Erica Matthews from the Dr. MLK Breakfast Committee recognizes Hansel at the Meade High Senior Award Ceremony

Winner of Dr. Martin Luther King Breakfast Committee Award Exemplifies His Fight For Change

Hansel Motiram
University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Class of 2020
Major: Biology
August, 2016

Hansel, a student from Meade High School, was awarded the Anne Arundel County Dr. Martin Luther King Breakfast Committee scholarship because he exhibited and clearly articulated his efforts and aspirations in all four areas included in the scholarship criteria: social justice, leadership, cultural awareness, and community service. Hansel is very focused with specific academic and professional aspirations to study biology and creative writing with a focus on anthropology and the origin of diversity. He also possesses an extremely innovative spirit and a clear vision for ​affecting social ​change through activism. Some of Hansel's accomplishments from his application: 

Social Justice:

• Advocate for transgender student rights in public education since grade 10
• Working with GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) to create non-discriminatory policies and procedures within the schools

Leadership:

• Initiated awareness projects with the GSA through short films (self taught) and social media
• Started petitions to create legislative change for minorities featured in his films

Cultural Awareness:

• Has done extensive researched the history of oppression suffered by different cultures and groups around the world

Community Service:

• Crain West Community Volunteer
• Junior Interpreter at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
• Volunteer Counselor in Training at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

We look forward to supporting Hansel in the next four years and seeing what social justice, leadership, cultural awareness and community service he brings to the his new community - the UMBC campus.​