Fellows


2006 Merage Foundation for the American Dream Fellows The Merage Foundation for the American Dream is proud to present our 2006 Fellows. Their life stories, goals, and accomplishments have inspired both the Foundation and our Partner Universities. The Foundation is certain that the Fellows’ achievements will continue to have a positive impact upon their colleagues, their communities and the nation.
	Oluwamuye “Felix” Akinbote (University of Georgia) Mr. Akinbote emigrated 15 years ago from Nigeria to America with his parents. He studied biology at the University of Georgia. His American Dream—to become a physician and serve under-privileged communities—is largely shaped by the disparities he experienced in health care when he came to America. He will use the Merage stipend to help finance his tuition at Loyola Medical School in Chicago.

	Mae Bunagan (Harvard University) Ms. Bunagan emigrated from the Philippines with her parents, brother and sister in 1993. She has been active in community organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Youth Council for the Homeless. She studied social studies as well as women, gender and sexuality at Harvard. Ms. Bunagan plans to work with immigrant community organizations and to pursue a law degree.

	Christine Chi-Yun Chiu (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Ms. Chiu emigrated from Taiwan 10 years ago with her parents and sister. She majored in chemical engineering at MIT, where she worked as a researcher at the Biological Engineering Lab and mentored under-privileged eighth-graders in science. She is an accomplished pianist. Before attending medical school, she intends to enroll in a music program and hopes to eventually teach music to immigrants. Ms. Chiu’s American Dream includes using music as therapy for mental health patients.

	Edo Duheric (University of Illinois, Chicago) Mr. Duheric emigrated to America 6 years ago from Bosnia and Herzegovina with his family. He studied electrical engineering at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Mr. Duheric’s career objectives include creating cleaner, safer alternative energies. His American Dream is to work at and eventually lead an organization whose purpose is to make energy more affordable, efficient and less damaging to the environment. The Merage stipend will finance his graduate studies.

	Yevgeniya “Jane” Elkina (Hunter College) Ms. Elkina immigrated to America with her mother and brother from the former Soviet Union to escape religious persecution. She majored in math and minored in Spanish at Hunter. She was a National Science Foundation Scholar. Yevgeniya’s American Dream to earn her PhD in math education at Columbia University’s Teachers College and eventually become an educational leader in an urban public school. The Merage stipend will help finance her tuition.

	Robert Gonzalez (Princeton University) Mr. Gonzalez was brought to the United States by his parents 17 years ago. He majored in politics at Princeton and worked as campaign chair in the University’s Republican Club and as an executive member of the Board of the Law and Public Affairs Forum. He will attend Stanford Law School beginning in the fall of 2006. The Merage stipend will help finance his education and support his volunteer activities in the community.

	Komal Joshi (Northwestern University) Ms. Joshi emigrated to the U.S. from India 10 years ago. She majored in Biology at Northwestern. Her American Dream is to earn a joint MD/MBA and to eventually contribute to crafting policies that improve the quality and cost of healthcare. She has a particular interest in improving eye health in rural areas. The Merage stipend will enable her to accept internships that would enhance her knowledge of health care in relation to the underprivileged population.

	Azim Karim (University of Houston) Mr. Karim immigrated to America 22 years ago from Pakistan. He was a dual-major in biology and history at the University of Houston. While attending the University, his research experience included work with Baylor College of Medicine, Methodist DeBakey Heart Center and University of Texas Health Science Center. Mr. Karim’s American Dream is to become a specialist in the field of cardio-vascular sciences.

	Christine (Xiao) Ma (University of California, Berkeley) Ms. Ma emigrated from China 16 years ago with her parents. At Berkeley, she majored in Spanish and psychology. She has been associated with Campus Crusade for Christ International and was a tutor at an elementary school. She will pursue a doctoral program at the University of California, Santa Barbara in social psychology. Her studies will be funded in part by the Merage stipend.

	Vilma Palma (University of California, Irvine) Ms. Palma emigrated from El Salvador 11 years ago to America with her grandmother and two sisters to join her mother. She majored in criminology, law and society at the University of California, Irvine. She has participated in leadership roles as a member of the Latino Business Student Association, Lambda Theta Nu Sorority and SAGE Scholars. She plans to become an immigration lawyer and will attend law school at UCLA beginning in fall 2006.

	Yuriy Teslyar (Stanford University) Mr. Teslyar emigrated to the U.S. from Russia 14 years ago with his parents and grandmother. He majored in electrical engineering at Stanford with a concentration in computer hardware. He has worked as a software development engineer for Amazon.com and a technical intern for Intel Corporation. Mr. Teslyar’s American Dream is to create a company which uses technical knowledge and entrepreneurial passion to improve the quality of education in high schools. He intends to earn his MS in electrical engineering at Stanford.

	Negin Yamini (University of California, Los Angeles) Ms. Yamini’s emigrated 10 years ago from Iran to America with her mother and sister following the Iranian Revolution. She was a double-major in history and Hebrew Language at UCLA. Her numerous extracurricular activities during her time at UCLA included positions with the District Attorney’s Office, the Legal Guardianship Clinic, Relief International, and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. Negin would like to attend law school while continuing her public service in the area of immigration law.

	Jeanette Ynfante (Fordham University) Ms. Ynfante emigrated to the U.S. with her parents and sister from the Dominican Republic in 1993. She grew up in the predominantly Hispanic area of the South Bronx. She was enrolled in a dual-major program at Fordham in political science and sociology and was a member of the Pre-Law Society and Global Outreach. Her American Dream is to be a successful immigration attorney and to create a non-governmental organization which assists immigrants in the process of becoming new Americans. She will use the Merage stipend to finance her law school tuition.

	Xiaolong Zhou (Harvard University) Mr. Zhou emigrated with his parents to the U.S. from China 16 years ago. While in high school, he founded Tutoring for Success, the Miami region’s first summer math and science tutoring program. While attending Harvard as a Biochemical Sciences major, he founded the Harvard Geographic Society, directed the National Model UN, and directed the ASEAN Regional Forum. His American Dream is to attend medical school in New York City and become a physician who combines Western and Eastern medicine.