Cornell College first-year student Djomompinin “Juliana” Tuo ’28 has been awarded a spot in the John Lewis Young Leaders (JLYL) undergraduate fellowship with a capstone project in her home village of Dagba in the north of Côte d’Ivoire.
She was thrilled each time she made it to the next stage of the selection process.
“I was truly excited once I realized that I was selected for the interview, because I’d gone through the website many times, and it was just unbelievable that they would also be interested in my story and what I had to offer the program. I was even happier–and grateful–that I was selected to be part of the 2025-26 cohort,” Tuo said.
According to its website, the JLYL fellowship strives to prepare undergraduates for a future in community organizing and civic engagement through the multi-pronged approach of mentorship, community building, a retreat in Atlanta, Georgia, financial support, and a concluding capstone project.
Dungy Writing Studio Director and Director of Fellowships and Scholarship Laura Farmer believes Tuo is the first Cornellian to land a spot with this program.
“For her to have this sort of opportunity after her first year is pretty remarkable,” Farmer said. “Her appointment is a testament to the hard work she put into her application.”
Tuo found the rich classes available to her at Cornell provided ample background when developing her application. Writing The Environment taught her how to research a problem in a community, Global Health gave her great insight on how to look at problems from their deep root causes, and International Politics gave her the ability to approach a problem from different angles. These classes, along with the resources Cornell offers, prepared her for the application process.
“I got to share about myself, my personal experiences, and future plans, but mostly I got to design a project that will directly impact my community back in my country and teach them about human rights,” Tuo said.
Her year-long fellowship will include a retreat in Atlanta this June, and work in a camp for special needs children in Maryland over the summer. Throughout the rest of the year, there will be research, project design work, and monthly meetings, all while continuing her coursework here on the Hilltop.
“I am truly passionate about human rights, especially in the sectors of education, health, and environmental issues, and I am excited because this opportunity will 100% teach me skills that will help me improve my idea for my project.”
Tuo says this fellowship supports her goals to continue working in human rights advocacy and humanitarian help for vulnerable populations.