The University of Notre Dame鈥檚聽聽recently awarded scholarships for the 2022-23 academic year to five junior undergraduate students in recognition of their demonstrated leadership on campus and beyond.
After reviewing nominations from across campus, a selection committee composed of representatives from student affairs and the academy awarded Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarships to MyKayla Geary, Michael McKenzie and Carlondrea 鈥淟ala鈥� Petty and Hipp-Beeler聽Scholarships to Hawraa Al Janabi and Halen Carbonel.
Each scholarship recognizes demonstrated leadership in residence hall programs, spiritual activities, community service, student government, student activities, entrepreneurial projects, interhall sports or any combination of these or other activities in the area of student life.
Established by Mike Harper in 1995, the Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarship encourages recipients to develop leadership qualities similar to those of Holtz.
A junior majoring in economics and education, schooling and society and minoring in Africana studies, Geary earned a Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarship as the result of her commitment to education and social justice. A Houston native and Cavanaugh Hall resident, Geary is active in the Notre Dame and South Bend communities. Geary has served as a teaching intern through the , a math and literary tutor through , the public relations director for the and a seminar leader for the . She will also serve as a resident assistant in Cavanaugh Hall her senior year. She received an undergraduate research fellowship through the where she was paired with a visiting researcher to collect and analyze data related to the Rwandan genocide. Currently, Geary is interning through the to analyze information related to educational delivery mechanisms. Off campus, Geary serves as a program analyst in the Robinson Community Learning Center鈥檚 and a literacy coach through the .
McKenzie, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering and minoring in Chinese from Wilmington, Delaware, also received a Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarship for actively engaging in Notre Dame鈥檚 residential mission while participating in the program. There, he organized student activities and residence hall programs, including a weekly sport session at a local park where Notre Dame students interacted with residents. On campus, McKenzie lives in Keough Hall, where he will serve as a resident assistant his senior year, and is a member of , which designs prostheses and assistive technologies for limb-different individuals free of charge. He is also a , a member of the and the founder and president of , an initiative that raises awareness and funding for childhood cancer.
Petty, a junior from South Bend majoring in pre-professional studies and Spanish, also received a Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarship. A Howard Hall resident and first-year scholar-leader through the , Petty has actively engaged in sharing her experiences and addressing her cultural identity as a Notre Dame student. In fall 2021, Petty traveled to Puebla, Mexico, as a part of the program. There, she engaged in conversations and research initiatives while also producing podcasts, videos and social media content. On campus, Petty served as the community outreach commissioner for the and will serve as the director for community outreach for Student Government in her senior year. Locally, Petty has served as youth developer for the , a youth coordinator and counselor for , an intern with and as a member of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Committee.
Established in 1992 by Student Government, the Hipp-Beeler Scholarship is designed to honor student-athletes Colleen Hipp and Meghan Beeler, who died in a bus accident.
Al Janabi of Martinez, California, was awarded one of two Hipp-Beeler Scholarships for her commitment and contributions to first-generation students at Notre Dame. A neuroscience and behavior major with a minor in Spanish, Al Janabi serves as an adviser and member of the Notre Dame Matriculate leadership team, which empowers high-achieving, low-income high school students to apply for admission. Additionally, as a scholar in the , she serves as an organic chemistry tutor and as the organization鈥檚 social chair and treasurer, organizing class retreats and annual events. A resident of Breen-Phillips Hall, Al Janabi founded Community Building Community, which is designed to create a safe space for minority and LGBTQ students in residence halls. She also volunteers as a counselor for the and as a Spanish and Arabic translator for the .
Carbonel was awarded the second Hipp-Beeler Scholarship, also for his contributions to engaging first-generation students at Notre Dame. A science and pre-professional studies major from Dededo, Guam, Carbonel serves as the president of , leading the club to organize events that foster a welcoming community for first-generation and minority students. He also serves as a peer mentor to first-year students through the within . Additionally, Carbonel is a in the who serves as a residence hall ambassador in Keough Hall to help raise awareness for programs and events available through the office.