Phase I Scholars

Group photo

Sixteen Phase I Scholars completed their first DO‑IT Summer Study session at the University of Washington in July 2019. They learned about college life and prepared for college and careers. They continue to connect with each other and DO‑IT Mentors throughout the year. They use laptops, assistive technology, and the internet to support their academic studies, and they participated in sessions in exciting fields that include science, engineering, mathematics, and technology. After completing Summer Study 2019, these participants graduated to Phase II.

Scholar
Aidan, ‘19 Scholar

Hello, I’m Aidan. I enjoy my classes at Sammamish High School, particularly in English and history. I love to read and write. I participate in both the journalism and debate clubs. For higher education, I’d like to focus on science, English, and history at a school like the University of Washington or Whitman. I plan on earning a master’s degree in journalism. I like to travel and have been to Africa twice and visited Russia for the World Cup. My dream job is to own a bookstore or cafe and live upstairs with cats.

Scholar
Alexis, ‘19 Scholar

Hi, my name is Alexis! I enjoy my classes in math and art at Mossyrock High School, but my main passion is drawing. I’d like to attend Digipen to pursue a bachelor’s degree in digital art and animation. My goal is to be an animator.  I hope to have my own cartoon series online. I also play trombone in my school’s pep band, and I will be in the Knowledge Bowl next year. I enjoy video games, Dr. Who, and anime. I love musicals; my favorites are Little Shop of Horrors and Be More Chill. Before Summer Study, I participated in a two week drama workshop in Morton. I have autism.

Scholar
Alison, ‘19 Scholar

Hello, my name is Alison, and I am proud that I am biracial! I attend Tahoma High School where I enjoy my classes in English and history. I am active in my church. I’m considering a career as a librarian because I enjoy reading, helping others, and doing research. I am also considering a career in human resources; or I may become an elementary school teacher because I love teaching young minds to learn and grow. I have an auditory processing disability.

Scholar
Carlin, ‘19 Scholar

My name is Carlin. I attend the Science and Math Institute (SAMI) where my favorite classes are chemistry and guitar. I live in Tacoma. I am working on my Eagle rank in Boy Scouts of America. I would like to either become a park ranger or learn more about biomechanics in college.  

Scholar
David, ‘19 Scholar

Hi, I’m David. I enjoy science and history. I attend West Valley High School in Spokane. I have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism. I volunteer at my local pet shelter to help animals in need. I am interested in the environment and everything else on our planet.

Scholar
Ellie, ‘19 Scholar

Hello, I’m Ellie. I enjoy studying math, biology, and medicine at Skyline High School and Bellevue College. My other interests include fiber and needle work (knitting and spinning), hedgehogs, service dogs, entrepreneurship, web design, cooking, and many fandoms. I also love board games, especially Settlers of Catan. My goal is to possibly earn a Ph.D. in genetic medical research or medical product design. My passion is to make the world easier to navigate. I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and comorbidities (EDS & CO), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and a sleep disorder.

Scholar
Grant, ‘19 Scholar

Hello! My name is Grant. I have autism and use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to communicate. I enjoy being part of a large community at Bellevue High School, but I feel most at home working alongside other disability advocates, academics, and scientists to help others in the autism community. I am particularly interested in neurology and psychology, as well as meaningful discussions on any topic. I am interested in brain to computer interfaces so that I may talk more freely one day. At this point, I plan to pursue a liberal arts degree with a scientific focus.

Scholar
Jacob, ‘19 Scholar

Hi, I’m Jacob! I want to focus my engineering and design passions on improving the design of transit systems and adaptive products. I attend Cleveland STEM High School in Seattle. I have Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Asperger’s syndrome. I have served as the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s local Good Will Ambassador, making public appearances, raising funds, and giving media interviews. I am also a professional DJ and like cats.

Scholar
Kayla, ‘19 Scholar

Hello, my name is Kayla! I am most interested in English and the life sciences such as biology, earth and space science, anatomy and physiology, and neuroscience. I have a variety of potential career interests from neuroscience to real estate to education. Some of my favorite things are kittens, music, singing, and fuzzy blankets. I  have low vision and oculocutaneous albinism. I attend Issaquah High School and Bellevue College, and have completed credit classes at both University of Washington and Eastern Washington University.

Scholar
Kelvin, ‘19 Scholar

Hi, I’m Kelvin. I attend Cascade High School in Leavenworth where I enjoy studying science and digital art. My goal is to study sports management to become a soccer coach. I’m also a huge World Cup fan and have helped as an honorary assistant coach for the high school soccer team for two years. I have Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Scholar
Merritt, ‘19 Scholar

Hi, my name is Merritt. I have autism. I am very interested in airplanes, birds, and wildlife. I hope to pursue a degree in the natural sciences to educate people about flora, fauna, animals, and history in a national park setting. I use photographic and audio recordings to capture my interest in the natural world. I also like to meditate. My favorite academic areas at Friday Harbor High School are history and environmental sciences. I am an avid reader and have been on honor roll three times this year. I love music and play both the piano and alto saxophone. I recently got my driver’s license. I have a pure French bulldog named Pippa and enjoy spending time with my family.

Scholar
Norma, ‘19 Scholar

Hi, my name is Norma! I attend the Lummi Nation School in Bellingham. I enjoy playing video games, history, drawing, and music. I play the clarinet. I have a learning disability. I hope to begin Running Start next year and then pursue a career in the geosciences or biological sciences.

Scholar
Paula, ‘19 Scholar

I’m Paula, and I attend the Lummi Nation School in Bellingham. I have a learning disability. I like music and I play the flute. I also enjoy drawing and playing video games. I hope to begin Running Start next year and then pursue a career in science or history.

Scholar
Risa, ‘19 Scholar

Hi! My name is Risa. I attend The Community School in Spokane. I enjoy arts like sewing, mixed media, sculpting, and digital art/animation, as well as sciences such as biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. I lived in Australia for a year and also have a terrier mix dog named Ernie. I have autism and narcolepsy.

Scholar
Rohan, ‘19 Scholar

Hi, my name is Rohan. I attend Tesla STEM High School in Redmond where my two favorite subjects are science and mathematics. I hope to gain experience in computer science and have a career in the biomedical sciences. For the past two years, I have attended Boy Scout camp. I also spent a month in India this summer.

Scholar
Sam, ‘19 Scholar

Hi, I’m Samuel. I enjoy my classes in the history of the Pacific Northwest and math. I am from China and can speak Chinese. I also participate in wheelchair basketball.