Luis Baez ’23. Hometown: Holden, MA. Luis Baez is from Holden, Massachusetts. He graduated from Wachusett Regional High School in 2018. After high school, Luis did a gap year in Granada, Spain to improve his Spanish. At Wachusett, Luis participated in the Science Seminar, Science Fair, and the Computer Science Partnership Program. He was also a member of the Wachusett Ski Team. At Colby, Luis plans on majoring in computer science and economics. He enjoys rock climbing, skiing, and all outdoor activities.
Gwendolen Huo ’23. Hometown: New York City, NY. Gwendolen Huo is a graduate of Eleanor Roosevelt High School (ElRo) in New York City. During her freshman year of high school, she was selected into the SEO Scholars program, a community-based organization that helps low-income, high-achieving students in New York City matriculate and graduate from a four-year college/ university. The summer before her senior year, Gwendolen traveled across Germany with Experiment in International Living for four weeks where she focused on cultural exchange, the E.U., and international relations. One of her favorite extracurricular activities was participating in the American Museum of Natural History’s Conservation Biology class. Through this after-school class, Gwendolen was able to do fieldwork for the Billion Oyster Project and tour the museum’s collection of fluid-preserved specimens. At Colby, Gwendolen plans on majoring in environmental science and minoring in Chinese. Additionally, she hopes to continue ice-skating, and join the Asian Students Association.
Maria Martinez ’23. Hometown: Louisville, KY. Maria Martinez graduated from South Oldham High School in Crestwood, Kentucky as a valedictorian and honors student. She has always been interested in the sciences and cultural studies. During high school, she was the vice president of her school’s German Club and National Honor Society, while writing for her school’s newspaper staff and tutoring fellow students through the Link Crew program. For the past four years, she has been volunteering at her local library and tutoring elementary students in math, reading, and writing. Outside of extracurricular activities, she enjoys dancing, reading, and cooking. At Colby, Maria plans to double major in environmental policy and global studies. She is interested in becoming active in the community through the Colby Volunteer Center and EnviroCo.
Mario Martinez ’23. Hometown: Chicago, IL. Mario Martinez is a graduate of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago, Illinois. In high school, he was the vice president of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and was actively involved in his school’s Computer Refurbishing Club. He is a Chicago Scholar through the Chicago Scholars Foundation which guides first-generation college students from under-resourced communities in Chicago who are academically driven. Mario has also taken part in summer apprenticeships at the Midtown Educational Foundation for architecture and engineering, where he developed an interest in the sciences. At Colby, Mario plans to major in environmental studies computation and possibly pursue a minor in physics. He also hopes to study abroad in Germany during his time at Colby, as well as learn to ski, visit Sugarloaf Mountain, and possibly other mountains across the Northeast.
Agnes Oduro ’23. Hometown: New York City, NY. Agnes Oduro is from New York City and graduated top 5% in her class at A. Philip Randolph Campus High School. Throughout her high school career, she took rigorous classes such as AP Biology, AP Calculus, and AP English Literature. She has written and participated in numerous internships and research projects. Most recently, she conducted research with a scientist at the Museum of Natural History. Agnes was also a youth leader at her high school, where she counseled her peers and gave them the necessary information needed to apply to selective colleges. At Colby, Agnes plans on majoring in biological sciences and minoring in global health. In her free time, Agnes is most interested in playing lacrosse and reading dystopian novels.
Gift Ofuokwu ’23. Hometown: Boston, MA. Gift Ofuokwu was born in Nigeria. At an early age her family moved to America and have been here ever since. She is a recent graduate of KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate in Massachusetts. During high school, Gift was a member of the varsity basketball, track, and step team. She was also a member of the Black Student Union and National Honor Society. One of her favorite pastimes is reading and one of her favorite authors is Mohsin Hamid. At Colby, Gift plans to explore different subjects in hopes of finding what she is most interested in. She is looking forward to making new friends and having an opportunity to study abroad.
Prachee Roy Mazumder ’23. Hometown: Cambridge, MA. Prachee Roy Mazumder is from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. Her family moved to Cambridge from Bangladesh in 2017. In school, she was involved with the Biotechnology Club and Yearbook Club. One of her previous summer experiences was doing research at the Broad Institute. In her spare time, she likes to paint and write. At Colby, she plans to major in biochemistry and is considering a minor in religious studies.
Julia Safarik ’23. Hometown: Palmer, AK. Julia is from Palmer, Alaska, and is a graduate of Palmer High School. She is an International Baccalaureate Diploma candidate, as well as part of her school’s chapter of the National Honor Society. In her free time, Julia enjoys dancing, reading, and dabbling in photography. At Colby, Julia plans to take a double major in biology and philosophy. Her long-term career goal is to be a pediatric surgeon.
Hwida Sevigny ’23. Hometown: Auburn, ME. Hwida Sevigny is a graduate of Poland Regional High School in Auburn, Maine. At PRHS she played varsity field hockey for four years, earning Conference and All State honors. Additionally, Hwida was an active member of the Civil Rights Team. For her senior capstone project, she helped write, film, and edit a short film highlighting racial tensions in a small rural high school. She journeyed to Costa Rica in the summer of her junior year to study Building a Sustainable Future. She was also a member of Maine Girls State, participating in mock state government in the House of Representatives. In her free time, Hwida enjoys listening to and playing music, cooking, and social activism. At Colby, Hwida plans to major in environmental studies. She also hopes to play field hockey for the Mules.
Marixsa Torres ’23. Hometown: Houston, TX. Marixsa Torres is from Houston, Texas. She graduated from Yes Prep Gulfton as salutatorian of her class. She is also the first person in her family to graduate from high school. During high school, she was involved in her school’s Latinx Club, was a teacher assistant for freshmen in their special topics in social studies class, and did volunteer work in her community. From an early age, she had a strong inclination towards mathematics and took additional math courses in high school. After the CAPS X summer experience, Marixsa was not able to return to Colby for the fall semester. However, she plans to return next semester to pursue a major in biology, and hopes to attend medical school. She is also looking forward to taking courses in Latin American studies and becoming a role model for her sisters.
Sierra Verdin ’23. Hometown: Oakland, CA. Sierra attended KIPP King Collegiate High School in San Lorenzo, California. Throughout high school, she was heavily involved in her community through volunteerism at the local library, historic properties, and community events. Through these endeavors, she found her calling in finding ways to improve opportunities and increase the number of choices that children and adults in low-income communities have access to. At Colby, Sierra plans to study biochemistry and is considering a minor in government. She hopes to continue to improve the quality of life for others by developing more affordable treatments for genetic diseases or potentially going into public health.
