November 18, 2021
The Spectrum Center awards two scholarships each year, and we'd like to introduce you to this year's recipients! Please join us in congratulating Hasana Lester and Theo Poling!
Chris Armstrong Scholarship
Theo Poling
Theo Poling (they/he) is a Creative Writing & Literature Honors and Arts & Ideas in the Humanities double major with a minor in English. Theo is a bisexual, transgender, and nonbinary creative writer, screenwriter, and activist who is passionate about creating uplifting and positive representation for marginalized communities on the page and on the screen. Theo founded the club The Trans and Gender-Non Conforming Arts Review at the University of Michigan and is involved with many LGBTQ organizations on campus. Theo writes an LGBT-positive fantasy column for Arts, Ink magazine at the university. In their free time, Theo loves to hike, bake, and work with animals.
John D. Evans Scholarship
Hasana Lester
Hi! My name is Hasana Lester and I am from Atlanta, Georgia. I am a sophomore in the College of LSA looking to transfer to the School of Public Policy for undergrad with a possible focus in education. I came to the University of Michigan looking for a community and network for a lifetime. Since high school I have embodied key teachings of being open to growth, being intellectually curious and competent, religious, loving, and committed to doing justice. Thus, getting involved with the programs and opportunities such as the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, the Michigan Community Scholars Program, the Comprehensive Studies Program, volunteering with a local middle school in Ann Arbor, and of course volunteering with the Spectrum Center Programming Board has been my personal pleasure. This upcoming year I will be a leader within the Michigan Community Scholars Program under the Intergroup Relations Committee as well as continuing my membership of the Spectrum Programming Board. I am especially grateful to have the capacity to be involved in so much because of the relationships that I have been able to foster with people of all walks of life. This is only the beginning of my journey as a student-leader committed to bridging the gap between the various groups and identities that we all belong to!