AAFSW is pleased to share the winners of our 2025 youth merit scholarships for college students! Learn more about our winners below:

AAFSW’s Merit Scholarships ($2,500 each)

Lillian Claire Moo  

Lilly Moo is currently studying civil engineering at Oregon State University, with a strong interest in sustainable and resilient transportation and planning. She serves as the president of the Oregon State chapter of Engineers Without Borders, where she leads two teams of students working on water collection and management systems in communities in Cameroon and Cambodia. In winter 2025, Lilly will be traveling to Cameroon to connect with their partner community and survey the area for future construction projects.

On campus, Lilly is actively involved in the Sustainable, Healthy, and Resilient Buildings Lab, where she conducts research on indoor air quality in schools. Her work focuses on helping schools monitor air quality and implement filtration measures, particularly during wildfire smoke events.

Outside of her academic and research commitments, Lilly is an avid runner and recently completed her second marathon. She enjoys spending her free time outdoors with friends.

Lilly has demonstrated a strong passion for learning and applying engineering principles to address critical global challenges. Her enthusiasm for developing engineering solutions to enhance public health is evident in her academic and extracurricular pursuits.

Lexy Jane Boudreau

Lexy is a dedicated student pursuing a degree in Applied Mathematics and Industrial Engineering at North Carolina State University. Her unique upbringing across Bermuda, Ukraine, South Korea, Uganda, and Jordan has profoundly shaped her worldview and aspirations.

Lexy is passionate about sustainable global development and is committed to giving back to the diverse communities that have influenced her life. Her recent trip to Vietnam during spring break, where she collaborated with the NGO Children of Vietnam, was a pivotal experience that redefined her academic and professional goals. This experience reinforced her desire to contribute to the betterment of society through her education.

Lexy aims to leverage her expertise in mathematics and engineering to address critical global issues such as healthcare systems, supply chain development, and infrastructure improvement. She envisions herself as an engineer who designs solutions for people rather than profit, driven by a mission to create positive change.

As a third culture kid, Lexy believes her diverse background has equipped her with a unique perspective and a strong sense of purpose. She sees herself not as a bystander to the challenges around her but as an active agent of change, dedicated to making a meaningful impact on the world.

Parker James Peterson

Parker is an incoming junior at Brigham Young University, where he is studying Geography with an emphasis in Geospatial Intelligence. He also plans to double-major in either Data Science or Political Science. If you were to spend an afternoon having lunch with Parker, you might find common ground over a game of chess, a discussion about jazz, or a conversation about fantasy books. Parker has had the privilege of living overseas in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mexico, and Haiti, which has enriched his life with diverse cultural experiences.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Parker has a passion for music and has served as a music teacher. He is proficient in playing the piano, alto saxophone, and baritone saxophone. Under his tutelage, several of his students have achieved recognition as top musicians in the state. During his time living in Los Angeles, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, Parker became aware of the struggles faced by many students and took it upon himself to prepare meals for them.

Parker's commitment to service is evident through his involvement in various projects, including building homes, working on local farms, teaching children with disabilities, and strengthening youth organizations. He has also actively participated in fundraising and food drives for organizations such as the Red Cross and the Loudoun County Food Bank, among others. Parker's dedication to helping others and his diverse experiences make him a well-rounded and compassionate individual.

AAFSW’s Twice Exceptional Merit Scholarship ($2,500)

Eva Danis Berdugo

Eva is an aspiring filmmaker with a passion for projecting her creativity onto a visual medium. As a third culture kid, she leverages her diverse background to connect with a global audience. Her goal is to inspire discussion and evoke emotions through her work, especially in a time where empathy is crucial.

Having lived in Italy, Spain, and France, Eva considers each of these places her home. For her, being a third culture kid means not belonging to a single culture but embracing multiple ones. Fluent in Italian, Eva plans to use her language skills to enhance her career and broaden her communication reach. She also aspires to experience Asia to gain a deeper understanding of a region she feels she doesn't know enough about.

Eva's international experiences have fostered a keen cultural understanding and a profound interest in literature and film. She possesses a sharp eye for detail and an advanced understanding of psychology, which she applies to her film work. Independent, engaged, and a skilled learner, Eva excels in communication and values the diverse perspectives of those around her.

She is aware of her fortune in being surrounded by a variety of people and viewpoints, and she feels most at home in a diverse community. Eva is committed to contributing to a knowledgeable and invigorating community where learning about and accepting others is highly valued.

Best Essay Scholarship ($1,000)

Katherine Alicia Nicodemus

Katherine “Kat” Nicodemus is a junior at George Mason University, pursuing a degree in Social Work. Born in Virginia, she has also spent part of her childhood living in Germany, Austria, and Ghana. These experiences enriched her global perspective and strengthened her values of empathy and compassion, cultural awareness, and community service. These values are central to her academic focus and career aspirations.

Kat is a dedicated student with a strong academic record and a clear commitment to excellence. Her passion for helping others is reflected not only in the classroom but also in her hands-on work as an ABA therapist, where she supports children on the autism spectrum. In addition to her professional role, she actively volunteers to help her community, further demonstrating her initiative and leadership in service-oriented settings.

Outside of her academic and professional life, Kat has nurtured a lifelong love for singing and maintains an active lifestyle through volleyball, tennis, and regular workouts. As the middle child between an older brother and a younger sister, she treasures her family deeply and credits them for her resilience and compassion. She also finds joy and comfort in the companionship of her two affectionate cats, who are never far from her side.

Receiving this merit scholarship is an affirmation of Kat’s hard work, character, and potential. It will not only support her academic journey but also empower her continued efforts to create meaningful change in the lives of others. She is sincerely grateful to AAFSW for considering her and for investing in the future of student leaders like herself.

Judy Felt Memorial Volunteerism Scholarship ($1,000)

Triniti Marie White

Triniti White is a sophomore Criminal Justice major and Spanish minor at Hampton University. She is originally from Woodbridge, Virginia, and a proud graduate of Gar-Field High School, where she earned an Advanced Studies Diploma and graduated Cum Laude with the Governor’s Seal for Academic Excellence. On campus, she is an active member of Legal Minds: The Criminal Justice Honor Society and performs with The Hampton University Marching Force.

Her passion for justice and service led her to intern at BerkleyNet in workers’ compensation and graduate from the Prince William County Police Explorer Program. That experience confirmed her decision to pursue criminal justice and fueled her commitment to helping reform law enforcement policy.

She has always paired leadership with giving back—whether it was volunteering with VA for Kamala to register voters, supporting a local Easter egg hunt with her sisters from the National Council of Negro Women, or managing production at the Grand Pre Alumni Council Pageant. Each experience reminded her that change begins with action and service.

Her long-term goal is to work in law enforcement policy reform and build systems that are fair, transparent, and community focused. She is committed to using this opportunity to grow, lead, and give back. Triniti is also dedicated to fostering a sense of community and inclusivity in all her endeavors, believing that true progress is achieved through collaboration and mutual respect. As she continues her academic and professional journey, she remains focused on making a positive impact and advocating for justice and equity in all aspects of society.