaped his character, instilling a strong sense of discipline and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The rigorous training sessions and the thrill of competition have pushed him to constantly strive for improvement, both as an athlete and as a person. He has learned that success is not merely measured by the scoreboard but also by the effort, resilience, and character displayed along the way. Each challenge faced—be it a tough opponent or an unexpected setback—has only fueled his determination to rise above and give his best.

This pursuit of excellence extends beyond sports into all areas of Liam's life. He approaches his academic endeavors with the same vigor and commitment, seeking to excel and make meaningful contributions across various sectors. Whether in the classroom or in service to his community, Liam is dedicated to applying his skills and knowledge to uplift those around him. His involvement in multiple leadership roles has provided him with impactful opportunities to inspire and mentor others, thus reinforcing his belief in the power of collaboration and teamwork.

As he continues his journey at Redlands, Liam remains steadfast in his commitment to personal growth and to fostering an environment where others can also thrive with his support. He understands that true leadership is about serving others and empowering them to reach their potential. Liam is honored to be a Hunsaker Scholar and committed to strengthening his qualities as a change-maker throughout his academic and athletic career at the University of Redlands.

Derek Hagewen, ‘28

Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
High School: College of Southern Nevada High School

Derek Hagewen takes an interest in a wide variety of social sciences and humanities disciplines, including political science, public policy, sociology, philosophy, and human-animal studies. His love for learning is rooted in his unique academic background. Derek was homeschooled by his two moms until his junior year of high school, giving him the flexibility and freedom to explore unfamiliar subjects and societal issues without the pressure of traditional grade-focused learning.

Derek has been published in The Nevada Independent newspaper and recently presented research examining employment solutions for individuals with disabilities at the Pacific Sociological Association annual meeting. He wants to continue this research during his time at Redlands. Beyond his academic pursuits, Derek is an advocate for animal rights, social justice, and civic engagement and proudly identifies as a vegan. Born in the United States, Derek is of Peruvian descent and proudly embraces both aspects of his heritage.

This past year he did internship work with Civic Influencers and Vote Nevada and became an ambassador for Project Dot (a non-profit helping to provide feminine hygiene kits to students). Derek channels his energy outside academia into his love for sports, playing flag football and soccer. In past years, he has organized and coached several different sports teams, playing on the teams with his peers while also working with younger kids, acting as a role model and a positive influence for the younger generation.

Joseph Madigan, ‘28

Hometown: Arlington, VA
High School: Arlington Tech

Joseph Madigan is a dynamic leader and innovative thinker with a passion for building connections and fostering community. Growing up, Joey was a leader in multiple communities, at his high school, in athletics both water polo and swimming, in Scouts BSA as an Eagle Scout, working with a small start-up company and at his beloved summer camp. In each of these instances he demonstrated his enthusiastic, reflective, problem-solving manner to lead and connect those he led. At his two-week summer camp, he was elected as one of two boys camp captains where he led 100 campers during a two-week summer camp, creating an environment filled with excitement and camaraderie. Joseph was diagnosed with ADHD during his junior year of high school. To better comprehend his learning style and personal growth journey, he leverages journaling as a reflective tool to enhance both his athletic performance and academic pursuits.

Currently, Joseph is working with a small startup company, Bow Ball, to develop a reflective journal specifically designed for rowers. Based on his diverse experiences in high school, Joseph was honored to attend the ESRI Federal User Conference in Washington, DC, where he discovered his passion for integrating his varied high school electives classes such as environmental science, EMT, quantitative analysis as well as his drones class with his problem-solving abilities. This pivotal moment inspired Joey to want to continue to explore the intersections of technology and community engagement at Redlands.

Alejandro Uribe, ‘28

Hometown: San Bernardino, CA
High School: San Bernardino High School

Alejandro Uribe, salutatorian for his high school class, is a passionate political scholar majoring in Public Policy. Throughout his high school career, Alejandro was tremendously involved in his community, civically and socially. Since the age of five, he has been a committed student of Taekwondo, in which he has achieved the rank of a third degree black belt. For the latter part of his martial arts journey, he has become an instructor for young students and teens, a role which he continues to fill. Throughout high school, he also served as president of the National Honor Society.

When it comes to politics, Alejandro proudly served in the inaugural class of the San Bernardino Youth Council for his city’s municipal government, in which he served as the voice of San Bernardino’s youth in local politics. He also served as a juror on the Restorative Youth Court for his school district throughout his high school journey, in which he synthesized restorative plans for deviant youth in his community. As a first-year student at Redlands, Alejandro has already started new ventures, such as interning for a political campaign at the State Senate level, and working as an AVID tutor for his middle school. Upon graduating, Alejandro hopes to attend law school, and in the long run, have a successful career in politics.