They’re engineers and advocates, researchers and artists, athletes and entrepreneurs. They’ve come to Lehigh with different interests and experiences, but share a desire to make an impact. The fourth cohort of Soaring Together Scholars is just beginning its Lehigh journey. Over the next four years, these students will grow as leaders, mentors, and innovators.
Meet each student and learn how you can help support Future Makers.
Isabella Abella ’30 | Laura Bonilla ’30 | Sophia Chau ’30 | Rebecca Girardy ’30 | Maite Jayo ’30 | Emily Garrett ’30 | Evan Kuehn ’30 | Zorina Johnson ’30 | Erica Lenner ’30 | Dev Marwaha ’30
Soaring Together Scholars
Isabella Abella ’30
Bioengineering
“I think gender inequity comes from daily things that are often disregarded — actions that might seem harmless but they’re not. I want to challenge those things and that way of thinking to make real change.”
Growing up in Colombia, Abella became increasingly aware of gender inequity through news coverage of women in dangerous situations and through experiences of her own. She came to recognize how inequality can be reinforced by everyday attitudes and assumptions, inspiring her to become an advocate for change.
Abella chose Lehigh for its balance of academic rigor and campus life, along with the opportunities available at a leading research university. She worked diligently on her college application process, waking up at 6 a.m. every day to prepare for the SAT. Now, she welcomes Lehigh’s academic challenges as an opportunity to keep learning and growing.
Guided by her goal of becoming a better version of herself every day, Abella plans to keep challenging assumptions and looking for meaningful ways to make a difference.
Laura Bonilla ’30
Cognitive Science
“I plan to work towards rectifying issues in the health care field by researching methods to reduce unnecessary pain and discomfort during procedures for women.”
Bonilla’s interest in gender equity is rooted in her family history. Her Dominican grandmother grew up in a traditional household where women were expected to become caretakers while men were encouraged to pursue their dreams. Bonilla remembers hearing her grandmother recount the birth of her father and the relief she felt upon learning he was a boy because he could become a doctor. The story stuck with her and helped shape her interest in gender disparities in health care.
Through her studies, Bonilla hopes to research ways to reduce unnecessary pain and discomfort for women during medical procedures. Her goal is to help address disparities in health care and ensure women’s experiences and needs receive the attention they deserve.
Before coming to Lehigh, she served on her high school’s Hispanic Honor Society student board, which raised money for Casa Protegida Julia de Burgos, a sanctuary for women who have survived domestic abuse. As a Soaring Together Scholar, Bonilla hopes to continue supporting women and challenging the assumptions that contribute to inequality.
Sophia Chau ’30
Accounting & Finance; Engineering
“Equity isn’t just about fairness, but about helping to empower people. That’s what I always aim to do.”
Growing up, Chau was always drawn to numbers. In high school, she excelled in Calculus I and II and advanced economics courses, which sparked her interest in business. In her high school’s Latin Club, she participated in annual chariot-racing competitions. During a visit to Lehigh, she was excited to discover the university’s own racing tradition during Rivalry Week: bed races. Along with Lehigh’s strong engineering program, this sense of competition and community drew her to Lehigh and helped inspire her to pursue a minor in engineering.
Some of Chau’s most formative lessons in leadership, however, came while working with her older sister at a restaurant near their hometown in New Jersey. As a manager, Chau called out orders in both English and Mandarin, helped develop multilingual menus, resolved workplace tensions, and trained new employees.
As a mentor, she encouraged women to trust their judgment and take ownership of their roles. Her time at the restaurant helped shape her understanding of equity: creating an environment where everyone feels supported and empowered to contribute.
Rebecca Girardy ’30
Neuroscience
“I want to be an advocate for gender equity. Everyone, no matter who they are, should have the same opportunities and support systems.”
Girardy’s father, Matthew Girardy '92 P'28 P'30, and brother, Matthew Girardy ’28, both attended Lehigh — and, in many ways, the university has always felt like home. Growing up on campus, she was part of the community long before she officially enrolled. Since starting her first year alongside her twin, Christian Girardy ’30, she’s already gotten involved with tennis and the Lehigh Medical Club, which aligns with her pre-med interests.
A Girl Scout since kindergarten, Girardy learned the importance of leadership and supporting others early on. In high school, she served as her troop’s regional delegate, representing fellow scouts and advocating for changes that would help them better serve their community.
She also participated in her town’s young women’s leadership committee, where she took on projects to benefit her community. Through the initiative, she raised money and assembled a collection of books written by influential women for her local library. She also helped raise money for pediatric cancer patients and created and delivered care packages.
Maite Jayo ’30
Health, Medicine, and Society
“Empowering young women and helping them grow into confident athletes is huge to me.”
Jayo’s mother has always been her athletic role model, so it’s no surprise that she became a successful athlete in her own right. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Jayo became a dedicated lacrosse player, and her passion for the sport has never wavered. She has both competed and coached younger players. Above all, she hopes to serve as the kind of role model her mother was to her. For Jayo, that means empowering women, encouraging them, and serving as a mentor.
When she was recruited to play lacrosse at Lehigh, she was drawn to the possibilities offered through the College of Health. The university’s focus on health within the broader community and global contexts also resonated with her.
Although Jayo is still exploring her options on the pre-med track, sports medicine particularly interests her. After a high school injury, she began noticing differences in how male and female athletes are coached and treated. The experience inspired her to help female athletes better understand and care for their bodies, especially when it comes to preventing injuries.
Emily Garrett ’30
Bioengineering
“I want to do my part and help make a world where men, women, and children feel comfortable sharing their feelings. No one should go through life alone.”
Garrett has long been interested in mental health, particularly the ways gender can shape how people express their emotions and seek support. At her church, she noticed that women often felt comfortable crying when experiencing strong emotions, while men seemed less comfortable doing the same. Learning that close male friends were struggling in silence made her realize how gender expectations can keep people from seeking the support they need.
As a student leader at a middle school, Garrett puts that awareness into practice. While she works closely with young girls, she also makes a point of connecting with boys, encouraging them to communicate, reflect, and explore their emotions. Helping young people develop emotional intelligence is especially important to her.
Now a bioengineering major, Garrett hopes to contribute to research that improves people’s lives. She’d also like to draw on her passion for Spanish — she proudly boasts a 1,470-day streak on Duolingo — and use the language to help Spanish-speaking communities.
Evan Kuehn ’30
Biochemistry
“I want to go into medicine and become a doctor that listens to patients, approaching them with respect regardless of their gender or race. You have to be the difference you want to see reflected in the world.”
Kuehn was drawn to Lehigh by its R1 research university designation. After receiving his acceptance, he jumped into campus life through the Rapidly Accelerated Research Experience and, later, PreLUsion. Although moving from South Carolina meant adjusting to a new environment, he embraced the opportunity to meet new people and explore his interests through groups like the Car Club and Climbing Club.
Kuehn believes in learning from people, listening to their experiences, and using his own opportunities to lift others up. Hearing stories about friends and family members whose concerns were dismissed because of factors like gender has strengthened his desire to advocate for more respectful, equitable care.
He hopes to become an anesthesiologist, a role that would allow him to help patients feel safe and supported during vulnerable moments. Whether in medicine or his everyday interactions, Kuehn wants to be someone others can count on.
Zorina Johnson ’30
Biology
“When I think of Soaring Together Scholars, I think of all the women who blazed a path for women to be at Lehigh. It’s an honor and a gift, and it comes with the responsibility to make sure I’m fighting for the rights of women and all people.”
When Johnson’s grandmother immigrated to the United States from the Philippines, she shared words that stayed with her family: “You can take everything away from me, but not my education.” Her grandmother’s belief in the power of education shaped Johnson’s own outlook.
While Johnson was growing up, her family encouraged her to explore her interests, including sports traditionally dominated by men. As a high school freshman, she joined her school’s football team after learning about open gym tryouts from her brother. The only girl on the team, she encouraged eight other girls to try out the following year, and all of them made the team. For Johnson, the experience showed how representation can inspire others to pursue what they love.
That same commitment drew her to Lehigh’s wrestling program. Johnson wanted to be part of the generation building women’s wrestling at the Division I level and serve as a role model for future athletes. Now, she’s building a community on campus and sharing her love of the outdoors with new friends, including teaching them her favorite activity: the art of igloo building.
Erica Lenner ’30
Industrial and Systems Engineering
“Everything is for everyone. That’s what I always tell the kids I work with and the people around me.”
Lenner first discovered industrial and systems engineering at a Lehigh summer program for girls in STEM. She loved the hands-on experience but didn’t realize the subject was a major she could pursue until she revisited it during her junior year. Now, she’s excited to explore how engineers can make the processes behind products and services more efficient.
Her interest in gender equity grew from years of working with children as an assistant dance teacher. She noticed that her young students were often surprised when she said she wanted to be an engineer. Through Girls Who Code and Camp Invention, she’s worked to show girls that STEM is for them, too.
She hopes to continue challenging gender stereotypes at Lehigh, including through a podcast concept that would introduce students to professionals whose careers defy traditional expectations. For Lenner, it’s all about helping young people see that their futures don’t have to fit anyone else’s idea of what’s possible.
Dev Marwaha ’30
Chemical Engineering and Accounting
“Being a Soaring Together Scholar represents my personal commitment to challenge the status quo and aim for inclusive change at Lehigh, in my community, and in the world as a whole.”
Marwaha began putting his commitment to inclusion into practice as senior patrol leader for his Scouting America troop. When the troop joined a pilot program combining its boys’ and girls’ troops, he helped restructure the leadership council so female scouts could help shape the agenda. He also worked to make sure they were included in troop activities as equals.
He chose Lehigh for its opportunities to combine his interests in engineering and business through the Integrated Business and Engineering program. Although he initially planned to study chemical engineering alone, he soon saw the value of pairing it with accounting and learning how to bring technical ideas to life in the real world.
Even in his first month on campus, Marwaha has noticed how students and faculty support one another. As a Soaring Together Scholar, he hopes to contribute to that collaborative spirit while continuing to challenge the status quo and advance a more inclusive community.
