About the Undergraduate SEED Awards
The Scholarly Excellence in Equity and Diversity (SEED) Awards honor 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. The SEED Award is open to all students, regardless of race or ethnicity.
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).
2024 Graduate and Professional SEED Awardees
About Akeem Anderson
Akeem Anderson is specializing in legal history, jazz, eugenics, disability, and anti blackness studies within the American Studies Ph.D. program in the College of Liberal Arts and the J.D. program in the law school on University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Campus. Akeem completed their undergraduate studies at Dartmouth College, majoring in Africana Studies modified with Spanish Literature and Women & Gender Studies.
About Vanessa Anyanso
Vanessa Anyanso is currently specializing in Counseling Psychology within the Psychology department at the College of Liberal Arts on the Twin Cities campus. Vanessa complete her undergraduate studies at Columbia University, majoring in Psychology.
About Abaki Beck
Abaki Beck is currently researching the intersection of incarceration, criminalization, and health within the Health Services Research, Policy and Administration PhD program at the School of Public Health on the Twin Cities campus. Abaki completed her undergraduate studies at Macalester College, majoring in American Studies and her master's degree in public health at Washington University in St Louis.
About Andrea Castillo
Andrea Castillo is currently specializing in Educational Psychology emphasis in special education and autism supports and services in multilingual and ethnic diverse families within the Department of Educational Psychology at the College of Education and Human Development on the Twin City Campus. Andrea completed her undergraduate studies at College of Education and Human Development, majoring in Youth Studies.
About Dominique Earland
Dominique Earland is currently specializing in infectious disease and health equity research within the Epidemiology and Community Health PhD program and MD/PhD program at the UMN School of Public Health and Medical School at the Twin Cities Campus. Dominique completed their undergraduate studies at Southern Methodist University, majoring and minoring in Biological Science, Human Rights, and Biomedical Anthropology.
About Ayah Phuly
Ayah Phuly is currently specializing in infant attachment, teacher-student relationships, and prenatal/perinatal care within the College of Education and Human Development on the Twin Cities campus. Ayah completed their undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities majoring and minoring in psychology and developmental psychology
About Demiliza Saramosing
About Aliya Freberg
Aliya Freberg is pursuing a BSN in the School of Nursing at University of Minnesota on the Minneapolis campus. Aliya is on track to graduate in Spring 2026.
About Natalia Hong
Natalia Hong is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Developmental Psychology in the Institute of Child Development at the College of Liberal Arts on the Twin Cities campus. Natalia is also minoring in Family Therapy and expects to graduate in Spring, 2025.
About Ellen Lundeen
Ellen Lundeen is pursuing a major in Developmental Psychology in the College of Liberal Arts on the Twin Cities Campus. Ellen is also minoring in Family Therapy, and expects to graduate in Spring, 2025.
About Jade Moreno
Jade Moreno is pursuing a Finance degree at the Carlson School of Management on the Twin Cities Campus. Jade is also co-majoring in Public and Nonprofit Management and expects to graduate in Spring 2025.
About Athira Nair
Athira Nair is pursuing an honors double major in Psychology and Sociology of Law, Criminology and Justice in the College of Liberal Arts. Athira is also minoring in Japanese and expects to graduate in the Spring of 2025.
About Asiyah Noujdi
Asiyah Noujdi is currently pursuing a English and French major on the Morris campus. Asiyah is also minoring in Gender Women and Sexuality studies, and expects to graduate spring 2026.
About Adhvaith Sridhar
Adhvaith Sridhar is pursuing a Biochemistry degree in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics at the College of Biological Sciences on the Twin Cities campus. Adhvaith expects to graduate in Spring 2025. Adhvaith’s work centers on improving access to mentorship and computer science instruction for students whose schools do not currently have technology programs and training for teachers interested in integrating these skills into their classrooms.
About Andy Tao
Andy Tao is majoring in Political Science in the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) and double minoring in Business Law at the Carlson School of Management and Sociology of Law Crime and Justice in CLA. He expects to graduate in May of 2026.
About Anlin Thachil
Anlin Thachil is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. In addition to her dual degree program, Annie engages in research and community outreach initiatives to deepen her understanding of social structures and political systems. She is set to graduate in Spring 2025 and aims to apply her knowledge to impactful policy-making and advocacy work.
About Sara Troseth
Sara Troseth is a direct descendant of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. She is pursuing a Bachelors in Computer Science at Swenson College of Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Sara is also minoring in both American Indian Studies and Computer Engineering, and expects to graduate in Spring 2025.