Meet the 2025 BestColleges STEM Pathways Scholarship Winners

Growing up in Southeast Washington, D.C., as the son of a young, single parent, Dajhon Williams knew the challenges of living off limited resources. In addition to housing insecurity, he grew up with a learning disability that often made others underestimate his true potential.

But now, as a master’s student pursuing public health at Brown University, Williams is using his life experience and knowledge to transform the lives of others. His studies focus on epidemiology and biostatistics, exploring how data and disease interact. He uses that data to bring light to the systemic issues prevalent in his community.

He’s launched a digital campaign to map local food deserts to show how neighborhood conditions impact chronic disease. He also mentors children with disabilities on creating podcasts and data-driven media projects, and he supports adults on digital literacy, job searches, and access to health tools.

“My goal is to build a national innovation lab where STEM, public health, and equity converge. I envision a network of community-powered institutes that train software engineers, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, healthcare professionals, and data scientists from historically excluded neighborhoods,” he said.

“I want to lead a movement where kids from overlooked ZIP codes become architects of life-saving technologies.”

As a Black woman studying computer science at Stanford University, Ayana Griffin is constantly striving to make technology a “powerful equalizer.”

During a research trip to South Africa, the graduate student saw technology support public health, advance education, and preserve silenced histories. She also witnessed how innovation can empower communities and how limited access threatens progress, deepening her resolve to fight digital inequity.

She’s spent years volunteering with Black Girls Code, working with over 100 students in workshops and hackathons. One of her favorite projects was helping a team create a search engine that prioritizes Black experiences, recognizing Black hairstyles and culture without explicit input.

In the future, Griffin hopes to shape the field of computer science as a researcher and mentor while scaling projects that bridge global access gaps.

“AI and software can revolutionize learning, but often bypass those who need it most.”

May Sughayar knows firsthand how challenging it is for communities of color to enter into STEM fields. The Palestinian-Syrian second-year student at the University of Michigan grew up facing her own barriers to entry.

Now, she serves as a state student advisor on the Adult Board of the Illinois Junior Academy of Sciences (IJAS), where she mentors hundreds of middle and high school students across Illinois. She guides them through the scientific research process, helps them prepare for science fairs, and encourages them to see themselves as future scientists and innovators.

As a high school student, she founded and led a medical club that educated her peers about health science and encouraged them to consider careers in medicine and related fields.

In 5-10 years, Sughayar hopes to become a pediatric dentist who offers compassionate care for children with special needs. But right now, she aims to continue opening the world of STEM to all.

“My goal is to ensure that all students, regardless of background, can see STEM fields as welcoming, accessible, and full of potential for meaningful impact.”

Stephen Perez often felt like science wasn’t something he saw around him growing up. Instead, the Harlem native describes it as a rare experience he used to visit from time to time.

“Many of my peers never got the same exposure, and it showed. STEM fields felt distant to many of us — not because we lacked interest or potential, but because we lacked access,” he said.

So, as a high school student, Perez began volunteering as a junior scientist with BioBus — a mobile laboratory that visits K-12 schools in vulnerable communities. There, he teaches children how to build circuits, use microscopes, and connect with the world around them through science. While on his own high school robotics team, he helped lead an outreach push to bring STEM to local elementary schools, giving younger students hands-on experiences with design and coding.

He additionally mentors middle schoolers in the Future City Competition, helping them build sustainable city models while they learn about engineering, public policy, and teamwork.

Now, as a first-year student at Northwestern University, Perez hopes to continue exposing STEM fields to those from historically excluded populations.

“Raising awareness in underrepresented communities starts with showing up, being visible, and giving others a chance to see themselves in these spaces.”