Class Projects – Shades of Green | Dartmouth Class of 1985

Bridges to Healthcare Recipients 2025-2026

Below are bios and thank you notes from some of the recipients of Class of 1985 grants under our Bridges to Healthcare initiative. For more about the program, visit our Class Projects page.

Adrien Jacobs ’27

If I could, I would travel to every individual who contributed to the Bridges to Health Professions Grant and give them my sincerest gratitude. It is with the deepest appreciation that I write this thank you note to acknowledge my awarding of this grant.
My love and passions for healthcare and research are strongly rooted, but often threatened by the reality of affordability. Although I remain steadfast in my mission to become a physician-scientist, regardless of the challenge, it is comforting and affirming to know the Dartmouth community stands behind me.
You all have helped cross this financial barrier, so that I might focus my passions on service and discovery. For that, I am truly grateful.
Many Thanks,
Adrien J.

BIO

I am a ’27 majoring in Biology modified with Chemistry. When I’m not studying, you can usually find me on the track. I am a Varsity athlete for the men’s track and field team who has helped break several relay records and managed to claim an individual event school record. I also work as a senior tour guide and tour guide trainer for the admissions office, and a Phlebotomist at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.
Once I graduate from Dartmouth, I hope to pursue an MD-PHD program and ultimately become a physician-scientist. I believe Research’s pursuit of the truth, coupled with Healthcare’s dedication to care, satisfies the curiosity of my mind and the empathy of my heart. While I expect my interests to change and grow, I am currently passionate about immunology-based cancer therapeutics.

Alma Batista ’27

Dear Members of the Class of ’85, Thank you so much for your incredible generosity and for choosing to support students like me. I am truly honored and beyond grateful to have been awarded the Class of ’85 Bridges to Health Professions Grant. Receiving this award is not only a financial gift, but also a reminder that there are people who believe in my dreams and want to help make them possible.

My background has shaped both who I am and why I am so passionate about medicine. As I navigate the pre-med journey, there are moments when the path feels overwhelming. Your support gives me reassurance and motivation to keep going, especially on the challenging days. Dartmouth has become a home for me because of the warmth and strength of its community. I am especially thankful for the pre-health advisors who dedicate so much time, care, and energy to guiding us. Their encouragement and mentorship have made a tremendous difference in my experience here, and your gift helps ensure that students like me can fully take advantage of these opportunities. I carry your kindness with me as I continue my studies and prepare for a future in medicine. Your generosity inspires me to work harder, remain grounded, and one day give back in the same way you have. Thank you for believing in me and for being such an important part of my journey. With heartfelt gratitude, Alma

Short Bio:
I am a junior neuroscience major on the pre-med track from New Jersey, born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Puerto Rico. Growing up across cultures shaped my resilience, curiosity, and commitment to helping others, which fueled my passion for science and medicine. At Dartmouth, I have pursued research through the E.E. Just Program, gaining hands-on experience in neuroscience and exploring the real-world applications of science in healthcare. My journey has been inspired by my grandmother, whose determination and love continue to guide me, and I am deeply grateful for the support of pre-health mentors, advisors, professors, peers, and programs like the Class of ’85 Bridges to Health Professions Grant, which enable me to grow as a student, researcher, and future physician dedicated to serving underrepresented communities.

David Igbalajobi ’27

Thank you for your incredible generosity. The grant you provided has lifted a significant weight, easing the financial pressures of MCAT fees and study materials, so I can focus fully on my preparation.

My path to medicine started early, in the small clinic my father ran from our home in Nigeria. I saw firsthand how compassion could heal, but also how it could be exhausted by a lack of resources. When we had to close that clinic, the sound of knocking on a locked door became a lesson I would never forget: one person can’t stop the bleeding of an entire community alone.

Now, as a ’27 at Dartmouth studying Biological Chemistry and Neuroscience, I’m building on that mission. I serve as President of the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students Chapter at Dartmouth, working to support others who share this calling. In the Social Perception Lab, I assist in researching rare neurological conditions like Prosopometamorphopsia.

Your support brings me closer to my goal of becoming a neurosurgeon who not only cares for patients one-on-one but also works to heal the inequities in our healthcare systems. You have inspired me to one day create a scholarship of my own, so I can help support other students who may face similar struggles.

Thank you, Class of 1985, for believing in futures like mine. Your generosity is helping to shape the next generation of compassionate and equitable leaders in medicine.

With sincere gratitude,
David Igbalajobi
Dartmouth ’27 | Biological Chemistry & Neuroscience

Jenna Jeon ’27

Dear Members of the Class of ‘85,

I am writing to you today with a heart full of gratitude. Receiving the news that I was selected for the Bridges to Health Professions Grant was a profoundly moving moment for me. As I prepare to take the next major step toward my dream of becoming a physician, your support has provided a level of clarity and relief that is difficult to put into words.

During my time at Dartmouth, I have worked hard to make the most of every opportunity, but that journey has required significant balancing. At times, I have balanced as many as six different jobs simultaneously to cover my personal expenses, travel, and the various finances that come with being a college student. While I am proud of the work ethic I’ve developed through these roles, working those hours often meant my study time was squeezed into late hours of the night or small gaps between shifts.

The financial reality of the MCAT, between registration fees and the high cost of quality preparation materials, was a daunting milestone that I worried would place an unfair strain on my family. Your generosity changes that entire equation for me. This grant is not just financial assistance; it is the gift of time and focus. Because of your support, I will be able to scale back my work hours and dedicate myself fully to my studies, ensuring that I can represent Dartmouth well and perform to my highest potential on the MCAT.

Your commitment to helping students navigate the financial barriers of the medical school path is inspiring. It is incredibly empowering to know that there is a community of alumni who are rooting for my success and invested in my future as a healthcare provider. Please know that this investment will be used with the utmost care as I work toward a career dedicated to serving others with the same spirit of generosity you have shown me.

Thank you again for your kindness, your belief in my potential, and for providing the bridge I needed to keep moving forward.

With deepest sincerity and gratitude,

Jenna Jeon

Sara Parigela ’27

Thank you for your generous support of my MCAT preparation. As a first-generation college student balancing multiple jobs to support my family while pursuing pre-medical studies, this grant makes a meaningful difference in my ability to focus on preparing for medical school.

I work as a licensed EMT, endoscopy technician, and hold two campus positions while conducting computational neuroscience research in the Manning Lab. Your support allows me to invest in quality MCAT preparation materials without adding financial stress to an already demanding schedule. During my high school years, I worked 30 hours weekly at a fast-food restaurant to help cover family medical expenses, and those experiences taught me to maximize every opportunity, a lesson I carry forward in how I approach this preparation.

My goal is to pursue an MD to develop objective neural diagnostics for learning disorders and neurological conditions. In the Manning Lab, I’ve developed algorithms analyzing EEG data to identify brain activity patterns during learning, and I recently secured a $10,000 grant to test portable EEG devices in real classroom settings. As an EMT responding to strokes and traumas, I’ve seen firsthand how our neurological assessments rely on subjective behavioral measures. I want to build imaging tools that provide objective functional brain data.

Your investment in my education is an investment in the patients I’ll serve and the diagnostic tools I hope to develop. I’m deeply grateful for your commitment to supporting Dartmouth students pursuing meaningful work in medicine and research.

With sincere appreciation,

Sarah Parigela

BIO

Sarah Parigela is a junior at Dartmouth College double-majoring in Cognitive Science and Biomedical Engineering. She works as a licensed EMT and endoscopy technician while conducting computational neuroscience research in the Manning Lab. She recently secured a $10,000 grant from the National Science Olympiad to test consumer-grade EEG devices in classroom settings. She is also a Presidential Scholar in the Ackerman Lab.
An eldest daughter who worked full-time during high school to help cover family medical expenses, Sarah founded Dartmouth’s Science Olympiad chapter as a freshman, bringing 300+ high school students from all over the United States to campus for tournaments, the first being last year in February 2025. She aspires to become a neurologist developing objective imaging-based diagnostics for learning disorders, ADHD, traumatic brain injury, and other conditions currently diagnosed through behavioral observation alone. Through combining clinical medicine with computational innovation, she hopes to make advanced functional neuroimaging accessible to families who need it most.

Looking for Input and Volunteers to Guide our Class Project Program!

For the past five years, the Class of ’85 has supported two Class Projects (Dartmouth Partners in Community Service; Bridges to Health Care) with an average of more than $15,000 per year from class dues and donations.

As we approach our 40^th Reunion, it is time to get feedback from the Class about what projects we want to continue to support and/or add new Class Projects to our efforts to give back to the College. Therefore, we are soliciting input from our classmates. We also are looking to form an ongoing committee to increase our impact (More on that at the end of this post!). We ask for your feedback by May 1^st so that we may present our plans to the Class at the Reunion in June.

Vote Now!

What are Class Projects? Class Projects are intended to fulfill identified needs of the College while helping to unite a class and, in many cases, to unite a class with students. Class Project funds are given to Dartmouth with money collected by a class earmarked for that purpose or from the general class treasury. [A Class Gift is funded by direct solicitation to individuals with guidance from the Development Office. A Class Gift is a significant legacy contribution to the College, while Class Projects are funded by smaller contributions and are usually disbursed to the College on an annual basis.] Class Projects are a collective gifts made to Dartmouth by the class as a whole, with the intention to impact students today. Projects must be connected with an existing Dartmouth office for implementation, and any new projects must be approved by the College.

What has our Class supported recently?

The Class of ’85 is one of eighteen classes that supports Dartmouth Partners in Community Service (DPCS), coordinated by the Center for Social Impact (students.dartmouth.edu/social-impact). DPCS has supported over 800 Dartmouth undergraduates in alumni mentored internships in nonprofits across the U.S. and engaged over 400 alumni mentors from 57 Dartmouth alumni classes, including ’85s! Through DPCS, students receive up to $6,500 in funding during a leave term, to pursue community-based service internships with nonprofit agencies. Funding provides the support students need when seeking an unpaid, but transformative, internship with a non-profit organization. We have supported one student each year through this project.

The Class of ’85 also created our own class project – Class of 1985 Pre-Health Access Fund (Bridges to Healthcare). Since, 2022, we have provided funds to assist low-income students preparing for medical school. This project was inspired by the recognition during the pandemic of the lack of health professionals in low income and marginalized communities. This program is administered by the Dartmouth Health Professions Program (hpp.dartmouth.edu). In dialogue with the HPP staff, we realized that because the of the high stakes of the MCAT exam, quality test preparation is critical and costs of test preparation are a sizable barrier to a low-income student. In addition to test preparation courses and materials (which can run from $1200-$3000), students also must pay for the test itself ($385) and application fees (~$800 for applications to five schools). Our project is currently providing up to $1500 for seven low-income students each year.

We have supported 26 students through this program. As of February 2026, seven are in medical school, 2 more have been admitted for this fall, and 8 are current undergraduates. A number are taking a ‘gap year’ as they study and apply, which is not uncommon. You can read about some of the students we have supported on our class webpage (Dartmouth85 .com). One such student is Adrien J, who sends this thank you note to our class:

Dear Class of ’85,
If I could, I would travel to every individual who contributed to the Bridges to Health Professions Grant and give them my sincerest gratitude. It is with the deepest appreciation that I write this thank you note to acknowledge my awarding of this grant.
My love and passions for healthcare and research are strongly rooted, but often threatened by the reality of affordability. Although I remain steadfast in my mission to become a physician-scientist, regardless of the challenge, it is comforting and affirming to know the Dartmouth community stands behind me.
You all have helped cross this financial barrier, so that I might focus my passions on service and discovery. For that, I am truly grateful.
Many Thanks
Adrien J.

What options do we have for the future? We are asking for your input on which projects we should support for the next five years. DPCS and Bridges to Healthcare continue to be an option. We have selected three other projects identified by the College for your consideration.

Cross-Cultural Programming

Student Life and the Office of Pluralism and Leadership offer a range of opportunities to promote and build cross-cultural understanding through student organizations, educational programs, and social activities. Contributions to this fund will support educational workshops, community dinners, history month programs, social and cultural activities, and other community-building initiatives. Gifts to this fund will be used at the discretion of the Dean of the College to address program needs and priorities.

Dartmouth Dialogues Support

This class project would provide ongoing funding to support the Dartmouth Dialogues’ mission, vision, and programming. Dartmouth Dialogues trains future leaders to engage meaningfully across political and personal differences. It hosts skill-building workshops for students, faculty, and staff as well as speakers with diverse viewpoints who model constructive disagreement. Dartmouth faculty conduct research on topics like polarization and how dialogue affects our brains so we can understand what works—all in the spirit of advancing a culture of inquiry and respect. An annual report from 2024-2025 can be found on the website (dialogues.dartmouth.edu).

First Year Student Enrichment Program – FYSEP

This year’s first-generation student FYSEP cohort is the largest in the history of the program. Gifts to this fund will be used at the Director’s discretion to support a variety of FYSEP activities, including FYSEP peer mentoring, community-building programs, field trips, group meals, and events between terms when many are unable to return home. This program is housed in the First-Generation Office (students.dartmouth.edu/fgo).

How can I share my input?

We ask you to vote and/or comment by May 1^st. Input will be shared with class officers and the chosen projects will be announced at our Reunion in June.

Vote Now!

I am interested in getting more involved. What can I do?

We are actively seeking classmates to help chair or serve on the Class Projects committee, raise awareness, and connect with students that we support, depending on the projects selected. There is the opportunity for mentoring through DPCS. We are looking for classmates in medical fields to offer shadowing experiences or volunteer to serve on alumni panels with HPP. We also want to send notes of encouragement as students prepare for the MCAT. We could identify first-generation students in our class and share their stories with the First-Generation Office. We need committee members to touch bases with the staff in the relevant offices at the College twice a year to keep us connected. As a committee, we can decide where best to put our efforts to keep the projects visible to our classmates and support the students. Additional financial donations are NOT a requirement to serve on the committee. If you are looking for a way to get involved that doesn’t require a lot of time, please consider volunteering!

On the input form, you can respond with your inquiries and interests in helping. You can also directly email current Class Projects co-chairs Linda and Veronica with your interest.

Linda Blockus, BlockusL@gmail.com

Veronica Jenkins, JenkinsVNJ@gmail.com

New Bridges to Healthcare Recipients

One of the very important things your class dues help to fund is our Bridges to Healthcare program. This program helps with the costs of preparing to apply to medical school, assisting undergraduates from populations that are facing socioeconomic barriers. Learn more about this important program our class is funding and the amazing students whose dreams it’s helping to fulfill.

Chris Jun ’22 Mentored by Anne Schonfield ’85 and Dan Estabrook ’88

As part of our class project supporting Dartmouth Partners in Community Service (DPCS), classmates are mentoring interns as they spend a term focusing on community service. This winter, two classmates are mentoring Chris Jun ’22.

DPCS Intern Spotlight: Cecilia Torres ’18

The Class of ’85 is a proud sponsor of Dartmouth Partners in Community Service. Through our contributions to Class Projects our class is one of many sponsoring classes that provide funding to Dartmouth students pursuing social impact internships through a selection process managed by the Center for Service. A highlight for the students during their term off is their mentor relationship with a Dartmouth alum.

This summer Cecilia Torres ’18 interned at Youth Employment Summer (YES) Program in New York City. Her mentor was Ricki Stern ‘87. Read on for an interview with Cecilia about her experience.

Spotlight on Cecilia Torres ‘18

The Youth Employment Summer (YES) Program – NYC, New York

Mentor: Ricki Stern ‘87

The YES program pairs students in their junior or senior year of high school with a paid 6-week corporate summer internship. Cecilia had her hands full this summer making lesson plans, managing the program budget, and creating newsletters, as well as planning a four-day trip to Dartmouth in which the interns were exposed to college life. From her check-in at the halfway point of her internship, Cecilia seemed to be making the most of both her internship and her time with her mentor.

Q: What has been the best part of your internship thus far?

CT: I’d say the best part of my internship thus far has been witnessing the amount of drive and passion that these young people have. I am learning from them as much as they are learning from me.

Q: What has been the most challenging?

CT: Facilitating activities and lesson plans with a group of 14 teenagers with diverse personalities and quirks has been very challenging. Not being much older than them I have had to manage the boundary between friendliness and professionalism very carefully.

Q: Tell us about your mentor.

CT: My mentor is Ricki Stern. I had a dinner with her, Michael Stern and 3 recent Dartmouth graduates not too long ago. I am interested in pursuing a career in film, specifically production and Ricki has been amazing at exposing me to the world of documentary film and the possibilities of working in that industry.

August Events

Fun events from Boston to New York to Colorado to Tahoe, CA, plus news about classmate Katie Leede, class project info, and a sneak peek at Class Dues.

Jackie Francis ’85 on her Mentoring Experience

Our Class has sponsored two internship projects, one of which is Dartmouth Partners in Community Service. As part of that program, classmates serve as mentors to student interns. Jacqueline Francis recently met Serena Zhu in San Francisco. If you’re interested in being a mentor, please contact Linda Blockus.

As a Dartmouth Mentor, I met Serena M. Zhu (class of 2019), who traveled to San Francisco with Dartmouth Partners in Community Service Non-profit Learning Internship Program this summer. Serena worked at the St. Anthony Foundation (also known as St. Anthony’s), a social service agency in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood.

Over the summer, Serena and I met several times over tea and coffee to talk about her responsibilities at St. Anthony’s. She assisted Tech Lab instructors to teach basic computer skills to St. Anthony’s guests and she helped to coordinate and organize an end-of-summer program that provides schoolchildren with fall clothing and school supplies.

I visited Serena at St. Anthony’s at the end of the summer. She gave me a tour of its campus and introduced me to her colleagues and some of the guests she met during the internship. All spoke highly of Serena, having come away with the same impressions that I had formed about her: she’s a smart and hard-working young woman, who distinguished herself and represented Dartmouth well during her internship.

It was also gratifying to view San Francisco through the eyes of a newcomer to the city, and to learn more about St Anthony’s. It’s a highly respected agency, and the work that they do is inspiring. Serena was deeply affected by the experience of working at St. Anthony’s, especially in the back-to-school project. (Here’s a photo of the two of us in St Anthony’s clothes sorting room in August.)

I look forward to keeping in touch with Serena in the coming years. I enjoyed hearing about her Dartmouth experience and sharing some of my own with her. It was a great exchange and we both value this Dartmouth bond.

— Jacqueline Francis, ’85

Jackie is an art historian who specializes in 20th century US modernist painting. Her current position is Robert A. Corrigan Visiting Professor in Social Justice at San Francisco State University. She is also BADA’s Northern California rep.

Class Project Update

Thanks to all who add to their class dues payments each year to help support our Class Projects. Most recently, our class has supported the following projects:

• Class contribution to Memorial Field renovations, featuring memorial plaques engraved to honor Dartmouth veterans who have died in service to our country. The Class of ’85 will be recognized with a plaque as one of 40 classes that made contributions to the project.

• Funding for student internships through the Center for Professional Development (CDP, aka Career Services).

• Funding for student internships through Dartmouth Partners in Community Service (DPCS).

CDP Internship Program

Our class currently gives $2000 to this program, which is the typical award to a student intern. We hope to raise this amount to $4000 with our Green Eggs and Dues program.

We are very excited about the impact our contributions have made. Here are two thank you notes we received from our CDP interns:

[one_half] [quote author=”Jeni Hendricks ’17”]

My name is Jeni Hendricks and I am a Dartmouth ’17 from Pawhuska, Oklahoma. After a challenging but wonderful first year at Dartmouth, I received the opportunity to intern for Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) in Washington, D.C. I was elated about the opportunity but soon found myself apprehensive when I was informed that the summer internship was unpaid. However, due to your generosity, I was able to spend June 3rd – August 1st on our Nation’s Capitol Hill. There are no words to describe the experience that I had this summer. I witnessed bills brought to and discussed on the floor, met lifelong friends whom I still keep in touch with, and got an insider’s perspective of what it may be like to be a Congressional legislative assistant one-day.

Thank you, Dartmouth Class of ’85, for your generous contribution and for ultimately allowing me to have a career oriented and unforgettable summer. I know that few people get the opportunity to live in Washington, D.C. for two months and because of that, I am forever grateful to you for your kindness and support of not only myself but all Dartmouth students, now and to come.

[/quote][/one_half]

[one_half_last] [quote author=”Isabella Coleman ’17”]

I am writing to thank you for your generous Class of 1985 Scholarship that allowed me to take advantage of what was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I was able to intern in the White House Office of Management and Budget for two months over the summer, during which I got my first taste of the public sector. I learned about the inner workings of economic policy-making, increasing efficiency in operations, and large-scale crisis management as I assisted Obama and his team tackle issues like the Ebola outbreak and the unaccompanied children at the border. I could go on and on about the countless experiences I had and incredible people I met, but it was all possible thanks to your generosity, which I greatly appreciate and will always remember.

[/quote][/one_half_last]