2020 Washington World Fellows Class Announced

Olympia– Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib announced the names of the 15 students selected for the 2020 class of Washington World Fellows. This will be the third cohort to participate in the state’s global leadership program, which the Lt. Governor’s office launched in 2018.

The Washington World Fellowship is an equity-focused program that combines study abroad and college readiness to prepare students to become leaders in their communities. The fellows will study abroad for six weeks this summer at the University of León in Spain, where they will earn college credit and live with local homestay families. Upon their return, they will participate in two years of college readiness and leadership programming. To be considered for the program, students needed to earn the nomination of a teacher or school counselor and complete a rigorous application process that includes written essays, a personal interview, and a video submission.

This year’s winners were selected from over 170 nominees and represent a diverse cross-section of the state, with winners hailing from Clark, Franklin, King, Pend Oreille, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Spokane, and Thurston counties. Nearly all of the fellows will be the first in their families to attend college.

“Much of Washington’s success comes from the strength of our international ties,” said Habib. “This fellowship was created to cultivate the thoughtful, globally-minded leaders our state needs to flourish in the years to come. I am confident these students will represent our state well abroad, and I congratulate them on being selected from such a competitive applicant pool.”

The Washington World Fellows program is administered through a partnership between the Office of the Lt. Governor and the Washington State Leadership Board (formerly the Association of Washington Generals). Partnerships with Delta, the Seattle Seahawks, and other private entities allow for students to participate in the program at no cost.

“The Washington World Fellows program is a great example of a public/private partnership working together for a common goal,” said Nick Bumpaous, Chair of the Washington State Leadership Board. “I can’t wait to see what tremendous things this group of young adults will accomplish.”

2020 Washington World Fellows Class

Francisco Alvarez, Chief Sealth International High School – Seattle, WA

Rhiann Batson, East Valley High School – Otis Orchards, WA

Sara Daunis, Newport High School – Newport, WA

Emma Brown, Lewis and Clark High School – Spokane, WA

Yareli Farias, Pasco High School – Pasco, WA

Reena Kaifa, Jackson High School – Everett, WA

Kaylisha Fields-Garcia, Lincoln High School – Tacoma, WA

Lance Hammel, Anacortes High School – Anacortes, WA

Izais Nunez, Olympia High School – Olympia, WA

Jeremiah Lenard, Lincoln High School – Tacoma, WA

Alexis Mosquite, Franklin Pierce High School – Parkland, WA

Kamryn Wilson, Life Christian Academy – Fife, WA

Telli Rivas, North Central High School – Spokane, WA

Bailee Ross-Miller, Riverside High School – Elk, WA

Izael Sosa, Union High School – Vancouver, WA