Congratulations to the 2024-25 GEJ Scholarship Award Winners!
We are excited to announce the recipients of the 2024-25 GEJ Scholarship Awards! These recent CRS alums, staff, and volunteers embody the values of leadership, excellence, and commitment to social justice across a variety of fields and disciplines. We congratulate them on all of their achievements and wish them well in their future endeavors!
Please read on below to meet each of this year’s GEJ Scholars:
GRADUATE SCHOLARS
Wassa Bagayoko (CRS '14)
“Having the support of GEJ reminds me that community doesn't end when we leave a physical space. Being a recipient of this scholarship on my ten year camp anniversary feels incredible and I intend to make the CRS community proud as a future attorney.”
Wassa, after interning at a major New York law firm, is entering Columbia University School of Law as a One L. Upon earning her Juris Doctor, Wassa plans to continue working for a major New York law firm for a few years and then clerk for an appellate judge. Wassa plans to return to big law as a litigator where she aspires to be the firm’s pro bono counsel, leveraging her firm’s resources toward issues of justice and creating tangible change in her clients’ lives. Wassa attended Camp Rising Sun in 2014.
Lauren Froelich (CRS '14)
"CRS taught me to dream on a global scale and the GEJ scholarship is helping me transform those dreams into reality."
Lauren is in her third year at Washington University in St. Louis’ Program of Physical Therapy working towards her Doctorate. Lauren has distinguished herself not only through her academics, but also her volunteer work and extracurricular activities that focus on providing care to communities in need both at home and abroad. Lauren attended Camp Rising Sun in 2014 and has since served on the California Selection Committee and as a mentor in the Recent Camper Network.
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARS
Elizabeth Liang Hudak (CRS '18, '19, '22, '23)
“I'm feeling so grateful that the LAJF community has continued to help support my academic journey through the GEJ Scholarship and in so many other tangible and intangible ways. While reflecting on a great summer in Washington, DC working in museum education with the Smithsonian, I'm looking forward to so many things for this school year: continuing my humanities research, exploring new internship opportunities, and working on At-Large Selection! I can't wait to see what else is in store.”
Elizabeth is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh studying Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, in addition to pursuing a Transnational Asia certificate. Elizabeth aspires to earn her Masters in Education or Asian American Studies and to remain enmeshed in the network of scholars, supervisors and friends who have set the foundations for all she is achieving. Elizabeth attended Camp Rising Sun in 2018 and returned as a Second Year Camper in 2019, worked as a Counselor in 2022 and 2023, and remains connected to CRS by serving on the CRS At-Large Selection Committee.
Isabella Marker (CRS '19)
Pete Seeger Scholar
“This scholarship has given me the opportunity to continue my education at an institution that I love. It means the world to me to be fortunate enough to study subjects I am passionate about with the support of LAJF.”
Isabella is a sophomore at Purdue University where she is pursuing majors in Genetics and Anthropology with a minor in Chemistry. She looks forward to pursuing higher education in genetic counseling or entering the workforce as a cosmetic chemist to merge her interests in chemistry and skincare products. Isabella was named the Pete Seeger Scholar because of her love of music, her volunteer work with the Mississippi Valley Orchestra, and her involvement with Circus Juventas, North America’s largest performing youth circus. Isabella attended Camp Rising Sun in 2019 and remains in contact with the many friends she made at Camp.
Mira Wagabaza (CRS '22)
John Litsios Scholar
“This scholarship is a constant reminder of the community CRS builds and reminds me of our interconnectedness and support even long after we have left Camp. It also reinforces the circular nature of mentorship and support that I feel a responsibility to continue.”
Mira is an incoming freshman at Brown University where she will study biochemistry and molecular biology. Mira received the John Litsios Scholar designation because of her demonstrated commitment to scientific pursuits. Mira was named an Outstanding Student in Science by her high school faculty, and she contributed to a study about the glomerulus (part of the kidney) as a Biomedical Research intern at the Saban Research Institute at the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital. Mira attended Camp Rising Sun in 2022.
As part of our commitment to supporting young leaders, each year LAJF awards scholarships to CRS alumni obtaining their undergraduate or graduate degrees at institutions in the United States. The GEJ Scholarships, dedicated to the memory of George E. ("Freddie") Jonas, founder and benefactor of Camp Rising Sun, are made possible thanks to the generosity of Seth Frank (CRS ‘48, ‘49), the creator of the GEJ Scholarship Fund. We invite you to join Seth, the Georges Lurcy Trust, and many other donors in their ongoing support of our future GEJ scholars with your generous donation to the GEJ Scholarship Fund!