We’re celebrating eight Summer Search alumni whose journeys show the many ways our community continues to grow, give back, and create opportunities for others: Ahmed Almahbashi, Angela Chen, Lesly Henriquez, Kate Hudson, Diane Pham, Jordan Singleton, Sabina Vargas, and Sharhea Wade.
Angela Chen, Director of Development at Summer Search Bay Area
Angela Chen
New York City Alum
The Connect Award: Recognizing a deep and meaningful contribution to Summer Search
Twenty years after starting as a Summer Search participant in New York City, Angela now serves as the Director of Development for Summer Search Bay Area, helping connect the organization’s mission with the people who make that mission possible. Along the way, Angela’s own path has taken her in unexpected directions, including several years living in South Korea before making her way to Oakland. Those experiences have shaped her belief in staying curious, taking risks, and giving yourself permission to change direction.
Megan Sussman nominated Angela for The Connect Award, highlighting the way she brings both credibility and heart to her work and helps show funders how an investment in young people can ripple outward through alumni leadership.
Angela’s advice to younger Summer Searchers is simple: stay curious, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to have everything figured out.
“There’s no one version of a meaningful life. Pay attention to what makes you feel excited, connected, and most like yourself, and give yourself permission to keep evolving.”
Kate Hudson, Assistant Director, Customer Communications at Port of Seattle
Kate Hudson
Seattle Alum
The Discover Award: Highlighting professional and educational achievements, including those that take an unexpected or unconventional path
Kate Hudson is the Assistant Director of Customer Communications for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Outside of work, a huge part of her life is being a foster parent and soon to be adoptive parent to her two children. Her family loves to travel, a value that she says was instilled through her Summer Search experiences. Kate has also found meaningful ways to support and advocate for children and families involved in foster care in Washington, including serving on the Ambassador Board for Treehouse.
Rebecca Sullivan nominated Kate for The Discover Award, highlighting the meaningful and lasting contributions she has made to every endeavor she has taken on.
Kate’s advice to younger Summer Searchers is to get curious about what actually feels meaningful to you—and to give yourself permission to build a life that may not look like everyone else’s idea of success.
“There isn’t one version of a life that counts as successful….You don’t have to build the life you think you’re supposed to want. You get to build your own.”
Diane Pham, Post-Secondary Mentor at Summer Search Bay Area
Diane Pham
Bay Area Alum
The Connect Award: Recognizing a deep and meaningful contribution to Summer Search.
Diane Pham was once a Summer Searcher in the Bay Area. Today, she works as a Summer Search Post-Secondary Mentor in the same region, helping the next generation of students navigate their own journeys.
Diane has also found many ways to strengthen the broader Summer Search community. Her nominator August Lim shared that Diane has shared her experiences at events like Beyond Limits, and when she was a Summer Search participant she provided Vietnamese translation during parent welcome calls and led a workshop for the Bay Area team on the experiences of Southeast Asian youth.
Her advice to younger Summer Searchers?
“Do what you love and dream big. These are cliche, but it is said over and over for a reason.”
Jordan Singleton, Managing Director at Equinix
Jordan Singleton
Boston Alum
The #SummerSearcherMade Award: Alumni doing innovative, healing and exciting things.
Jordan Singleton received his first internship through Summer Search. Fourteen years into his career at Equinix, where he now leads the company’s East Coast region, he’s making sure other Summer Searchers have access to the same kinds of opportunities.
Jordan has provided internships and job opportunities to fellow alumni, with three former Summer Search interns going on to become full-time hires. He has also served on the Summer Search NYC Board of Directors for nine years.
Fabian nominated Jordan for The #SummerSearcherMade Award after experiencing that impact firsthand: “Jordan gave me an internship when I was just 18 years old, and ever since, he has been a mentor and a father figure to me.”
Jordan’s advice? Build your network—including your Summer Search network.
“We are a strong and resilient network and we should be relying on each other to share opportunities!”
Sabina Vargas speaking at the 2025 Alumni Summit
Sabina Sanchez-Vargas
Bay Area Alum
The #SummerSearcherMade Award: Alumni doing innovative, healing and exciting things.
Sabina is building a career as an accountant and bookkeeper while preparing to begin her fall semester at CSU East Bay. But she’s also investing her time in helping other young people discover their own potential.
Nearly every summer, Sabina volunteers in different communities, sharing what she’s learned along her own journey. She even returned to Deer Hill in Mancos, Colorado, where she took her first Summer Search trip as a student, this time as a staff member helping create that same experience for others.
Ricardo Vargas nominated Sabina for The #SummerSearcherMade Award, highlighting the way she mentors and encourages young people, particularly those who share similar backgrounds.
Her advice is simple:
“Be gentle with yourself, but do not give up!…You can do anything you put your mind to, just remember not to overwork yourself… take care of yourself while pushing forward.”
Sharhea Wade, Vice President, Global Inclusion & Diversity at State Street
Sharhea Wade
Boston Alum
The Connect Award: Recognizing a deep and meaningful contribution to Summer Search
Sharhea Wade has spent nearly 20 years at State Street, building a career across credit analysis, treasury, governance, risk, and culture work. Today, she serves as the Global Head of Inclusion & Diversity Programs, where she brings her talent for getting large, complicated things to move forward.
But Sharhea’s commitment to community extends well beyond her career. She serves on the boards of Summer Search Boston and City Year Boston and has dedicated her time and leadership to organizations including the National Black MBA Association’s Boston Chapter, Boston While Black, and The Philanthropy Connection.
Ursulina Ramirez nominated Sharhea for The Connect Award, highlighting the many ways she has continued to invest her time and resources in Summer Search through her board service.
Sharhea’s advice to younger Summer Searchers:
“Never underestimate your impact. Lean into community, stay grounded in transparency, and ensure you are building a personal board of directors to support you as you navigate your professional and leadership development.”
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See the full list of award recipients:
Ahmed Almahbashi – Ignite Award: Celebrating achievements in promoting the welfare of others
Angela Chen – The Connect Award: Recognizing a deep and meaningful contribution to Summer Search
Lesly Henriquez – Ignite Award: Celebrating achievements in promoting the welfare of others
Kate Hudson – The Discover Award: Highlighting professional and educational achievements, including those that take an unexpected or unconventional path
Diane Pham – The Connect Award: Recognizing a deep and meaningful contribution to Summer Search.
Jordan Singleton – The #SummerSearcherMade Award: Alumni doing innovative, healing and exciting things.
Sabina Sanchez-Vargas: – The #SummerSearcherMade Award: Alumni doing innovative, healing and exciting things.
Sharhea Wade – The Connect Award: Recognizing a deep and meaningful contribution to Summer Search
All of our 2026 awardees are leading lives filled with purpose. Our 2024 Alumni Survey shows that this is a common thread across all alumni. 95% of alumni said their Summer Search experiences helped them explore their sense of purpose. That sense of purpose continues to show up in the lives they build: just 14% of alumni said they view their current job as “just a job,” less than half the national average.
Though our Alumni Awardees have taken different paths, their stories have something in common: Summer Search doesn’t end when you graduate or stop being a post-secondary participant. In fact, your involvement with Summer Search can expand and the experiences that once changed your life can be the opportunities you help create for someone else.