Curb Scholars
Angel Akpovi
First-year
Angel Akpovi is a first-year at Vanderbilt University’s College of Arts and Sciences, where she explores the connection between storytelling, film, and meaningful change. Her creative work includes poetry, fiction, and directing short films and plays. Inspired by the words of Langston Hughes and the storytelling in Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us, Angel brings a thoughtful and emotionally honest voice to her work.
She received the Inspirational Youth Award in the Culture and Arts category in 2023. She has completed the Khadija Saye Arts Internship and a competitive summer internship at United Agents, a leading UK talent and literary agency representing prominent creatives in film, television, theatre, and publishing.
Angel has performed her original spoken word at national events, including the Fair Education Alliance Summit, and has written and directed films exploring social issues that affect young people. She is also active in youth leadership, serving on the Nottinghamshire Youth Literacy Board and the Nottinghamshire Youth Crime Commission.
Emelia Bailey
Junior
Emelia is a Vocal Performance major at the Blair School of Music. She has performed in opera, musical theatre, and plays, and is passionate about bringing performing arts opportunities to a more diverse audience. She believes access to arts education should not be limited by socioeconomic factors and hopes to commit to work that will open new pathways to the next generation of artists. She is honored to be a Curb Scholar.
Kaitlynn Brice
Sophomore
Kaitlynn is an intended Architecture major with plans to pursue a minor in business. She intends to use her passion for architecture to establish a firm that specifically supports youth of color and women entering the architecture field, with the aim of promoting diversity. At Vanderbilt, she intends to join the BCC and become an advocate for black voices. Beyond academics, she enjoys activities such as crocheting, embroidering, and watching anime and animated movies.
Brianna Dahle
Sophomore
Brianna Dahle is a premedical student pursuing a Theater major and an Anthropology minor. She has a deep passion for all aspects of theater ranging from acting, to directing, as well as writing and production. As someone who dedicates herself to interdisciplinary study, she is drawn to productions that blur the lines between disciplines. Through the Curb Scholar program, she hopes to continue to explore this concept, pushing the bounds of traditional theatrics.
Vibha Duraikkannan
Junior
Vibha is an Engineering Student who also hopes to explore Visual Art at Vanderbilt. She believes that art can help capture the human experience in ways that words sometimes cannot and looks forward to seeing the diversity of art on campus. In her free time, Vibha enjoys painting portraits, listening to music, needle felting, and reading.
“I am excited to be a part of a community with a similar passion for the arts and inclusivity and I am grateful to have their support through the start of my journey at Vanderbilt.”
Olubiyi Fabusoye
First-year
Olubiyi Fabusoye is a passionate musician and advocate for the arts. From directing choirs to creating original music, he has dedicated himself to using his talents to inspire and lead others. As a Human and Organizational Development (HOD) major with a planned minor in Business, Olubiyi seeks to merge his love for the arts with his interest in strategy and leadership, aiming to create platforms that empower artists and foster meaningful impact.
Stewart Geisz
Senior
Stewart is a Computer Science Student who will also be exploring Music Composition at Vanderbilt. Stewart describes himself as a music theory nerd, board game aficionado, and musical theater kid who is proud to be a Curb Scholar.
Stephen Hill
First-year
Stephen Hill is a vocalist who specializes in songwriting and classical singing. As a Curb Scholar, he hopes to undertake projects in songwriting with classical voice techniques to help connect people within the Vanderbilt and Nashville Community.
Anissa Ibrahim
Junior
Anissa is a Music Education and Music Composition student in the Blair School of Music. She is a composer and violist who is devoted to the intersection of music composition and performance. As a Sierra Leonean-American, her work frequently explores the rhythmic and harmonic intersection of Western and African traditions, immigrant identity and experience, and narratives that bring together the individual and the collective. She is committed to creating equitable access to music education for all students.
Annabel Long
Sophomore
Annabel intends on majoring in English: Creative Writing and Child Development. She loves to write, whether that be novels she hopes to publish one day or plays for schools and community theaters to perform. She believes that sharing stories is key to people understanding one another, and she hopes to do this on a large scale throughout her life. Annabel also enjoys swimming, lacrosse, improv, and working with kids.
Sam Malone
Junior
Sam Malone is a graduate of Flowery Branch High School from northeast Georgia. He is an avid musician, reader, and student and hopes to utilize his time at Vanderbilt to explore career options. In his spare time, he enjoys karate, composition, and games with family and friends. He contributes to his community in a variety of ways, including tutoring individuals on a spectrum of developmental disorders and playing the flute for his local parish.
“Coming to Vanderbilt as a Curb Scholar is particularly exciting to me because I will have the opportunity to engage with other service-oriented students and explore new and creative ways of contributing to our community and society as a whole.”
Jenna Ng
First-Year
Jenna Ng is attending Vanderbilt as a double major in piano performance and political science. Her Curb artistic practice is music, and she plays the piano in order to connect with others of diverse backgrounds. Jenna also enjoys reading, working out, coaching gymnastics, and traveling and exploring new places.
Rachel Sobers
Junior
Rachel feeds her creative soul with the words of her favorite poets. She transforms paints, pencils, and paper into works of art, writes poetry and prose for literary contests, and publishes artwork that reflects her heart. She believes in the power of purposeful contemplation. “I often display my work in art shows in the Virginia Beach area, always searching for the event with the cause most meaningful to me. I have published various poetry collections on online platforms, and I am also the designer of my own website exhibiting both writing and painting.” While art is at the core of her personal happiness, she often seeks out new adventures to conceptualize her next creative endeavor.
“I am most excited to be a Curb Scholar because I believe in the power of collaboration. Opportunity, risk, creativity, and change are born from passionate conversation and observation!”
Sebastian Vasquez
Senior
Sebastian is an intended Economics major. He is motivated by entrepreneurship and the positive effects it can bring to the world. Likewise, he is inspired by social causes and is determined to advocate for them. He is passionate about painting with acrylics and visual arts. He is a fan of soccer and in his free time loves to dance Salsa and Latin music.
Yoshi Yano
Sophomore
Yoshi is an Art and Education major. He has a passion for anything artistic or musical, but specifically practices ink drawings, photography, as well as playing the bass and guitar. Yoshi one day hopes to become a teacher or photographer who can share his love for art and inspire others through his work.
Annie Zhang
Junior
Annie is majoring in Applied Mathematics and Economics. Her passion for poetry extends beyond the page, guiding her to approach every part of her life from a creative angle. In her free time, she enjoys exploring, volunteering, and listening to music. She is proud and humbled to be a Curb Scholar.