Saint Martin's University selects its fifth cadre of Act Six Scholars

LACEY, Wash. – Saint Martin’s University welcomes seven new Act Six Scholars to the incoming class of 2027 this fall. The scholars are among 117 emerging urban and community leaders from Tacoma-Seattle, Portland-Salem, Spokane, Yakima Valley, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Minneapolis-St. Paul area high schools. Each scholar will receive full tuition scholarships as members of the latest Act Six cohort.

Selected through a rigorous three-month competition from 2,000 applicants, these diverse student leaders were among 20 finalists who were invited to interview for the scholarship. The scholars were selected for their distinctive leadership skills, academic potential, and commitment to making a difference in their communities. 

The fifth cadre of Saint Martin’s Act Six Scholars include:  

• Yoel Alejandres-Aleman (Exercise Science, Clover Park High School), 

• Marcela Alfaro-Rios (History, Hazen High School), 

• Henok Mandefro (Computer Science, Garfield High School), 

• Jose Martinez-Perez (Business Administration, Silas High School), 

• Daniela Ortega-Vega (Psychology, Auburn Mountainview), 

• Carmelina Pablo-Martinez (Nursing, Shelton High School), 

• Nala Sellers (Psychology, Auburn Mountainview) 

“Selecting the next Act Six Cadre is one of the most rewarding parts of the year,” said Saint Martin’s Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Patty Lemon. “Each scholar brings a unique set of talent and backgrounds to our campus community. I look forward to seeing our scholars thrive as they pursue their education at Saint Martin's.” 

The Act Six network is a leadership development and scholarship initiative led by Degrees of Change that identifies, trains and supports the region’s most promising urban students as transformative campus and community leaders. 

Act Six connects local faith-based community affiliates with faith- and social justice-based colleges to equip emerging urban and community leaders to engage the college campus and their communities at home through a simple but powerful four-part strategy: Recruit and Select, Train and Prepare, Send and Fund, and Support and Inspire. 

Since 2002, Act Six has trained 1,335 scholars from seven cities in 199 cadres for 17 private, liberal arts colleges. While 91 percent are from low-income families or are first-generation college goers, 81 percent graduate within six years—12 points higher than all students at their colleges. 

Please visit the Saint Martin’s University Act Six webpage for more information. 

Saint Martin’s University is an independent, four-year, coeducational university located on a wooded campus of more than 300 acres in Lacey, Washington. Established in 1895 by the Catholic Order of Saint Benedict, the University is one of 13 Benedictine colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, and the only one west of the Rocky Mountains. Saint Martin’s University prepares students for successful lives through its 29 majors, 11 master’s programs, one doctorate program and five certificate programs spanning the liberal arts, business, education, nursing and engineering. Saint Martin’s welcomes more than 1,300 undergraduate students and 250 graduate students from many ethnic and religious backgrounds to its Lacey campus, and more students to its extended campus located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.