2021 Clean Energy Mentees
Scroll down to meet our first-ever cohort of Clean Energy Mentees! These twelve exceptional students participated in YPE NYC’s inaugural mentorship program, which ran from September 2021 - February 2022.
Anapaula Abarca
Anapaula is currently a senior at Hunter College majoring in Environmental Studies. Her focuses are on sustainable resources management and hydrology. During her free time, she likes to take different dance classes and do mini photo shoots. Anapaula’s one-on-one mentor is Amy Colorado.
Zahin Akif
Zahin is a rising senior at the City College of New York studying Mechanical Engineering. He has lived in every borough except Staten Island and is passionate about data analytics in urban sustainability. In his free time, he loves spontaneously biking places and critiquing movies. Zahin’s one-on-one mentor is Simone Kramer.
Stephanie Rose Almodovar
Stephanie is a fourth year Environmental Engineering student attending CUNY City College of New York. She was born and raised in the South Bronx. She is passionate about urban sustainability, clean energy, and community gardening. In her free time, she loves rock climbing, exploring the city, and painting with friends. Stephanie’s one-on-one mentor is Fatou Jabbie.
Peter Cruz-Grace
Peter is a rising senior at Columbia University studying environmental engineering. He was born and raised in South Dakota on a small family farm. In his free time, he enjoys playing baseball and soccer and cooking. Peter’s one-on-one mentor is Pintian Chen.
Rebecca Nguyen
Rebecca is a junior at City College of New York studying Earth System Science & Environmental Engineer on track to graduate in Spring 2023. She was born in Queens but spent most of her time in Manhattan where her passion for making sustainability accessible to all blossomed. Rebecca loves connecting with people and spends her free time volunteering as a Youth Leader for the Vietnamese American Cultural Parade Inc. Rebecca’s one-on-one mentor is Joe Silver.
Demola Ogunnaike
Demola is a rising junior at the Cornell University College of Engineering studying Environmental Engineering with minors in Sustainable Energy Systems, Mechanical Engineering, and Information Science. He was raised in Brooklyn and is passionate about developing and implementing renewable energy systems in an equitable manner. In his free time, he loves playing basketball and chess. Demola’s one-on-one mentor is Tobi Koyejo.
Nicholas Abraham Perez
Nicholas is a rising sophomore at Yale University majoring in Environmental Studies. He was born and raised in Queens and is especially passionate about centering justice in energy development, politics, and law. Outside of environmentalism, he maintains a balcony garden, reads, and learns jazz piano. Nicholas’s one-on-one mentor is Walter Alarkon.
Coral del Mar Valle Rodriguez
Coral del Mar is a rising senior at Hunter College majoring in Hispanic Literature and Environmental Studies as well as minoring in Anthropology. She was born and raised on Puerto Rico and is living her best life in NYC. She is passionate about ocean systems, temperate forests, and urban sustainability. Her favorite hobbies include reading, hiking, swimming, and spending time with her family. Coral’s one-on-one mentor is Cecilio Aponte.
Carlos Favian Romero
Carlos is a rising senior at Columbia University in the City of New York studying Sustainable Development. He is from Rockford, Illinois, and is passionate about energy justice and affordability, especially as it relates to minority and low-income communities. He is also passionate about environmental/energy policy, and in his free time, he loves hiking and touring the city. Carlos’s one-on-one mentor is Hermann Yibokou.
Christian Stone
Chris is a junior at Swarthmore College studying Engineering and Environmental Studies. They are Burmese Chinese American interested in understanding how urbanization impacts the formation of identities and exploring decolonial storytelling practices. In their free time, Chris likes to experiment with low-tech media and listening to podcasts and math rock. Chris’s one-on-one mentor is Christine Pries.
Ashley Williams
Ashley is a rising senior at NYU pursuing a major in Sustainable Urban Environment. She was born in the Bronx and wants to have a career in clean energy, water management, or in other sustainable areas. In her free time, she likes to paint, draw, or play video games. Ashley’s one-on-one mentor is Elissa Knight.
Andre Wu
Andre is a rising senior at NYU Tandon majoring in Sustainable Urban Environment and pursuing minors in Finance and Urban Informatics. He hopes to utilize this intersection to justly transition NYC into a green, resilient future. Andre is part of his college's D1 Men Ultimate Frisbee Team and enjoys playing video games, napping and reading in his free time. Andre’s one-on-one mentor is Jamie Goh.
Check out the cohort of 2021 Founding mentors here.