Congratulations to RARE’s 2024 Scholarship Winners

Two hardworking and proactive Roosevelt High School seniors are on their way to college, each with a $5,000 scholarship. RARE’s Scholarship & Awards Committee is pleased to announce Ryan Komba and Aurora Barrera Diaz as the 2024 James A. Davis, Jr. Scholarship winners.

Aurora Barrera Diaz was first introduced to RARE as a participant in the Connections program where she deepened her understanding of racial equity issues. Putting her knowledge into action, she became a leader in the Impact Safe Schools Student Conference organizing an array of activities and speakers to learn more about how to make schools safer spaces.

She also joined the Southeast Seattle Education Coalition Youth Grant cohort which examines racial equity vs racial equality with the goal of providing grants to Seattle’s south end schools.

In terms of her high school course focus, Aurora has been an intern at Title 1 elementary schools and is a huge advocate of inclusion supporting Spanish-speaking students as well as young students with autism. She has maintained a strong GPA while juggling a busy schedule that includes taking public transportation every day to her internship placement and then to RHS, followed by working 30 hours a week.

Aurora will attend North Seattle College and then expects to major in Chicano Studies at a 4-year university.  Aurora’s self-motivation, organization and leadership skills will take her far!

Ryan Komba dived right into participating at a high level when he transferred to Roosevelt coming from Tanzania two years ago. He became a co-president of the Black Student Union, competed in DECA at the national competition, and became a crew link leader mentoring incoming 9^th graders.

Demonstrating his well-rounded nature, he was an integral part of the RHS football team, Model United Nations, the Graphic Design Club, as well as the Make a Wish Foundation Club. Ryan is definitely an entrepreneur and has honed his skills by founding the Seattle Chapter of the Junior Economics Club and participating in the Accounting Career Awareness Program at the University of Washington. All of the above demonstrates his ability to adapt to new situations through determination, discipline and thoughtful communication.

After attending a Seattle College, he hopes to transfer to University of Washington’s Foster School of Business.

Interviewing scholarship applicants is the most satisfying work that the RARE Scholarship & Awards Committee does all year.  It is both enlightening and uplifting to meet these students who are our future!

If you have interest in being part of this scholarship selection process, please contact Maggie Lewis, RARE Scholarship & Awards Chair by email at [email protected].

The James A. Davis, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund is made possible by generous donors during RARE’s first year of working for racial equity.  Learn more here.