BEST Alumni

Matias Aranguiz

Florida
Miami Beach Senior High School
Mechanical Engineering
Society of Latinx Engineers and Scientists (SOLES), Tufts Robotics Club

For Matias, his first year at Tufts started off as a process of adaptation. At first, everything seemed very different when compared to where he grew up, but the transition was much smoother after completing the BEST summer program. Besides making friends in his engineering classes, BEST gave Matias "a small family to rely on," and that community has made Tufts feel like a home away from home.

Jessica Echeverria

Illinois
Bradley-Bourbonnais High School
Computer Science
Engineering Student Council (ESC), JumboSec, Society of Latinx Engineers and Scientists (SOLES), Tufts Encendido

Jessica chose Tufts because she knew that her experience would be more personalized than at other universities. Jessica thinks that the School of Engineering is "a place full of opportunity for those who seek it," and coming from a hometown where opportunities were limited, taking advantage of Tufts pre-professional organizations, the Career Center, and relationships with professors have allowed her to picture a future for herself "beyond what I could have imagined even a year ago."

Lwam Gidey

Massachusetts
Brighton High School
Computer Engineering
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Tufts Robotics Club

The most salient part of Lwam's experience with BEST so far has been the opportunity to connect with faculty members about research and internship opportunities outside of the classroom. The BEST program also made it possible for Lwam to find tutoring resources for many of her first year classes, and she feels that the community has "played a huge role in my academic accomplishments."

Kamar Godoy

California
California Academy of Mathematics and Science
Mechanical Engineering
Tufts S-Factor

Being at Tufts has helped Kamar evolve his sense of self-reliance, both inside and outside of the classroom, and his first year experience has also guided him in finding comfortable, inclusive places on campus, like the Africana Center and the FIRST Resource Center. The BEST program has "provided me with a clear view of all of my resources on campus, and has given me a space to cultivate successful academic strategies during my transition into higher education."

Charvady Hak

Massachusetts
Lawrence High School
Mechanical Engineering
Chinese Students Association (CSA)

When Charvady visited Tufts for the first time, she could tell that the community was very welcoming and supportive of first-generation college students. After learning so much about what it was like to be a student here, Charvady realized that "Tufts was where I needed to be." Although Charvady is still pinpointing her academic passion, she is very interested in design and tailoring projects for user practicality.

Grace Kayode

Rhode Island
Charles E. Shea Senior High School
Computer Science
Tufts Boxing Club, Tufts Robotics Club

The BEST program has helped Grace's transition from high school to college in "unimaginable ways" and made her realize that no matter what background she comes from, she can succeed at a challenging school like Tufts. From the "unconditional love, support, and valuable advice I get from the program, to all the wonderful laughs and memories I have obtained since the summer, I am very proud to say I am a BEST scholar, and that I have gained a second family."

Selvin Lendos

North Carolina
Gaston Early College High School
Civil Engineering
First Generation Council (FGC), Society of Latinx Engineers and Scientists (SOLES), Student-Teacher Outreach Mentorship Program (STOMP), Tufts Students for Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS)

Through the BEST program, Selvin found a family that helped make Tufts a second home, and permanent friends that he can always rely on for support. Coming from a community that lacked exposure for engineering, Selvin was able to mold his summer experience to peer at the world through the lens of an engineering degree for the first time. According to him, it was a "very intentional summer that prepared me for life at Tufts, and taught me the worth of my potential."

Abraham Oleta

California
Oakland Charter High School
Civil Engineering
Association of Latin American Students (ALAS), Society of Latinx Engineers and Scientists (SOLES)

The highlight of Abraham's first year at Tufts has been meeting new people, learning fresh material in his classes, and being able to experience all that New England seasons have to offer. In doing so, the BEST program has been "an integral part of my transition, by introducing us to past cohorts so that we can build networks, and familiarizing us with all of the resources available to us at Tufts." The community created through the BEST program has helped Abraham form friendships that will last throughout his four years (and beyond).

Jesus Rodriguez

Illinois
ITW David Speer Academy
Mechanical Engineering
Association of Latin American Students (ALAS), Society of Latinx Engineers and Scientists (SOLES)

For Jesus, learning how to become independent and manage his time has been one of the greatest lessons that the BEST program has taught him. By providing him with a "great support system," Jesus has been able to explore extracurricular activities that connect him back to his cultural heritage and personal interests. The faculty and staff involved with BEST have "done nothing but encourage me to pursue my passion for mechanical engineering."

Victor Soto Castro

North Carolina
Josephine Dobbs Clement Early College High School
Mechanical Engineering
Astrophysics Laboratory, Society of Latinx Engineers and Scientists (SOLES), Tufts Make, Tufts Electric Racing, Tufts Robotics Club, Tufts Students for Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS)

Through BEST, Victor has had the opportunity to explore multiple academic and extracurricular interests, including robotics, rocketry, extragalactic space, and Latinx dancing. At the end of the day, "I can always count on the friends I have made in the BEST program to be there for me," whenever he has reached outside of his comfort zone or needs to be reminded of the community he has built at Tufts.

Eduardo Vargas Gutierrez

New Jersey
Bound Brook High School
Mechanical Engineering
Eco-Reps, Society of Latinx Engineers and Scientists (SOLES), Tufts Club Soccer, Tufts Students for Environmental Awareness (SEA)

At Tufts, Eduardo knew that he would not be just a number. Eduardo is extremely passionate about water resources, renewable energy, and electric vehicles, and he hopes to use his academic interests to see what "engineering can create to help ameliorate the damage we have caused to our planet." Eduardo is also fascinated by the ways in which we can understand how the world functions through mathematics, and outside of the classroom, he is a dedicated athlete and personal trainer.

Chastidy Vasconez

California
Camino Nuevo High School
Human Factors Engineering
Association of Multiracial Students at Tufts (AMPT), Society of Latinx Engineers and Scientist (SOLES), 1+4 Bridge Year Program

As a first-generation college student, Chastidy was nervous about attending college, but being part of the BEST program gave her the courage she needed to excel in a rigorous academic setting. At Tufts, "I have been able to find an amazing community of people I can relate to and feel supported by." Chastidy hopes to eventually use her degree to support people in underrepresented communities by using engineering and design to make the world more easily accessible for everyone.

Tia Watts

Florida
Pike County High School
Mechanical Engineering
Africana Center Student Intern

Tufts became Tia's first choice for college after she was able to attend the Voices Program and observed an atmosphere where students and faculty acted as a cohesive community. Tia was also very fond of the idea that Tufts intentionally created "places designed to help students of color feel more at home, while being far from it." Tia is passionate about learning how to build-up a better world through innovation and design using technical and problem-solving skills.

Jada Worthy

Connecticut
Information Technology and Software Engineering High School
Computer Science
Fellows in Christ, JumboSec

When Jada first heard about the BEST program, she did not realize how much of a blessing it was going to be for her. The "guidance and advantages I have gotten through BEST have placed me in a position where I can explore what interests me and maintain academic flexibility." BEST has also given Jada security, the knowledge of how to be her own self-advocate, and the drive to always "appreciate and embrace where I come from."

Mischael Anilus

Connecticut
Academy of Information Technology and Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
BlackOut Step Team, National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)

For Mischael, one of the biggest highlights of his time at Tufts so far was his BEST summer. Although it was "a hard six weeks, it was a lot of fun, and we really made our own community." This made transitioning into the fall semester easier, as he already knew that he had friends that he could rely on like family. At first, "the thought of studying for a whole summer seemed crazy, but it was a great experience, and I’ll cherish the memories I made over that summer forever."

Adolfo Castillo

Texas
East Early College High School
Mechanical Engineering
Society of Latinx Engineers and Scientists (SOLES)

When Adolfo first found out about Tufts during his college search, he didn’t know then that it would become his home for the next four years. On paper, it seemed ideal: it was a small engineering school with amazing resources in a city that he always wanted to explore. Adolfo applied to Voices of Tufts, and when he got here, he knew that this was "the place for me."

Alejandro Colina-Valeri

Florida
Wiregrass Ranch High School
Electrical Engineering
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Society of Latinx Engineers and Scientists (SOLES)

In his first year at Tufts, Alejandro learned that he was "not alone in this world; that to succeed in life, one has to learn to reach out for help and to work within a team; and that all of us have our own weaknesses and strengths, but by working together, each person compensates for another's weaknesses." The BEST program has given Alejandro a second family that he feels like he can rely on for support, as well as long-lasting friends.

Kimmee Dao

South Carolina
Cardinal Newman High School
Civil Engineering
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Tufts Encendido, Tufts University Dance Marathon

Kimmee has always known that she wanted a place where differing interests and passions didn’t drive the students apart, but actually brought them together out of respect and admiration for stories and interests different from their own. Previously, it was difficult for Kimmee to find an academic harmony between engineering, music, and visual arts, but at Tufts, "I found that I can do and embrace all of those things and more."

Jared Jaramillo

Utah
Itineris Early College High School
Mechanical Engineering
Society of Latinx Engineers and Scientists (SOLES), Student-Teacher Outreach Mentorship Program (STOMP), Tufts Students for Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS)

Jared has been able to participate in many incredible things during his short time at Tufts, but "I never forget why it is that I'm able to do as much as I can." Ever since the summer session, BEST has been an irremovable part of Jared's daily life. It introduced him to people who would become as close as family, and who he can depend on for any obstacles that he faces.

Korri Lampedusa

Florida
Design and Architecture Senior High School
Human Factors Engineering
Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), Society of Latinx Engineers and Scientists (SOLES)

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of Korri's major, she chose Tufts because she knew that she would learn many valuable concepts and skills outside of engineering that would complement the more technical side of her education. Korri is deeply passionate about "exploring the ways design and engineering influence each other," and she is excited to pursue the study of Human Factors "in order to one day invent products and interfaces that establish meaningful relationships between humans and technology."

Joel Lima

New York
Elmont Memorial Junior-Senior High School
Biomedical Engineering
Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)

The BEST program has provided a ground for Joel to stand on during his first year at Tufts. He has "friends that I consider family, people I know I can go to for help if I need any, and most importantly, people who can come to me, should they need anything." To Joel, the BEST program is an amazing social network and academic resource that he is very grateful to be a part of at Tufts.

Raul Pech Figueroa

California
Thousand Oaks High School
Mechanical Engineering
Society of Latinx Engineers and Scientists (SOLES)

BEST has provided Raul with the tools and resources to confidently tackle his first year at Tufts. He feels like he can always count on the BEST family and his cohort to push him to be his best self. Some of Raul's favorite parts of his BEST summer involved the discussions they had in Physics class, and continuing those same conversations throughout the day with his cohort—"never would I have thought that I’d be discussing Newton's Laws for hours on end and enjoy it!"

Derrick Sosa

New York
High School for Math, Science, and Engineering
Environmental Health
Society of Latinx Engineers and Scientists (SOLES), Tufts Encendido

From the beginning, the BEST program really became Derrick's second family on campus, providing him with many resources and tools that he did not think he needed when he first got to Tufts, but quickly realized how vital they were to his success here. More importantly, "BEST has supported me through my ups and downs, and has given me a community of friends where we are all supportive of each other and want to see each other succeed."

Talisa Watts

Georgia
Pike County High School
Civil Engineering
Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), Women Entrepreneurs @ Tufts

BEST has helped Talisa make connections with people that have and will continue to help her thrive as a student of color at Tufts. Being a part of BEST has "provided me with so many opportunities and has helped me become a better version of myself than I thought was possible, as well has supported my growth in so many ways, more than I could ever articulate."

Yan Zhou Chen

Minnesota
Washington Technology Magnet High School
Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Chinese Students Association (CSA), Taekwondo, Women Entrepreneurs @ Tufts

Yan fell in love with the campus the first time she visited during Voices of Tufts. Besides the "beautiful scenery from Tisch's roof, the colorful staircase, and all the greenery within the academic quad, I just loved the atmosphere at Tufts; I felt a sense of community here, even when I wasn't part of the student body yet." Now that's she's a student, Yan is passionate about becoming a scientist and conducting research where she can contribute to the world in positive, meaningful ways.

Christopher Camacho

California
Santa Ana High School
Computer Science
LinkedIn

"The BEST program taught me to build a network of like-minded individuals."

Handy Dorceus

Massachusetts
Boston Latin Academy
Engineering
LinkedIn

"BEST gave me a platform to build off of and instilled in me a mindset that kept me focused and motivated to perform with excellence."

Zaila Foster

New York
Curtis High School
Human Factors Engineering
LinkedIn

"BEST aided me in building the confidence I have today, and opened countless doors."

Jesus Garcia

Texas
IDEA Frontier College Preparatory High School
Data Science
LinkedIn

"No matter what I do after Tufts, BEST will always be there for me."

Jeanelly Gonzalez

Texas
Jimmy Carter Early College High School
Chemical Engineering
LinkedIn

"I loved the community vibe at Tufts—people were always so approachable."

Justin Reyes

Illinois
Pritzker College Preparatory High School
Civil Engineering
LinkedIn

"The highlight of BEST was that it helped me learn more about different types of engineering."

Chanel Richardson

North Carolina
Mount Tabor High School
Computer Engineering

"I chose Tufts because of the small community feel, which helped a lot with networking opportunities."

Gregory Berumen

Texas
Wylie East High School
Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology

"Everyone in BEST encouraged me to have dreams and to chase them."

Haiting Chan

Oregon
South Eugene High School
Computer Engineering

"BEST connected me to resources and community that I would not have been able to find on my own."

Diego Espinoza Rodriguez

California
The Preuss School UCSD
Computer Engineering

"BEST opened so many doors for me, and I’m extremely grateful that I was able to be a part of that amazing community."

Hernán Gallegos

Georgia
Towers High School
Mechanical Engineering
LinkedIn

"The BEST program made me feel as though I had a strong support system, and I was lucky to meet so many people I called friends."

Martin Majkut

Rhode Island
Charles E. Shea High School
Mechanical Engineering
LinkedIn

"The opportunities I was so fortunate to receive, the friends I was able to make, and the support I was able to get (and give) are just a few of the things I liked the most about the BEST program."

Zack Nassar

New York
Hastings High School
Biomedical Engineering
LinkedIn

"Be curious and regularly question yourself and what you do so that you can figure out what your true dreams and passions are, and invest your time and energy into those things."

Osvaldo Calzada

Illinois
Waukegan High School
Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics
LinkedIn

"Everyone wants you to succeed, and the BEST cohort becomes a built-in support system for that purpose."

Raymond Fasano

New Mexico
Bernalillo High School
Mechanical Engineering, minor in Physics
LinkedIn

"BEST connected me to a group of individuals that I highly respect."

August Frechette

Connecticut
Woodstock Academy
Mechanical Engineering and Physics
LinkedIn

"It was extremely evident that the people who ran BEST really, truly cared about each member’s emotional and academic well-being."

Mateo Galeano

New York
High School for Math, Science, and Engineering at City College
Civil Engineering
LinkedIn

"The BEST summer made me realize how different college was from high school. In the end, it was very rewarding to gain the connections that I did."

Aleksandr Kirpach

Washington
Cascade High School
Civil Engineering, minor in Engineering Management
LinkedIn

"Listen to the BEST staff—they know what they’re talking about."

Cionna Orr

Michigan
Carman-Ainsworth High School
Chemical Engineering

"Many opportunities came my way because of BEST, and I am grateful for those I was able to connect with throughout my four years."

Faith Patrick

Georgia
Labelle High School
Civil Engineering
LinkedIn

"The interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of Tufts was showcased within the BEST program."

Khalil Payton

Texas
Uplift Hampton Preparatory
Engineering
LinkedIn

"Access to summer classes was one of the top benefits of the BEST program."

Adrian Portela

New York
KIPP NYC College Prep High School
Civil Engineering, minor in Engineering Management
LinkedIn

"BEST allowed me to believe in myself and be surrounded by those who came from a similar background."

Taseen Rahman

Massachusetts
Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School
Biomedical Engineering

"I am grateful for the support system that BEST provided during my undergraduate time at Tufts."

Cesar Guerrero

California
Mechanical Engineering, minor in Engineering Management
LinkedIn

"BEST can really help you if you make an effort to use the resources they give you."

Andrade Hendricks

Texas
Chemical Engineering, minor in Studio Art
LinkedIn

"Having a strong student network and having access to seniors/upperclassmen on campus already was life changing."

Jose Lopez

California
Engineering Psychology
LinkedIn

"BEST checked in on my progress to keep me accountable; it motivated me to excel."

Jessica Lunte

Texas
Architectural Studies - Engineering
LinkedIn

"The BESTies were my first family at Tufts and it really helped to have real people around me during the first year."

Ariel Luque

Florida
Computer Science
LinkedIn

"Emotional support was a big plus, and the advice was invaluable."

Jacquelyn Nwagwu

California
Environmental Engineering
LinkedIn

"Whenever I needed academic advice about my major, classes, or professors, I had a community to reach out to."

Patricia Rosa

Massachusetts
Chemical Engineering
LinkedIn

"I like how intimate BEST is; we all get to know each other very well."

Alex Daniels

New York
Computer Engineering
LinkedIn

"BEST summer made me feel like I got a leg up on the work ahead of everyone else."

Sara Hogan

Massachusetts
Chemical Engineering
LinkedIn

"I enjoyed the downtime of BEST. Just sitting and getting to know each other was comforting."

Kevin Ligonde

Massachusetts
Mechanical Engineering

"What I liked best about BEST is the sense of community. The summer experience with other students that I would be going through the same stuff as me was helpful."

Evelyn Mendoza

Massachusetts
Mechanical Engineering
LinkedIn

"The BEST program gave me a venue to be accepted as a Tufts University student which I have truly enjoined."

Joshua Merriweather

Maryland
Mechanical Engineering

"I liked the summer program and thought it was extremely beneficial taking calculus and physics."

Cerel Munoz

Massachusetts
Mechanical Engineering
LinkedIn

"I appreciated having a vast array of individuals to ask for advice as opposed to the normal student who typically only has professors and their advisor."

Alex Pugnali

Connecticut
Engineering Psychology, minor in Child Studies and Human Development
LinkedIn

"BEST taught me to try new things, push myself academically and socially, and take college as a time to explore who I am and what I'm passionate about."

Lidia Tejada

Massachusetts
Environmental Engineering

"Through BEST, I knew I always had people who supported me both academically and socially."

Daniela Torres

New York
Mechanical Engineering

"BEST made it easy to talk and act around other students who understand my culture or where I come from."

Adam Arias

Connecticut
Civil Engineering

"My favorite thing about BEST was that there was always someone to go to when you needed help."

Dulce Delgado

Illinois
Sociology, minor in Communications & Media Studies

"I'm glad I took full advantage of all that BEST has to offer."

Alice Lee

Massachusetts
Computer Engineering
LinkedIn

"The transition from high school to college took time and it's not something that can be taught through a workshop or seminar. It was comforting to know that if I was struggling, someone in BEST will be there for support."

Phoebe Manning

Massachusetts
Mechanical Engineering
LinkedIn

"Meeting people during the summer was great. I also enjoyed attending all the BEST events like the holiday party."

Timothy O'Sullivan

Connecticut
Chemical Engineering

"Through the BEST program, I made several good friends."

Sandro Renteria-Garcia

California
Chemical Engineering

"I loved knowing the campus, faculty and classmates before actually attending school in the fall."

Anecia Richards

New York
Engineering
LinkedIn

"Sunday dinners were always my favorite part of BEST!"

Amanda Rock

Massachusetts
Mechanical Engineering

"It was nice for me to meet and make friends with people in my major right away. You will be with these friends in your major for the next four years and working with friends on homework was most helpful for me."

Jovi Rodriguez

New York
Engineering Psychology and Economics
LinkedIn

"I enjoyed the opportunity to be a peer mentor to younger BESTies to help provide guidance in choosing classes and overall support."

Vinny Wang

Massachusetts
Chemical Engineering
LinkedIn

"I appreciated the one-on-one meetings each semester to ensure I kept on track with my job search and academics."

Aliandro Brathwaite

New York
Civil Engineering
LinkedIn

"I really liked how concentrated the support of BEST was to me."

Corey Christian

Massachusetts
Chemical Engineering
LinkedIn

"I liked that I was exposed to college course work before the rest of my class. I knew a few professors around campus, I knew where to go for help, and I started my first semester very comfortably since I knew the campus."

Edwin Diaz

New York
Electrical Engineering
LinkedIn

"Sunday dinners were my favorite part of BEST. It was a great opportunity to get an update on what fellow students and administrators were doing, not only socially, but academically and professionally."

Leiny Garcia

California
Electrical Engineering

"The program made resources easier to access, such as tutoring or financial support for summer courses."

Tesfamariam Hailu

Massachusetts
Chemical Engineering

"By spending so much time with the other BESTies, we became very close. I could go to anyone of them with any concerns or worries that I had."

Leticia Lopez-Benitez

Massachusetts
Civil Engineering

"The support system that BEST provided me was vital during my four years at Tufts. I see each BEST individual as a brother/sister. We have a tight bond that I know will last a lifetime."

Corey Mason

West Virginia
Mechanical Engineering
LinkedIn

"The friends and support were great. It was great having a program leader that was always there for advice."

Carel Voltaire

Massachusetts
Civil Engineering
LinkedIn

"I really took advantage of the tutoring offered, which I probably wouldn't have known about otherwise."