Scholarly Excellence in Equity and Diversity (SEED) Award

About the Undergraduate SEED Awards

The Scholarly Excellence in Equity and Diversity (SEED) Awards honor underrepresented undergraduate, graduate, and professional students for their outstanding work in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion while at the University of Minnesota and in the community.

Sue W. Hancock SEEDs of Change Awards

These awards are given to undergraduate students who are committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through their academic achievement, community outreach and engagement, and leadership. These awards are named in honor of Sue W. Hancock, whose 27-year career of service at the U of M inspired her colleagues and students. Recipients are full-time juniors or seniors pursuing active community engagement while maintaining a minimum 3.0 cumulative G.P.A.

Milton and Danae Andrews SEED Award

The Andrews SEED Award was created by Milton and Danae Andrews through the University of Minnesota Foundation to support students demonstrating impressive engagement with and commitment to issues of equity and diversity through outstanding academic achievement and activism. The recipient of this award will be the featured student speaker at the University of Minnesota Equity and Diversity Breakfast in November 2024. The awardee will speak about how they are working to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion at the University of Minnesota and in the community. 

Learn about the Graduate SEED Awards

Donate

If you wish to donate funds to the SEED Scholars program, you may do so online. You can also contact the University of Minnesota Foundation directly at 612-624-3333, or 800-775-2187 (toll-free).

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Amount:

  • Range from $3000 to $5000 for one academic year. (Note: Your overall financial need will be taken into consideration when awarding funds.)

 

2023 Graduate SEED Awardees

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About Briana Clifton-Hassan

Briana Clifton-Hassan is currently working towards a doctorate of medicine (MD) within the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Medical School and will graduate in 2026. Briana completed their undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, majoring in Biology, Society & Environment and Asian & Middle Eastern Studies and minoring in Sociology and Public Health.

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About Chou Moua

Chou Moua is currently specializing in Hmong Education and Research at the College of Education and Human Development within the Comparative International Development Education program at the University of Minnesota. Chou completed his undergraduate studies at University of Minnesota majoring in Political Science and completed his masters program at Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs studying International Development Practice.

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About Cuc Vu

Cuc Vu is currently researching the underrepresentation of BIPOC students in STEM fields using a multi-factorial model within STEM Education in the College of Education and Human Development on the Twin Cities campus. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from Saint Catherine University and her master's degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Minnesota.

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About Rawan AlGahtani

Rawan AlGahtani is pursuing Human Resources Development and Global Studies in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development and Institute of Global Studies at the College of Education and Human Development and College of Liberal Arts on the Twin Cities Campus is also minoring in Management, Industrial Relations, and Leadership and expects to graduate in Fall 2023.

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About Maria Paula Cadena Amortegui

Maria Paula Cadena Amortegui is pursuing a major in the Computer Science Department at the College of Science and Engineering on the Twin Cities Campus. Maria Paula is also minoring in statistics and expects to graduate in Spring 2024.

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About Dongting Cai

Dongting Cai is pursuing a Communication, Media & Rhetoric, and Computer Science on the Morris campus. Dongting is also minoring in Data Science & Statistics and expects to graduate in Spring 2024.

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About Lum Chi

Lum Chi is an English major with a Certificate in Editing and Publishing in the English Department at the College of Liberal Arts on the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Campus. Lum is also minoring in Creative Writing and expects to graduate in the Spring of 2024.

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About Tsebaot Getachew

Tsebaot Getachew is pursuing a major in Health Science at the University of Minnesota Crookston. Tsebaot is also minoring in Chemistry and expects to graduate in Spring 2025.

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About Tseten Gurung

Tseten Gurung is pursuing Information Technology Management in the Math, Science, and Technology Department at University of Minnesota on the Crookston Campus. Tseten is also minoring in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance and expects to graduate in Spring 2024.

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About Yusra Hassan

Yusra Hassan is pursuing a major in Political Science in the College of Liberal Arts on the Twin Cities campus with minors in Global Studies and African and African American Studies. She has been involved in student government, leadership, and research throughout her time on campus.

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About Uyen Nguyen

Uyen Nguyen is pursuing a Healthcare Management Degree within the Healthcare Management and Economics Department, in the Labovitz School of Business and Economics at University of Minnesota Duluth. Uyen is also minoring in Finance and expects to graduate in Spring of 2024.

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About Jalisa Sang

Jalisa Sang is pursuing a double major in the family social science and youth studies department in the college of education and human development on the Twin Cities campus. Jalisa is also minoring in public health and expects to graduate in spring 2024.

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About Madeleine Schneider

Madeleine Schneider is pursuing Software Engineering and Information Technology Management degrees in the Math, Science and Technology Department at the University of Minnesota on the Crookston campus. Madeleine expects to graduate in Spring 2024.

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About Hermela Solomon

Hermela Solomon is pursuing an Elementary Education degree in the College of Education and Human Development at University of Minnesota on the Twin Cities Campus. Hermela is also minoring in Teaching English as a Second Language and expects to graduate in spring of next year.

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About Lauren Thompson

Lauren Thompson is pursuing a BS in Forest and Natural Resource Management from the Department of Forest Resources at the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences on the Saint Paul Campus. Lauren is also minoring in Urban and Community Forestry and Environmental Science, Policy and Management.

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About Arianna Vang

Arianna Vang is pursuing a Business and Marketing Education major from the Department in Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development in the College of Education and Human Development. Arianna Vang is also minoring in Management at the Carlson School of Management and expects to graduate in Fall 2024.

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Keng Xiong

Keng Xiong is pursuing a BA in English in the Department of English and a BIS in Creative Writing, Leadership, and Asian American Studies in the Individualized Degrees Program both in the College of Liberal Arts on the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus. Keng is also minoring in Racial Justice in Urban Schooling and has a certificate in Editing and Publishing. He expects to graduate in Spring 2024.