A senior at John Adams High School, Henson Le plans to major in Studio Arts and Art History at the University of Notre Dame. He hopes to pursue museum education and project management. By studying the arts, he wants to better his community in South Bend, allowing young scholars to tap into their creativity, innovation, and interpersonal skills.

Over the course of 4 years, Henson became President of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Club, carving out a necessary space for the Asian diaspora to find relevance in their unique experiences. He also served as a representative of the International Student Organization for two years, creating engaging events to honor the customs and traditions prevalent throughout the student body.

Henson has always been inspired by the visionary, dedicating himself to establishing his own voice within visual media practices. This commitment led him to receive an apprenticeship at the Raclin Murphy Museum and the Scholastic Art and Writing Award (Gold Key), both recognizing a student’s passion for multidisciplinary studies.

Overall, Henson Le is honored to have received a plethora of support from his peers, family, and counselors. As a first-generation immigrant student, attending the University of Notre Dame once felt like a distant dream—something written in the stars. However, with encouragement, he chose to reach for his goals and now aspires to amplify his community, instilling city pride everywhere he goes.

Mariella Escobedo is a senior at John Adams High School and will attend Ball State University in the fall where she will major in Construction Management.

Mariella is in her second year of the Building Trades CTE class and is currently constructing a home near Riley High School. She has found her passion through construction and is extremely grateful to have this hands on experience. Through her construction class, she has learned the importance of teamwork and dedication in order to maintain a steady and positive workspace.

Mariella is also involved in many different clubs at Adams including National Honors Society, John Adams Volunteer Association, National Technical Honors Society, and Spanish Club. She also sings for her church choir at Holy Cross and volunteers throughout the community at such organizations as the Christ Child Society of South Bend, Toys for Tots, and the Fusion Festival.

Mariella is extremely appreciative for all of support and encouragement from her family, friends, and teachers and wouldn’t be where she is today without them. She is thankful and proud to have won the Connie S. Varga Scholarship and will continue live out her values by uplifting others within the community by continuing to give back.