2024-25 Arrupe Fellows 

Addie Welden '26

Major
Economics
Arrupe Placement
Buchser Middle School

I have always been passionate about connecting with children and helping to improve young lives in any way possible. My Arrupe Fellowship has helped me develop my passion for education and involvement in the community around me. As an Arrupe Fellow, I have the privilege of serving as a teacher's aide at Buchser Middle School, where I support two English Language Learner (ELL) classes.

Through this experience, I have formed meaningful connections with both students and teachers. The incredible educators at Buchser have shown me what it truly means to be dedicated, compassionate, and resilient. They put their students' well-being before their own and work tirelessly in the interest of their students. Their passion and commitment to their work inspires me every day, and I feel incredibly fortunate to learn from them.

I have also built unique relationships with the students. A student once said to me, "You help me learn English, and I can help you learn Spanish." That moment stuck with me because, without realizing it, the students have taught me much more than new Spanish vocabulary. In our time together, I may help to teach them new academic lessons, but they are simultaneously teaching me much more abstract, meaningful lessons. 

When I first started volunteering at Buchser for my Experiential Learning for Social Justice (ELSJ) requirement, I had no idea how much this experience would impact me. I instantly enjoyed my time volunteering and was sad when the quarter ended. Fortunately, my Arrupe Fellowship has allowed me to continue and build upon my original experience. Each day at Buchser, I continue to learn, laugh, and grow with the students. What began as a class requirement has turned into an impactful part of my Santa Clara University education and experience. 

Alexa Andrews '25

Major
Biology & Public Health Science
Arrupe Placement
San Jose Day Nursery

I am a senior studying Biology and Public Health Science. Although I am not sure yet what the future holds for me, I know that I will be pursuing a career that involves caring for people and families. Throughout my four years here I have been involved with the University Honors Program and the SCU Dance Team where I am now a senior captain. I am currently working on my honors senior thesis where I am researching the mental health impacts on children who have been exposed to violence or experience parental incarceration. I have been involved in the Ignatian Center through the Jean Donovan Fellowship where I engaged in legal advocacy work with the non-profit Unite the People and through the Arrupe Fellowship where I volunteer at San Jose Day Nursery.

In my time at Santa Clara, I can honestly say that pursuing social justice and spirituality in my daily life has become a part of my identity. True, real, authentic growth comes from showing every single part of yourself – physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental – to the people who will push you to be your very best. As I have matured and become less protected from the world outside, I have learned that there is a world broken outside and how special it is that we might have the opportunity to serve others. The real question we all face is if we are ready to challenge our egos and share those weaknesses, those struggles, and those broken hearts with those around us so that we might be able to serve one another. I pursue social justice and spirituality as a means of being a safe place, open to vulnerability where all are welcome, no matter their past.

I spent the summer working with Unite the People in Long Beach, California. Since high school, I have spent a great amount of time learning about the American criminal justice system, our recidivism rates, the death penalty, and the lack of rehabilitation and opportunities for people who were formerly incarcerated. I wanted to go home and serve the community that has made me who I am. Learning by doing, engaging, and advocating is the kind of learning that has the deepest impact on me and it is at the core of this fellowship. This past year, I have gone through a vocational discernment and have taken the time to explore my true passions in life. I have a deep-rooted passion and commitment to the communities around me. Things have been slowly falling into place as I begin my pursuit of such work.   

After completing my ELSJ in the Spring quarter of 2024, I realized how much joy I am filled with when I can be present within the community where we can work together to uplift one another. How lucky am I to be back at San Jose Day Nursery because of the Arrupe Fellowship! I am getting to experience new things, new people, and being here for more time during the weeks. I have been able to help with the orientation of others who are engaging in their ELSJ. It is amazing to see the growth that I have had as a person, but also how much the children have grown since I was last here in June 2024. The beautiful babies who were in the infant class I volunteered in in the spring have now moved up into their toddler classes where their language skills, personalities, and character have blossomed. Watching these kids grow up and being a part of their growing up is one of the reasons I wanted to come back here and continue working with children going forward.  

My experience with the fellowship has been great, but also vastly different from my time here as part of my ELSJ where I worked solely in the infant classroom. Preschoolers are vastly different and it is amazing to see the development trajectory of these kids. Their emotions are bigger and expressed in different ways and that has been one of my biggest learning curves during this experience. I am learning so much about every one of these children, their needs, their joys, and their lives outside of the nursery. It is becoming more evident to me already that children’s mental health, development, and well-being are of the greatest importance to me. I love the innocent light and joy that children have about all of the things they grow into. They are just tiny humans learning about themselves and the world around them.

It is interesting to see how the infants express their emotions and needs differently. Some of them are biters, some of them are screamers, others are criers, some babblers, and some have even learned baby sign language to be able to communicate basic needs like “more,” “milk,” “water,” and “please.” They have their favorite toys to play with and little personalities that grow every single day. Their little giggles are the sweetest and they see the world with the most innocent eyes. One day they will grow up and be our leaders, doctors, teachers, firefighters, and so much more. They are only this small for a short moment in time and they continue to grow and learn every day. I am so glad that I get to be a part of their little journey and see them in what may be mundane everyday life. 

I am so excited to grow into my role and continue to develop throughout the rest of my time at SCU. We are all on a journey together and as much as I get to help them, they are helping me along the way too. In all of my pursuits and goals, I am reminded to remain humble and authentic and to be grateful for the people and places that have brought me to this point in my life. I hope to continue my growth and understanding of myself through opportunities such as this one.

Ann Russell '25

Major
Political Science & Child Studies
Arrupe Placement
Wilson Preschool

I am a senior here at SCU, completing my double major in Political Science and Child Studies. I came into SCU without a declared major, and very little idea of what I wanted to do. The one thing I did know was that I wanted to pursue something that would be directly working alongside people and helping them. As I took my core classes and began to explore different topics, I was very much drawn to the Child Studies curriculum. Working with kids has always been something I have thoroughly enjoyed, because I think that there is much we can take away from them. When we grow older, there are many fundamental rules of life that we have a tendency to unlearn. Kids still have a tight grasp on this, and being around them can be refreshing. Additionally, how we care for and educate children is critical to their development and healthy growth. 

After taking a few Political Science classes, I felt extremely drawn to the major for two reasons. The first was pure interest- I felt extremely intrigued by the process of learning about different governments and policies, how our political systems worked, and how we can use these to relate to other nations. I also felt that through understanding policy making and systems of power, I could also understand how I could use this knowledge to advocate for others, and make positive changes via the legal system. 

Since declaring my majors, I have gotten a lot of reassurance on my selection of degrees and how I want this to play out in my life. My junior year, I signed up for one of my required Child Studies classes, which came with a community engagement requirement. I signed up to work at Wilson Preschool because it was close to campus and the times worked with my schedule, but did not know much about the school. In the Child Studies program, we learn about the many different ways that children absorb information, and the best tactics for helping them grow into informed, compassionate adults. Immediately after I stepped foot in the Wilson Preschool classroom with teacher Saundra Fischer, I was amazed by how she interacted with the kids and everything she did seemed to align perfectly with what I had learned about how we should teach kids. Everything she did was so intentional, caring, and open minded. She had a way about resolving conflict with the students, affirming their thoughts and ideas, while also providing engaging instruction. When I heard about the Arrupe Fellowship and how I could have the opportunity to return to Wilson, I knew I could not pass the opportunity up. Since my time began at Wilson Preschool, I have been able to get to know each child on an individual level, while also understanding the High Scope learning style that is implemented into the classroom. I have come to understand the importance of giving each child autonomy in their learning, and how critical it is to implement Anti-Bias education at a young age. 

Everyday at Wilson Preschool is a joy and a learning opportunity for me. Every child brings to the classroom their own ideas, identities, and experiences, which ultimately make it a diverse and tight-knit community. The parental involvement at Wilson furthers the idea that education and family values do not have to be separate, and that it is important for parents to be aware and involved in the education of their child. Through my interactions with the students, teachers, and parents, I know I will continue to learn about working with children, about how I wish to carry this passion beyond SCU, and overall how to be a more empathetic and open minded human.

Francesca Tapper '26

Major
History & Gender Studies
Arrupe Placement
Front Door Communities

I am a Junior History and Gender Studies major from Boston, MA! My interests include social justice, religious history, and Latin American History, specifically Guatemalan history (which is where my mom is from). For fun, I love to cook and spend time with family and friends. 

My main previous community engagement opportunity was spending my summer in Lima, Peru, through the Jean Donovan Fellowship. I worked mainly at Casa Ronald, an organization that provides housing so that families can access medical care for their children that they would not have had access to due to geographic location. This experience taught me the importance of community, strong support networks with the girls I worked with, and cultural competency and respect when moving through spaces where you may be an outsider. 

My current fellowship experience has been at Front Door Communities, an organization that provides essentials such as food and hygiene products to the unhoused community of San Jose. I have learned more about empathy and how brutal the conditions are for unhoused people in San Jose and the US as a whole. I also have been able to work closely with my supervisor, Jeannette, and ELSJ students- I have been able to meet so many different people that I would not have if I weren’t a part of the Arrupe Fellowship.

Nadia Lobo '26

Major
Public Health Science & Psychology
Arrupe Placement
Santa Clara Adult Education Independence Network

I am currently a Public Health Science and Psychology major at Santa Clara University, with a deep passion for mental health advocacy and accessibility. I aspire to make a meaningful impact in this field, whether as a care provider working directly with individuals or through public health law, ensuring that mental health services become more accessible to those who need them most. Beyond academics, my faith is an integral part of my life. As a Catholic, I find great comfort and strength in my spirituality, and the Sunday 8 PM student Mass on campus at the mission is a particularly special time for me. It serves as a grounding moment at the start of each week, providing both reflection and renewal. 

Service has always been a core value in my life, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue my placement at the Santa Clara Adult Education Independence Network through the Arrupe Engagement Fellowship. The Independence Network supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing skill-based learning opportunities that foster independence and community engagement. 

My journey with the Independence Network began as part of my Experiential Learning for Social Justice (ELSJ) requirement, but it quickly became much more than just a class placement. I sincerely enjoyed every experience I had there, forming meaningful relationships with many of the students. Witnessing their growth, resilience, and enthusiasm was inspiring, and I felt deeply connected to the work I was doing. I was honored to be welcomed into that community, and when I learned I had the opportunity to return through the Arrupe Engagement Fellowship, I was thrilled to continue my immersion. This fellowship has allowed me to deepen my commitment to service, further develop my understanding of inclusivity and advocacy, and reflect on how I can integrate these experiences into my future career. Whether I am working in mental health care or shaping policies that improve accessibility, I know that my time at the Independence Network will remain a foundational experience in my journey. I am honored to be a part of the Arrupe Engagement Fellowship and look forward to continuing to learn from the Independence Network community.