Meet Our 2025 David A. Liu and Lauren Wu Scholars
Cade Abbate
David A. Liu and Lauren Wu Scholar
How has your cleft affected your life? How will your experience with your cleft inform your future?
Cleft has molded how I positively view things that others consider difficulties in life.
Modern-day medicine is a field that can perform miracles. I was not that old when I recognized the extreme nature of my medical treatment. I have had over ten surgeries involving individual clefts, palate closures and fistulas, and malocclusion corrections that brought me from my newborn appearance to the face I feel I take for granted now as an adult. This experience has made me realize that the concerns most people have toward doctors and hospitals have been nonexistent for me. I have noticed how comfortable I always feel going to the doctor, knowing they are only trying to sincerely help. So it surprises me when I meet peers who fear going to a doctor or dentist. The fear or contempt I have seen that most have for something as simple as a medical consultation seems almost alien to me knowing the wonders that doctors can perform.
More importantly, I realized that this help is not available to everyone, and that not all cleft patients have access to cleft care and treatments. I knew that there were many kids just like me out in the world who needed the same help but were either held back by cultural stigmas and a lack of access to medical treatment. I am humbled that I had access to this crucial treatment.
Along with this, cleft has taught me to view my residual scarring as a symbol of hope and perseverance. It’s almost a given that people with unusual aspects to their appearance will be the object of curious questions or even some bullying. Similar to this, when I was little, sometimes other kids asked me what was ‘wrong’ with my lip, and at rarer times, called me names, but it never brought me down. From my parents raising me to know that my face did not make my personality, I knew that other people's opinions only have as much power as you give them. When people grow up, though, their maturity does as well, and I have not received the scrutiny I once did. But all the same, I still feel the lasting impact of those experiences in how I do not let anybody else's view except mine effect how I feel about myself.
Miriam Fleming
David A. Liu and Lauren Wu Scholar
Tell us about a time that you displayed strong leadership skills. What lessons did you take from this experience?
I ran cross-country throughout high school. When I look back to my freshman year, I was small, thin, and scared. I looked different than the other kids at my school due to both my cleft lip and my race, and I was not sure where I would fit in. Fortunately for me, it only took one practice to know I had found my home. I was unconditionally accepted and loved as a member of the team. The seniors on the team encouraged me to tag along with their longer and faster runs, and little by little I improved.
Last fall, I completed my final cross-country season and had the honor of serving as one of the team captains. I thought back to how I felt as a new runner and a new student, and I decided I would make a deliberate effort at every practice and race to make sure our new runners felt welcomed and supported. Usually, this meant I would first go run at practice with the younger runners, encouraging them during their runs, and then go out again to run my own training plan. At meets, after I finished, I waited at the finish line until every last runner came in, offering high-fives and hugs along the way. I hope these simple acts of kindness made my younger teammates feel included and valued, and I have set an expectation that this tradition continues.
Cody Sullivan
David A. Liu and Lauren Wu Scholar
Tell us about a time that you displayed strong leadership skills. What lessons did you take from this experience?
Strong leadership skills is something I have learned throughout my high school cross country experience. Throughout my life I have participated in many different sports. Everything from soccer to Tae-kwon-do, tennis, basketball, baseball, karate, boxing, and even swim team. But once I was introduced to cross country for the first time in 8th grade it changed everything. Running cross country and track and field with a coach who believed in me, gave me the courage to finally start coming out of my shell and I was able to meet and interact with new people who eventually became some of my best friends. It was an opportunity to learn from others because I was surrounded by hard working, like minded, goal-oriented individuals. We motivated and held each other accountable to push our minds and bodies to strive for excellence and make improvements every day.
Running gave me the opportunity to discover something I didn’t know I loved, and it became a great passion for me. Eventually it turned into a sport where I became a fierce competitor and gave me the ability to run in college. I have lead my team to many victories including 3 back to back state championships in cross country in which I was a valuable team scorer in all of them. Cross country and track and field have taught me some valuable life lessons in becoming a strong team leader. Learning that improvement takes time and results may not be seen right away, I have learned great patience for the goals I want to achieve. Being an active leader for my teammates, I have lead many practices, planned runs and workouts outside of school, which has helped me gain trust and effective communication skills. I’ve made it to a point where teammates and new runners ask me questions and look up to me to help them make improvements, which has taught me to be a good role model and lead by example. Running cross country and leading my team has taught me great dedication. I’ve learned that to reach the goals I have set for my life, I need to continue to work hard, stay focused, and remain consistent.
Kennedy Washington
David A. Liu and Lauren Wu Scholar
How has your cleft affected your life? How will your experience with your cleft inform your future?
Growing up with a bilateral cleft lip and palate has profoundly affected my sense of identity, my role in the world, and my empathy for others. When I was younger, my parents made a strong effort to build my confidence, aware the world would do the opposite. They saw a light within me and told me to shine bright, regardless of what others thought or said. As a blissfully unaware child, following their advice was a breeze. As I matured, it became harder to see that light within myself. I grew increasingly aware of stares from strangers and was often asked about my cleft by my peers. I recall posting myself and my love for music online, simply for all the comments to focus on my voice and cleft. Despite displaying my passions and personality, I wasn't noticed by others- my cleft was. The entanglement of my personality and looks only increased after each surgery since I looked different every year. As an adolescent still finding who I was, I struggled to see myself beyond my cleft. The light I once held as a child was slowly but surely snuffed out.
It wasn't until I neared the end of my treatment plan that I began to regain a sense of who I was beyond my appearance. With less frequent surgeries, I found more time for genuine connections and discovery. While the stares from strangers never stopped, I began to feel seen by close friends. I also began to see myself for who I was through my loves and interests. I rediscovered my passion for music and songwriting, the arts, and programming- all core parts of who I am today. For the first time since early childhood, my confidence grew, and my light shone brightly. Now, I stand firmly grounded in my identity and use my experiences with cleft lip and palate to ensure others feel seen. Words can hurt, and people are so much more than their appearances-truths that are neglected far too often these days. Whether someone has a cleft, another congenital anomaly, disability, or simply a nonconforming beauty trait, they deserve to be seen for the person they are. I carry my experiences in the way I treat those I interact with. Rather than overlooking someone's individuality, I uplift and feed their light through empathy and intentional compliments. I hope to inspire others to embrace their light by using my experiences with cleft lip and palate to help others embrace their light. This desire has driven me to pursue a career in carving out spaces for those who feel unseen or overlooked, specifically in tech. Whether it's through building community, advocacy, or simply showing up for others, I'm determined to help others feel confident in their differences. I'm determined to help others shine.