Bailey Undergraduate Awards 2020-21

Sophie Luijten (‘22, Global Studies and Spanish) strives to promote social and environmental justice through sustainable community efforts that protect vulnerable populations and resources. She researched and advocated for immigrant rights and environmental sustainability at the Immigration Project, New American Welcome Center, and Safe Global Water Institute. At these organizations, she translated for underserved immigrants, worked to help develop an immigrant integration plan, and researched in the pursuit of alternative water resources. Moreover, she engaged in civil society and activism through peaceful demonstrations and volunteering to raise awareness about climate change and immigrant integration.

Riley Masterson (‘22, Global Studies and French) works to foster a supportive and accepting community on and off campus. As Secretary of Amnesty International, she spreads awareness of human rights issues through planning and executing demonstrations and information nights. She collected signatures to free prisoners of conscience through Amnesty’s “Write 4 Rights” campaign, and attended regional conferences for the organization. As an intern with Education USA Russia, Riley mentors Russian students hoping to complete higher education in America. She hopes to pursue a career dedicated to international human rights law, specifically pertaining to immigrants and refugees.

Paulina Torres (‘21, Global Studies and French) is passionate about human rights and global security. She is currently majoring in Global Studies and French, with concentrations in governance and French language and culture. She is the Deputy Director of the H.O.P.E. Department through the Illinois Student Government where she helped create and promote a scholarship for UIUC students who do not qualify for federal financial aid. She actively worked on the logistics of the scholarship and helped promote it to hopefully get it passed by the end of the semester.