Fall River student recognized with Hispanic Heritage Youth Award

Thursday, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation announced the Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards recipients for the Red region, which includes Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 30 local high school seniors will be honored for their leadership in the classroom and community during a virtual ceremony on February 22nd, 2022 and one of those students attends B.M.C. Durfee High School in Fall River.

Soleei Guasp will be receiving a silver in the technology sector.

Before learning about bioethics, Soleei thought of herself as two people: “a person who loved science and a person who cared deeply about social injustice and overcoming bias and structural inequity.” Last summer, at the MIT and Harvard Broad Institute—while she participated in their Broad Summer Scholars Program—and was introduced to the field of bioethics through a guest lecture by a young Harvard researcher. Through bioethics, Soleei has found a way to merge the two sides that make up her identity. “The concept of bioethics and the impact of technology suddenly opened a door for me in which I could see a potential to integrate these two sides of my passion,” she remarks. While at the Broad Institute, Soleei conducted computational biology research on cancer immunology and had the opportunity to also look into the ethical implications of the use of CRISPR technology.

The side of Soleei’s identity that focuses on social justice includes being a regional director of communications for Diversify our Narrative and the co-coordinator and team lead for equity and justice for the Massachusetts Climate Education Organization. Much of Soleei’s work, not only as a student delegate, focuses on bringing diversity and inclusion awareness to the spaces in which she participates. Some of her accomplishments include being a Questbridge College Prep Scholar, a Coca-Cola Scholar Semifinalist, a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Semifinalist, and a National College Match Finalist.

Guasp, who is Costa Rican & Honduran, has also volunteered at the Citizens For Citizens Food Pantry and performed in theatre productions. She also holds a 3.94 G.P.A. Soleei is still considering her college major, but she knows she wants to study a field that allows her to incorporate her interest in the humanities and STEM. She will attend Columbia University, Yale University, or Brown University.

Getting back to Soleei’s prestigious honor, after today’s regional ceremonies conclude, one national recipient per category, for a total of 10, will be recognized and celebrated at the National Youth Awards Ceremony in person (depending on the Covid restrictions).

“We are thrilled to honor and celebrate 300 Latinx outstanding young leaders, but it is also a call to action because they give our community and our nation our best hope,” said Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of HHF. “We are grateful to our dedicated sponsors for continuing to invest in these leaders of today. Also, a big thank you to singer Ozuna who was the spokesperson for the Youth Awards promoting our applications during Hispanic Heritage Month in partnership with the NFL.”

The Youth Awards for more than two decades are the main feeder to the LOFT (Latinx On Fast Track) Leadership Institute (LLI), which is an active institution focused on leadership, workforce, community, culture, and social justice across 10 sectors (10 cohorts of 30 students bridging the end of their senior year in high school to freshman year in college) founded by Trinity University and HHF. The Youth Awardees and the applicants will also be funneled into the LOFT Network with access to mentors, resources, networking, workshops, symposia, summits, Charlas, and internships and full-time positions with Fortune 500 Companies.