Kosove Scholars
Sayona Jose
(She/Her)
Kosove Position: Secretary
Majors: Biomedical Sciences and Psychology
Minor: Nutrition
Undergraduate Scholar
Sayona Jose is an IB graduate who served as the President of Spanish National Honor Society and the Event Director of “Chargerthon” for the All Children’s Miracle Network, which has raised over $70,000 in the past 4 years. She volunteered weekly as an assistant reading teacher for local second graders, and helped feed over 100 individuals in her community service club “Helping Hands.” She is majoring in Biomedical Sciences at the University of South Florida in hopes of specializing in sports medicine. She has been an employee at Protein Smoothie Shop for 4 years and is a Certified Group Fitness Cycle Instructor at the USF Rec. She also serves as a USF representative for the Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay Program and is a writer for the USF Sparks Magazine. She is also currently a research assistant for the Complex Rights and Wrongs Project at USF. Sayona is beyond thankful to be part of the Kosove Society, and is excited to volunteer together on service projects!
Olivia Tuckey
(She/Her)
Kosove Position: Media Director
Major: Cell and Molecular Biology
Minor: Anthropology
Undergraduate Scholar
Olivia Tuckey is a senior in the USF Honors College pursuing a major in Cell and Molecular Biology with a minor in Anthropology. She graduated from Niceville High School in Niceville, Florida in the top 1% of her class. In high school, Olivia traveled to Europe to conduct a scientific collection and analysis in England as part of the NaGISA program, and went on an educational tour of Japan. She loves foreign travel and went on a study abroad research trip to the Galapagos Islands over the summer of 2021. She is now the communications director and diversity chair of the USF GloBull Ambassadors, working to help others study aboard. Olivia was named a 2021 Hollings Scholar, and conducted a summer internship with NOAA over the summer of 2022 studying the effect of environmental contamination on the hormonal reproductive potential of fish. Olivia is also involved with undergraduate research at USF, and works in the Kramer Lab in the College of Integrative Biology. She completed an Honors Thesis investigating the reproductive population dynamics of marine copepods, and currently assists with ongoing projects. After graduating, she plans to attend graduate school and become a researcher in the field of genetics or to work to improve the state of the environment through scientific research and development.
Molly Orlick
(She/Her)
Kosove Position: President
Major: Biomedical Science
Undergraduate Scholar
Molly Orlick is a graduate from the IB Program at Robinson High School in Tampa, Florida, where she served as President of National Honor Society, Founder and President of the Pre-Veterinary Club, and a member of Honor Council. She served as a Congressional Intern for US Congresswoman Kathy Castor, attended Florida Girls State where she was elected to be a Senator, served on the Tampa Mayor’s Youth Corps and represented the City of Tampa at the Florida League of Cities. Molly organized a book drive for children in economically disadvantaged communities and personally collected over 1,600 books for these children. She has also volunteered for many organizations throughout Tampa including St. Joseph’s Hospital, the Children’s Cancer Center, and the Trinity Cafe. Molly was awarded the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award in 2019. Molly played varsity volleyball and flag football, earning three consecutive flag football State Championships. Molly is a Provost Scholar and a part of the Judy Genshaft Honors College where she is majoring in Biomedical Sciences. Molly shares, “I am truly honored to be a part of the Kosove Society. I am looking forward to the numerous opportunities and outstanding people that I will meet.”
Maggie Rubens
(She/Her)
Kosove Position: VP of Community Service and Treasurer
Major: Business Analytics and Information Systems
Concentration: Cyber Security
Undergraduate Scholar
Maggie is a third-year student pursuing a degree in Business Analytics and Information Systems with a concentration in Cyber Security. With integrity and leadership to guide her, she served as the Speech and Debate Club President at her high school, allowing her to travel throughout the country to debate international politics with other high school students. For over ten years, Maggie was an active member in Girl Scouts. In addition to receiving the Girl Scout Silver Award in which she donated a bookshelf full of children's books to an underprivileged school, Maggie also attended numerous camping trips as an Ambassador, mentoring younger girls, which fostered her love of helping others. During high school, she was an active member of National Honor Society and ICare ICure, a foundation that raises funds and awareness for childhood cancer. Maggie is excited to have the opportunity to continue to help in community service through the Kosove Society.
Sean Varughese
(He/Him)
Kosove Position: VP of Legacy Projects
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Undergraduate Scholar
Sean is a junior majoring in Biomedical Sciences in pursuit of a career in medicine- specifically emergency medicine or Otolaryngology. He served as a mentor for elementary school students who sought to improve at reading, through the program “Teen Trendsetters” from the Barbara Bush Foundation of Family Literacy. He also Co-founded “Water to Life”, a non-profit project aimed at providing clean drinking water to underserved communities within India. Thus far, three bore wells in Uttar Pradesh have been built to provide for families that did not have a clean source of drinking water locally. In his free time, Sean enjoys powerlifting and spending time with family. Sean shares that working alongside the other Kosove Scholars in community service inspires him and is always an enjoyable time.
Elle Acosta
(She/Her)
Kosove Position: Historian
Major: Biology
Undergraduate Scholar
Elle Acosta is a second year member of the Kosove Society. She is majoring in biology at USF in the hopes of becoming an environmental activist and traveling the world, hopefully including Antarctica, to study a wide variety of ecosystems. In high school, she restarted her school's Gender and Sexuality Alliance and was the president of the club for two years. She was also the treasurer of the school's activism club and a senior class officer during her senior year. Elle has volunteered at multiple nonprofits, including her city's animal shelter and LGBTQ youth organization. Some of her favorite activities are singing, reading, baking (and eating sweets in general), and kayaking.
Anthony Carmona
(He/Him)
Kosove Position: VP of Marketing
Major: Cell and Molecular Biology
Minor: Biomedical Physics
Undergraduate Scholar
Anthony Carmona is a sophomore pursuing a degree in Cell and Molecular Biology with a minor in Biomedical Physics. He is a provost scholar, a member of the Phi Delta Epsilon pre medical fraternity, and the secretary of the Mexican American student association. He loved tutoring and working with the youth during his time in high school and worked with the Hispanic services council to help Hispanic students in his area with their schooling needs. He plans to go to medical school to become an orthopedic surgeon and help people in countries that do not have access to adequate medical care. Anthony loves to run and draw in his free time. His goal in life is to provide aid and a friend to as many people as possible which he feels will be fulfilled by a career in medicine.
Monise Marie
(SHe/Her)
Kosove Position: member
Major: Master of Public Health
Concentration: Maternal and Child Health & Epidemiology
Graduate Scholar
Monise Marie is a second-year MPH student pursuing a concentration in Maternal and Child Health & Epidemiology. Her public health interests include children's health, educational attainment, nutrition and food security, and heart disorders. She aspires to contribute to a decline in racial inequities among health outcomes and engage in community initiatives as a pediatrician. Previously, Monise Marie has volunteered with Urban Scholar Outreach Program, USF Student Health Services, Giving God the Glory (G3), and her church's food pantry. Her additional endeavors have included promoting STEM initiatives to youth apart of the National Society of Black Engineers, USF Housing Resident Assistant, Black Leadership Network Scholar, and research assistant on multiple projects. As a returning bull for her master's program, Monise now serves on the USF Health's Executive Student Leadership Board (ESLB), United Negro College Fund Scholarship Forum Committee, and as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She enjoys nature walks, creating poetry, having a good laugh, and competing in scholarship pageants!
Meera Ratani
(SHe/Her)
Kosove Position: member
Major: MD Core Program
Graduate Scholar
Meera graduated summa cum laude with B.A. in Psychology and B.S. in Biomedical Sciences at USF as a member of the Judy Genshaft Honors College and is currently continuing her studies at the USF Morsani College of Medicine under the MD Core program. During her time as an undergraduate her extracurricular activities fell into the overarching themes of education and giving back to the community. In the educational sphere, Meera has been a math instructor, a chemistry peer leader, and teacher’s assistant at the USF Preschool for Creative Learning. To give back the community she has given her time to volunteer and lead other volunteers at several organizations, including the James A Haley VA Hospital and serving as the president of American Red Cross at USF and community outreach director of the USF Pre-Med American Medical Student Association. In the future, she hopes to follow her dream of helping underserved children as a pediatrician. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, and spending time with her loved ones. She is very grateful for the Kosove Society’s generous investment in her education and hopes that she can one day pay it forward by mentoring and supporting those that come after her.
Pablo Puga
(He/Him)
Kosove Position: member
Major: Marketing
Minor: Legal Studies
Undergraduate Scholar
Pablo Puga is a third-year student in the USF Business Honors Program pursuing a major in Marketing with a minor in Legal Studies. During his time at USF, he has held various positions with nonprofit organizations in both Tampa and his hometown of Miami. In Miami, he was given the opportunity to serve as a marketing intern for the Little Lighthouse Foundation, South Florida’s top volunteer organization. During his time in this role, he initiated and maintained various essential corporate partnerships with local businesses that continue to support the organization and their mission of assisting underserved children and their families throughout South Florida. In Tampa Mr. Puga has been heavily involved with Feeding Tampa Bay starting out as a Student Ambassador, being promoted to the role of Student Ambassador Captain to spearhead the expansion of their Student Ambassador program and he most recently held the position of Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator. Pablo hopes to attend law school following his undergraduate education and further develop the skills necessary to continue to give back to his community to the best of his ability. Overall, Pablo is extremely thankful for the opportunity to be able to develop relationships with the members of the Kosove Society and work to volunteer alongside other service-oriented individuals.
Audra Nikolajski
(she/her)
Kosove Position: member
Majors: English and Political Science
Minor: Global Studies in Education
Undergraduate Scholar
Audra is a third-year student in the Judy Genshaft Honors College with a passion for education. Audra has served as the Volunteer Committee Co-Chair for the JGHCSC and is currently a Community and Leadership Co-Coordinator. She is a co-Editor in Chief for Thread, USF’s Literary Magazine, and a passionate Peer Mentor Lead for the honors college. Audra is also the Wrangler for the Order of the Golden Brahman as well as an English tutor. She co-created a Canvas course to reduce disparities of students with disabilities and is currently conducting research on the impact of community gardening in postsecondary education. Audra recently completed the Global Citizen Project and spent her summer studying abroad in London. She is dedicated to storytelling, literacy, and service and is developing and teaching an honors course that will combine these attributes. Upon graduation, she hopes to obtain a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, as she aims to be an author and professor while advocating for educational reform in the political sphere and in the classroom. Audra is incredibly honored and grateful to be a part of the Kosove Society.
Sofia Stromak
(she/her)
Kosove Position: member
Majors: Psychology and Public Health
Undergraduate Scholar
Sofia Stromak will be a freshman majoring in Psychology and Public Health, and she is excited to join and engage with the Kosove family. Sofia is from a small town on the east coast of Florida called Fort Pierce. In high school, she dual enrolled and earned her associate’s degree in Psychology. After undergraduate school, she plans on attending a graduate program for occupational therapy in hopes of becoming a pediatric occupational therapist. Sofia is an active member of several service and leadership organizations, and she truly believes that they have helped her grow into the person she is today. Sofia volunteered weekly at Hope’s Closet, a nonprofit dedicated to providing free clothing to impoverish youth. Youth Leadership of St. Lucie County is another program where she developed leadership skills throughout the meetings and service projects. A couple of these opportunities include monthly park cleanups, hosting a job fair for disabled young adults, and meeting with city officials to discuss important matters in our community and to provide insightful, youthful feedback. She also volunteered to help with the creation of a short film that helped raise awareness about the danger and severity of human trafficking. At her high school she was the vice president of Greyhound Givers, a club dedicated to volunteering with her peers for various causes. Sofia also worked at the Boys and Girls Club as a program specialist, where she provided close support and supervision to the youth. These were among her favorite service projects, but each of them has opened her eyes in so many ways. Sofia is so excited to join the Kosove scholars and share the passion she has for service and community betterment with everyone. She is looking forward to networking and meeting new people that she knows will make a big impact on her life, and together they will make an impact on the lives of many.
Janeisha Cambridge
(she/her)
Kosove Position: member
Major: Masters in Marketing
Graduate Scholar
Janeisha Cambridge is a graduate of Barry University and earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Business & Marketing. It can be said that she loves leading teams and lending a hand wherever needed. During her time as an undergraduate, she had the opportunity to get involved in a variety of ways. As a STAMPS scholar, a few of the positions she held were: We Inspire Now President, Barry Banter Cohost, Residence Hall Association National Communications Chair and Interim President, Student Government Senator, Diamond’s Dance Team Co-Captain, Andreas School of Business Student Advisory Board Member, and President’s Society member. She executed TEDxBarryU 2022 “Changing Communities with Art, Expression, and Performance,” as the university’s 2022 event organizer. Janeisha volunteers with organizations such as The Arch Plaza nursing home and Feeding South Florida. Her most memorable service experience was spending spring break of her final semester at Barry in San Jose, Costa Rica building apartments for single mothers who want to pursue their education, but cannot afford housing or childcare without assistance. During commencement Janeisha was awarded Sister Linda Bevilacqua’s “Most Outstanding Senior Award” and the Andreas School of Business “Most Outstanding Business Student” Award. Janeisha is currently working in marketing and pursuing a Master’s in Marketing at USF.