Micah Thorpe

Degree: B.S., Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Germantown, MD
Post-grad plans: Ph.D., mechanical engineering, University of Michigan

“My mom is a teacher at a Title I school. She’s a huge inspiration for me. She’s always working to expose her kids to STEM, which encouraged me to do the same—and I realized I could do it here at UMBC.”

Micah Thorpe ’22, mechanical engineering, is a Meyerhoff Scholar and member of the Honors College at UMBC. He started working with local students in his first year at UMBC through a program called College Gardens, helping them with homework and other activities. His commitment to the work grew, and by the next year he was a student coordinator for the Walden Circle Community Center, which provides similar programming for students in grades K-8.

Micah Thorpe ’22 works with students at the Walden Circle Community Center. (Photo courtesy of Thorpe)

Thorpe has also served on the executive board of UMBC’s National Society for Black Engineers (NSBE) chapter. In his role as pre-college initiative chair, Thorpe organized tutoring and other activities for students in Baltimore County, Howard County, and Baltimore City.

Moving through his career, “I definitely want to continue doing the same type of work, and spreading knowledge of STEM,” Thorpe says, “giving kids hands-on experiences and showing them what the possibilities are within STEM.”

Thorpe has grown his own passion for STEM at UMBC through conducting battery research in the laboratory of Deepa Madan, mechanical engineering. He is also grateful to Eloise Grose, assistant director of applied learning and community engagementat the Shriver Center, for her mentorship during his outreach work.

Kaitlynn Lilly 

Degree: B.S., Mathematics and Physics
Hometown: Severna Park, MD
Post-grad plans: Ph.D. in applied mathematics, University of Washington

“As a first-generation college student … I didn’t know if going to graduate school would be possible for me, but people believed in me, saw my potential, and gave me the ability to succeed. Being able to give that back to other people has been really powerful for me and has made my UMBC experience very fulfilling.”

Kaitlynn Lilly (left) supports students at Arbutus Middle School. (Image courtesy of Lilly)

Kaitlynn Lilly ’22, mathematics and physics, is a Meyerhoff Scholar, member of the Honors College, and 2021-2022 Goldwater Scholar. She conducted research with Justin Webster, assistant professor of mathematics, and participated in summer research experiences with faculty at Carnegie Mellon University and University of Hawai’i. But more than thinking about those achievements, she often reflects on the support that helped her get there and how she can pay it forward.

When she started working with Webster in her first year, Lilly did not have substantial high-level math experience. But Webster “took me under his wing and made sure that I was learning the important background material that I needed,” she says. “And eventually, I was able to start my own independent project.”

As her skills and experience grew, she got involved in more and more difficult projects. “I think that’s one of the unique things that UMBC has to offer,” she says. “I feel like I’ve definitely made the most of my education here, and it’s been a really great experience being involved in so many different kinds of research.”

UMBC’s 2021-2022 Goldwater Scholars Karan Luthria (l), Kaitlynn Lilly (c), and Joshua Slaughter (r). (Marlayna Demond ’11/UMBC)

Lilly is a dedicated mentor to middle school, high school, and UMBC students through several different programs, for which she received the Ronald M. Shapiro Excellence in Mentoring Award.

While studying partial differential equations for her Ph.D. at University of Washington, she plans to create a group for women in applied math and contribute to an existing program that supports high school students.

Favour Nwagugo 

Degree: B.S., Biological Sciences
Hometown: Capitol Heights, MD
Plans: National Cancer Institute postbac program

“Every time I look at where I am, I always try to look around and give back to other people and to the community, because I feel like that’s what true success is—to be able to give back, and to use my gifts and talents to help others up any way I can.”

Favour Nwagugo ’22, biological sciences, is a Meyerhoff Scholar and LSAMP Scholar. From his first semester, he has also been a dedicated volunteer with the CHOICE Program at UMBC, working each week with elementary through high school students. He’s introduced them to the college campus environment through eating at True Grit’s dining hall and playing basketball in the Retriever Activities Center, and he’s led activities in science, art, computer coding, and more.

By spring 2020, Nwagugo was chosen to be a student coordinator with the program, which involved organizing volunteers, leading reflection sessions, and relaying information back to supervisors at the Shriver Center. Beginning in fall 2020, he also served as a peer health educator at UMBC, working to educate UMBC students about healthy lifestyles and choices.

Nwagugo completed research with Phyllis Robinson, professor of biological sciences at UMBC, and completed a summer research experience at Brown University. After a postbac at the National Cancer Institute, Nwagugo plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D.

Ashley Delgado

Degree: B.A., Psychology
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Plans: Teacher at Lakeland Elementary/Middle School

“Growing up in Baltimore City, I only saw Hispanic teachers as Spanish educators. As an intern at a city elementary/middle school, walking through and just seeing so many Spanish-speaking teachers who aren’t just teaching Spanish really spoke to me.”

Ashley Delgado ’22, psychology, is a Sherman STEM Scholar and first-generation college student with a focus on early childhood education.

Ashley Delgado teaching at Maree G. Farring Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore. (Image courtesy of Delgado)

She completed research with Jennifer Mata-McMahon, associate professor of early childhood education. Delgado’s work was part of the Breathe2Think Program, a collaboration between the Sherman Center and the Sherman Scholars to teach emerging teachers how to use mindfulness techniques with young children and for themselves.

Already, Delgado has employed these techniques in her internship placements. She plans to continue using them in her teaching career, both with her students and for herself. Especially during a period of constant change, such as the pandemic, these techniques help children regulate their emotions in appropriate ways.

Delgado also prioritizes culturally responsive teaching. In her work, she will seek to “create that environment where students feel they are represented,” she says. She will also work to create “opportunities for them to express who they are and explain their backgrounds and their stories,” both to their instructors and their classmates. 

Both Mata-McMahon and Jackie Peng, Delgado’s supervisor during her internship at Maree G. Farring Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore City, have served as important mentors for Delgado. They have helped her gain confidence in her teaching as she begins her career.