Soaring Together Scholars — Class of 2029

Lily Osias ’29
Population Health, Pre-med

When Osias participated in a health care professionals pathway event at her high school, student cadets spoke about their work at Marlboro Township EMS. Osias was already working as a medical transporter at her local hospital, and this opportunity sounded like a good next step. So she joined her local squad, serving as lieutenant and secretary for two years and an EMT for one. She has logged over 1,000 volunteer hours of service to her community.

That experience prompted her to participate in preLUsion, a pre-orientation experience at Lehigh that provides first-year students with an opportunity to explore a topic of their choice and engage with students and staff members who share a similar interest. She joined Lehigh EMS for a week, supporting a local emergency squad for a day and advancing her first responder skills.

The work excites her: having to think quickly and clearly, the adrenaline rush, communicating with a variety of people, and the chance to help others. She will continue to serve on Lehigh EMS now that the school year has begun.

Classes: Introduction to Population and Public Health, Introduction to Chemical Principles, Research Argument, First Year Health Seminar, Statistical Literacy in Health

Why Lehigh

When Osias visited Lehigh for a tour, a student spoke with her about the College of Health. That conversation helped convince Osias that Lehigh was the right place for her. It was a combination of the student’s accomplishments, the close-knit community, the rigorous academics, mentorship opportunities with faculty, and the program’s connections across the Lehigh Valley. Osias sees how she can tap into professional opportunities through Lehigh’s pre-med club and global opportunities through its Global Medical Brigades club.

Equity

Serving as an intern at the public health department, Osias worked alongside a registered nurse, epidemiologist, and health educator to promote healthy lifestyles that included diet, physical activity, vaccinations, and disease prevention. She was also able to shadow local health inspectors, which helped her to see diagnostic gaps based on gender, race, and class. 

Those gaps are something she worked to address by organizing and promoting two virtual TED talks for women in her township. She hopes to use her time at Lehigh and her career to help close those gaps.

Paige De Caro ’29
Environmental Engineering

De Caro completed a project in fifth grade about banning plastic straws, and her early passion for the environment has only grown since. During her junior and senior years, she launched and ran an environmental initiative that revamped her high school’s recycling stream and mobilized both the student body and the community. It has led her to her major, where she plans to tackle pressing problems and help protect the Earth. It’s no surprise she joined the sustainability club during the student activities fair.

Classes: Introductory Physics I, Calculus II, Introduction to Engineering Practice

Why Lehigh 

De Caro sought a perfect balance between academics and athletics. As a nationally recognized wrestler, she had options, but Lehigh offered both a strong engineering program and a new varsity women’s wrestling team. The beautiful campus and proximity to home were selling points — it’s a bonus that her parents could easily travel for home matches. But her decision was cemented when another wrestler offered valuable advice: Choose a college where you’d want to be even if an injury kept you from competing. Lehigh won hands down.

Equity

On the playground, De Caro was the kid proving that girls could compete just as well as boys. She took that belief to a new level during her sophomore year, when her school partnered with a neighboring school to form a women’s wrestling program. In its first year, only four girls from her school joined; by the second, that number tripled, thanks to De Caro’s enthusiasm and success. She joined a club team during her junior year to wrestle year-round and was named captain of her school team. By her senior year, she remained as captain, placed second in the state, and earned eighth place nationally with All-American honors. She also led her state in falls for both boys and girls. 

De Caro is excited to start her varsity career at Lehigh, where she will sharpen her skills, face a higher level of competition, and serve as a collegiate pioneer in a sport where she knows women clearly belong.

Simeon Vieland ’29
Environmental Engineering

Vieland sang Vaughn Williams’ “Vagabond” for his audition to the Lehigh University Choir. He sang in his high school general choir and chamber choir for years. He was also a member of the ensemble for several school musicals, including The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, Pippin, and Fiddler on the Roof. 

His talent in arts was balanced by his athletic skills. He was the captain and starting left guard for the Hempfield Black Knights football team. His voice, size, and strength made him a natural fit on the dance theatre team, where he lifted dancers and showed off his own classical moves. Of course, he was selected for the University Choir and spent his first weekend on campus in a retreat with the other choir members.

Classes: Introduction to Engineering, Applied Engineering Computer Methods, Calculus III, Introduction to Chemical Principles, Academic and Analytical Writing

Why Lehigh

He sought a college with a strong engineering program, opportunities for undergraduate research, and a location close to home. Lehigh checked those boxes. Vieland was attracted to the terrain when he visited. As a hiker and outdoorsman, this Eagle Scout likes the stairs that climb the numerous tiers of the South Mountain campus. He earned Scouting’s highest rank as a high school sophomore by completing a fire pit project at his church.

Equity

Most days at noon, Vieland stops for a short group prayer as part of his involvement in Reformed University Fellowship. In his faith, all people are equal and all are under God. This belief defines how he lives his life, recognizing his place of privilege and that what he and others say and do can unintentionally impact marginalized groups. He works hard to hold himself and others accountable in a loving manner.

Annika Lilja ’29
Political Science and Economics

While Lilja was growing up, her parents talked about political issues at home and always framed the discussion as questions for her to ponder and answer. They wanted her to do her own thinking and opinion forming. It is one of the things that prompted Lilja to take a similar approach when she launched All Teen Politics in 2020, an online news blog written by teens for teens. The site takes a nonpartisan approach to help teens engage and think critically about current events and issues. It’s no surprise that Lilja is now involved in the World Affairs Club, College Democrats, and the United Nations Association chapter on campus.

Classes: Introduction to Political Thought, Principles of Economics, Global Politics of Censorship, Eckardt Scholars Seminar: Eating

Why Lehigh

Lilja wanted to attend a boarding school for high school and was accepted as a scholarship student to an all-girls school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The school was founded two centuries ago when five Moravian women missionaries left Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and walked 500 miles to what became the site for the school. 

Growing up in the Midwest, Lilja knew she wanted an East Coast college not too far from Washington, D.C., and having Lehigh on her radar seemed natural. A tour of campus resonated with her. Moreso, the sense of familiarity in Bethlehem was clear with the Moravian star, Moravian architecture, and candles in the windows.

Equity

Lilja feels drawn to politics. She has worked on two congressional campaigns, one state house campaign, and one presidential campaign. She knocked on doors with Melissa Hortman, the Minnesota state representative murdered at her home. The difficult days that followed cemented things in her mind. 

For Lilja, civic engagement is necessary to be prepared to make a difference in the world. She is excited to bring her campaign knowledge to a vital county in a key swing state and eager to advance candidates and policies that will help serve and protect all people.

Riley Altman ’29
Accounting and Finance

When Altman delivered her high school valedictorian speech, she told her classmates to make the right choice when the wrong choice can be easier and to stay true to themselves. She lived that advice as she navigated the assumptions that she came from a heteronormative household. Having two moms made things tricky at school on Father's Day or when unknowing teachers said she looked like her dad. Some treated her like she was at a disadvantage. She was vocal in response, unafraid and unashamed of who she was. It helped model how her younger brother and twin sisters might respond when they encountered the same treatment.

Classes: Principles of Economics, Foundations of Business, Business Communication, Business Analytics I, Calculus with Business Applications

Why Lehigh

Altman applied to 19 schools, including Lehigh, thanks to the encouragement from her high school business teacher, Claire Pike ’82. Over four years, Altman took five classes with Pike, whose business courses gave meaning to her compulsion with numbers. A campus tour helped Lehigh stand out over the other schools — it was a beautiful day, and the connection among students was clear. The event even prompted Pike to sing the Lehigh fight song in class. Both teacher and student proudly wore Lehigh shirts when Altman committed to the university. Fittingly, Altman now lives in Dravo, where Pike’s Lehigh journey also began.

Equity

Altman got involved with Birthday Wishes, a Long Island branch of a national organization that throws birthday parties for homeless children. She began by organizing collection drives for decorations, snacks, cakes, and gifts. Recognizing her maturity, the organization soon invited her to join volunteers working inside the shelter. She was the only youth volunteer asked to do so. She formed bonds with the children, including a girl named Karly who, after moving out of the shelter, stayed in constant contact with Altman for support. These relationships continue to inspire Altman … and keep her busy. Today, the Long Island group creates fun memories at 81 local family shelters, emergency and transitional housing programs, and domestic violence shelters.

Sejal Butala ’29
Integrated Business and Engineering

Rather than a traditional high school experience, Butala attended a vocational school to study engineering. There were 50 students in the program, and she was one of the few girls. The same was true for the STEM clubs she joined, but she found a way to raise her voice and have it be heard. 

Some of her favorite courses, however, were outside her program. She enjoyed engaging with students who had different interests and mindsets. Their varied ways of thinking made the work more interesting and thoughtful. It’s no surprise that at Lehigh she has combined her love of engineering with business studies.

Classes: Introduction to Psychology, Chemistry, Business Analytics I, Probability and Statistics, Organizational Behavior

Why Lehigh

Her high school English teacher attended Lehigh, so Butala knew it was a place that blended engineering with the liberal arts. She wanted a community that built those bridges. When she visited campus, the Clayton University Center was under renovation, so she stopped at Hawk’s Nest for lunch. The people she met, the campus’s beauty, and the encouragement to explore all made a strong impression. 

Equity

Butala created a podcast in high school called Steminist Voices, which invited everyday women in STEM to share their stories and experiences. She sent many cold emails to potential guests and relished the engaging conversations and practical advice they offered to young women with STEM aspirations. 

Butala didn’t stop there. She created STEM workshops at a local library, offering hands-on activities for local children. One project had her math teacher guide participants in creating binary code bracelets, while a local councilwoman demonstrated water purification. At Lehigh, Butala hopes to continue this type of community engagement by joining STEM-related clubs focused on research and prosthetics.

Dhyana Abeysinghe ’29
Integrated Business and Health

For Abeysinghe, differences make life interesting … and hard. So she has sought to understand, confront, and accept them. At age five, she was diagnosed with vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder that causes the skin to lose pigmentation. White patches appeared on her hands and elbows. As a first-generation American of Sri Lankan heritage, Abeysinghe knew the loss of melanin was noticeable, and other kids made her uncomfortable in her own skin. For years, she sought treatment to counter the disease. 

Then she launched Vitiligo Kids, an online support group that allows children to connect, express themselves, and learn. Eventually, she chose to accept who she is and to help educate a world filled with health disparities.

Sometimes she uses creative outlets to explore these themes. In high school, she created the Society of Young Authors, a creative writing club. Writing had begun as a childhood hobby when she made tiny books, but she kept up with it and now plans to write for Lehigh’s Voices, a student-led literary magazine. She often writes vignettes about her Sri Lankan culture.

Classes: Calculus I, Introduction to Population and Public Health, Introduction to Chemical Principles, Business Communication

Why Lehigh

Abeysinghe was interested in community health and knew Lehigh had a strong program. A campus tour confirmed her affinity and fit in the College of Health, but things took a turn when she took an Advanced Placement economics course in high school. She wanted to see business, both for-profit and nonprofit, as a partner in addressing health disparities related to race, class, gender, and geography. 

Things took a further turn at a scholarship dinner at Lehigh. At the table adjacent to hers, students were discussing the intersections of health and business. When she asked about it, she learned they were all majoring in the new Integrated Business and Health program. She wanted in. So she met with admissions, wrote a supplemental essay, and was accepted into the select cohort. 

Equity

As a senior, Abeysinghe was president of the women in STEM and Third Wave gender equity club. More than leading her peers, she put those interests into practice through her research. She wrote a school paper on the challenges faced by Indigenous women and the resilience needed to thrive. Another original research project had her volunteering in the oncology department at Hunterdon Health, where she spent two summers interviewing people of color involved in clinical trials. She sought to understand the causes of treatment delays and any alternative treatments sought. Both papers were later published. 

She balanced this research with community work, helping the school district to provide free hygiene products to students. She also led the local Relay for Life, a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society.

Bryn Kidd ’29
Psychology and Global Studies and Spanish

As a sophomore in high school, Kidd joined her mother on a six-month journey through 13 countries, including Japan, Korea, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. To defray costs, they pet sat for families. In their free time, they volunteered at schools teaching English. Kidd enjoyed experiencing different cultures and the breadth of the human experience. She made friends quickly by boldly reaching out, and her peers welcomed her into activities like volleyball, hiking, and even conversations about cosmetics. Even while abroad, she still kept up a demanding academic schedule, completing 11 Advanced Placement courses and 10 college courses before graduating as salutatorian.

Her global perspective on youth proved valuable when she began serving on the California Coalition for Youth, a statewide council that shapes policy on issues affecting homeless youth. Since 1979, the coalition has written policy frameworks for state congressional representatives to champion. Kidd has served on that council for three years and is now the youth chair on its executive board. It’s no surprise that she is also a member of Phi Alpha Delta, a pre-law fraternity, as well as the mock trial club, debate team, and student political action committee.

Classes: Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Global Studies, Elementary Spanish, Eckardt Scholars Seminar: Eating

Why Lehigh

Kidd first visited Lehigh by tagging along with her sister, who was seeking campuses that looked like castles. Kidd loved it. So when she began her own college search, Kidd took a more detailed look at the university. She visited again after being accepted and loved the people and professors. She especially liked the collaborative atmosphere, where people worked to help each other rise rather than pushing others down to stand out.

Equity

At age 12, Kidd was groped by a fellow student. She immediately took action, channeling her anger into a drive for change. Her commitment to addressing sexual violence and dating violence led her to form the Sexual Violence Prevention Youth Board and serve as president of the Power Club — People Organized for Women’s Empowerment and Respect. She regularly attended school board meetings, raised issues, and stood toe to toe with others. 

She is interested in advancing restorative justice within the criminal justice system, shifting people away from punitive measures toward more holistic healing. She seeks to instill equity by lifting others up, believing it begins with individuals being secure in themselves — understanding how they fit in and how they experience and appreciate the world around them.

For this work, Kidd was recognized by the California Assembly as one of the state’s outstanding youth advocates.

Sofia Schnerr ’28
Industrial and Systems Engineering

After playing varsity field hockey and club soccer at the same time, taking numerous Advanced Placement courses, leading school clubs, and holding down a job, Schnerr wanted a breather and took a gap year after graduating from high school. During that time, she went to Miami to work on a shark research vessel where the team reeled in, pinned down, tagged, drew blood samples from, and then released hammerhead sharks, tiger sharks, and smaller shark species.

She also visited Colombia with her family. Her mother and grandmother were born there. On Schneer’s first trip out of the country, she met family, visited four cities, soaked in the culture, and practiced her Spanish.

Another adventure during that gap year was a job in Idaho where she worked at Cinder Wines, a Snake River Valley winery that shares the same latitude of many famous wine regions in France. She helped with the harvest, inoculated juice to start the fermentation process, and tested sugar levels at several source vineyards.

Classes: Introductory Physics I, Calculus III, Engineering Materials and Processes, Engineering Probability, Computer Graphics

Why Lehigh

The university was close to home and had programs of interest, but what Schnerr valued most was its sense of peace. Other campuses she visited lacked natural elements, so the chance to sit in an Adirondack chair among the trees appealed to her. 

Nature has always been a powerful outlet for her, both mentally and physically. That’s why she joined Community Growers, a student club that helps care for the MLK Community Garden in Bethlehem’s South Side. Sustainability matters to her. During her time in Colombia, she saw firsthand how unchecked industry affects people, communities, and the land. She hopes to find ways to embed sustainable practices into manufacturing processes and industry systems.

Equity

Schnerr spent several years as a counselor at a STEM summer camp, where she encouraged tween girls to be curious and confident in exploring their interests. She carried that same energy into her school, leading the Women in STEM club and inviting guest speakers to share their experiences and perspectives, including a NASA Perseverance engineer and a Los Alamos scientist. 

She hopes to continue building community for women in STEM on campus through the Society of Women Engineers. She also plans to roll up her sleeves with the Lehigh University Space Initiative, contributing as members design and build a Mars rover.