Congratulations to our ’24-’25 Holstein Scholars

Congratulations to our 2024-25 Robert Holstein Memorial Scholarship awardees. The scholarship is awarded to students who are deeply committed to scholarship, public service, and policy-making programs for the common good. Read the profiles our five deserving recipients, who are participating in one or multiple programs including the Public Service and Community Engagement Minor, USFVotes, Community Empowerment Activists, USF in DC,  McCarthy Fellows, and Engage San Francisco.

Rya Amasol ’26

Rya is an incoming junior majoring in sociology at the University of San Francisco. Born and raised on the island of O’ahu, she appreciates the diverse community at her university which mirrors the diversity of her home. During the summer, she works for Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation, working with kids similarly to what she does at USF. Since the fall of 2023, she has been actively involved with the Engage San Francisco Literacy program, a significant part of her undergraduate experience. Passionate about tutoring, she thoroughly enjoys being able to work with kids and being a source of support for them. She hopes to be able to continue to give back to her communities in both O’ahu and San Francisco with the help of this scholarship.

Caitlin Kennedy ’25

Caitlin is a rising senior at USF, studying Politics and Legal Studies. She is the Program Team Lead at USFVotes and a Campus Ambassador for the Andrew Goodman foundation, promoting voting engagement and education efforts on campus. She has held a variety of legal and policy-based internships, such as a Congressional Internship for U.S. House of Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-14), an Undergraduate Internship at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, a Legislative Internship for San Mateo County Board of Supervisor David Canepa (District 5), and most recently began an internship at Democracy Summer. Through these various experiences, Caitlin’s dedication to public service and community engagement has flourished, constantly building her deep commitment to making a positive impact on society.

Yaratza Lievanos ’27

Yaratza is currently pursuing a psychology major with a minor in health studies at USFCA. She is a Muscat Scholar and takes pride in being a first-generation student. Her involvement in the Engage SF Literacy program has ignited her passion for working in diverse and inclusive environments. Looking ahead, she is set to serve as an I-LEAD in the upcoming year and was able to participate in a retreat to Peru. She remains dedicated to deepening her understanding of the San Francisco community through initiatives like the Richmond Food Pantry and Breakthrough San Francisco Tutoring. With aspirations of becoming a Physician Assistant, she is committed to continual learning and is grateful to USF and the McCarthy Center for providing her with numerous opportunities to actively engage with the community.

Nicole Wilmot ’25

Nicole is a senior at USF with a double major in International Studies and Spanish Studies with a minor in Latin American Studies. She has spent all four years being involved with McCarthy Center programs. As a member of the Engage Literacy Program since the fall semester of my freshman year, she is in her third year as a Site Leader for the program at Rosa Parks Elementary School in the Western Addition. This fall semester, Nicole will be a part of the McCarthy Fellows in San Francisco program, supporting the San Francisco Department of the Environment, focusing on public policy with the commission affairs team. Additionally, throughout her time at USF, I attended an immersion trip with the University Ministry to Tijuana Mexico/San Diego focusing on immigration and led another as a student leader to Lisbon, Portugal. She is a student representative on the Board of Trustees and a Peer Advisor for the Department of International Studies. Her post-graduation plans include either joining AmeriCorps/PeaceCorps for a term or to work for a non-profit organization.

Sheila Ta ’25

Sheila, a senior at USF, pursues dual majors in Economics and International Studies alongside a minor in Architecture. Dedicated to supporting first-generation students, Sheila has previously served as an Americorps Teaching Fellow in Houston and provided mentorship to Muscat Scholars as an RA. She is actively involved in Engage San Francisco‘s literacy program, furthering her commitment to educational equity and community engagement. As an Asia Bridge Fellow during her junior year, Sheila conducted research on cultural activism in Seoul, addressing gentrification. Her work received an honorable mention at the 2024 Creativity Research Day and will be published in Writing for the Real World. Passionate about diversifying her own narrative, she led an immersion trip to Peru through the University Ministry, exploring Casa Generación’s mission. Sheila’s commitment to public service includes her role as a Martín Baró Scholar, supporting Groceries for Seniors in combating food insecurity across San Francisco. This fall, she anticipates interning with the City of San Francisco, focusing on information technology and advocating for privacy issues within public policies.

Learn more about the Holstein Scholarship!