Student Spotlight

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Student Spotlight

Welcome to our Student Spotlight series where we celebrate the achievements of students in the Honors Program. Each spotlight highlights the incredible work our scholars are doing both inside and outside the classroom, from their endeavors to their personal accomplishments.

We hope these inspire you, give you a glimpse of the Honors experience, and showcase the diverse talents that make our program so special.

Do you want to be Spotlighted on the Honors Website and in the Weekly Notes?

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Brittany Mahone, C'2025


Brittany is Political Science major minoring in Psychology from Columbus, GA. After graduation, she will be working as a paralegal at a tax law firm in New York City for two years, then applying to and attending law school after.

Camille Young, C'2025


Camille is a Political Science major minoring in Spanish from Columbia, MD. After graduation, she will be attending Georgetown Law School with aspirations of becoming an attorney. One day, she hopes to be general counsel at a company or organization.

Naya Welcher, C'2025


Naya is a Mathematics major on the Pre-Law track from Stone Mountain, GA. She will be attending law school, and has received scholarship offers from two schools therefore, She believes that studying and interpreting law creates space for inquiry and provides concreteness on freeing those who are choice-less.

Kyla Leslie, C'2025


Kyla is a Sociology major minoring in Art History from Los Angeles , CA. She has received Third Place for her Oral Presentation about Black Social Media’s influence on voter turnout and politics at the National Association of African American Honors Programs Conference in Prairie View A&M University. Kyla aspires to publish her research.

Alexandra Nelson, C'2025


Alexandra is an Art History major minoring in Spanish and Curatorial Studies from Cincinnati, OH. She has been selected to be a part of the 2025-26 Women@DIOR & UNESCO Mentorship Program.

Sierra Sands, C'2025


Sierra is an International Studies major minoring in Management and Organization from Columbia, SC. After graduation, she will be attending Columbia University or the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. She was also recently accepted to be a member of the ColorComm HBCU Next Gen Fellowship Program.

“Thank you, Spelman College and the Honors Program for your unwavering support, transformative initiatives, and for instilling in me the confidence to believe that I have the power to change the world. Your legacy of excellence and empowerment fuels my passion, and I am forever grateful for the strength and vision you have given me.”

~ Sierra

Maia Penn, C'2025


Maia is a Comparative Women Studies major minoring in Public Health from Chicago, IL. On February 19, she got the chance to participate in Black Maternal Health Advocacy Day at the Georgia State Capitol. She received the chance to advocate for Black mothers and birthing people, for their right to accessible healthcare. This opportunity has pushed her towards a greater path of advocacy and support, to ensure that maternal health is equal for all.

Honors Program Scholar, Ariana Benson, C'2019

After taking a biology course during her first year at Spelman, Honors Program member and class of 2019 valedictorian Ariana Benson realized she wasn’t interested in body mechanics. She wanted to do more than treat patients. She wanted to be able to tell their stories. Benson explored creative writing and went on to win the 2019 the Academy of American Poets'/Edith A. Hambie Poetry Prize and earned a Marshall Scholarship to pursue master’s degree in creative writing and screenwriting at Royal Holloway, University of London in the United Kingdom.