2023 We Rise Together awards: Improving education mobility and enriching the lives of students

In May 2023, the Duolingo English Test and more than 70 leaders of international admissions from around the world gathered in Pittsburgh for our third annual We Rise Together Awards—an extension of our Access Program to recognize four distinguished colleagues for their outstanding contributions in improving education mobility and enriching the lives of students.

Read on to discover the incredible work of this year’s We Rise Together awardees, and how we are continuing to work towards our mission of making higher education accessible to all.

Award for Access: Sophia Lapoint, Barwaaqo University

Sophia started her career in 2021 as an instructor in the Faculty of Education at Barwaaqo University, located in a remote area of Somaliland near the village of Baliga Cas, which is home to one severely understaffed primary school, and no secondary school. Barwaaqo University employs around 20 full-time soldiers and 20 employees from the village who work on campus as cooks, cleaners, and maintenance staff. Many of these individuals have not completed primary school, and have limited literacy and numeracy skills.

Sophia recognized a need for broader access to education in her community, and has dedicated herself to the mission of making education accessible to those in the community. She adapts class schedules around their work and family commitments, ensures that course content is practical and interesting, and goes above and beyond to ensure students not only have access to classes, but also to the supplies that they need, including notebooks, pencils, and books, to succeed in their studies.

Award for Innovation: Dennis York, York University

Dennis has worked closely with the English Language Institute at York University to develop a unique breadth of programming support for English Language learners to build the language skills needed to thrive in a Canadian academic context, and to equip them with the confidence to engage and thrive in academia, Ontario society, and the future workforce.

To help students navigate the differences between the Canadian and international education systems, Dennis has developed highly specialized support to assist students in adopting norms, expectations, and educational standards that domestic students are introduced to and practice throughout four years of secondary school in just a matter of weeks.

Award for Social Justice: Shabana Basij-Rasikh, The School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA)

Shabana Basij-Rasikh is the co-founder and president of the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA), a nonprofit school dedicated to providing Afghan girls a rigorous education that promotes critical thinking, a sense of purpose, and respect for themselves and others. SOLA is Afghanistan’s first boarding school for girls, and is a recognized pioneer in education that prepares young Afghan women from diverse backgrounds to become compassionate, confident women leading a peaceful, prosperous, and united Afghanistan. SOLA’s students range from ages 11-19 and represent all major ethnic groups and religious sects in the country. Graduates have gone on to attend 45 different schools and colleges in six countries.

Shabana is widely recognized as a leading advocate for girls’ education. Born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan, she dressed as a boy to attend a school during Taliban rule. She completed high school in the United States through the State Department’s Youth Exchange Studies program and went on to graduate magna cum laude from Middlebury College. Given the current situation in Afghanistan, Shabana has dedicated herself to ensuring the safety and continued education of her students. Her work was recently featured on CBS 60 Minutes, as she has been able to move her students to Rwanda to continue their studies and to ensure their safety.

Award for Student Advocacy: Madeleine Dutton, University of East Anglia

Madi Dutton is the sanctuary liaison support coordinator at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the United Kingdom, and the winner of the 2023 We Rise Together Award in Student Advocacy. As a University of Sanctuary, UEA has adopted this initiative to recognise and celebrate the good practice of universities welcoming refugees and asylum-seekers through facilitating access to higher education, providing scholarships, supporting local refugee communities, and playing an active role in learning about the issues and obstacles this population faces.

Madi has played a pivotal role in providing educational opportunities and support for these students and has been lauded for her advocacy, working with sanctuary colleagues and scholars to explore what a welcoming culture of inclusivity and awareness can look like at a university. Madi has presented nationally about her work advocating for sanctuary students, inspiring her colleagues across the UK to develop similar opportunities and models of support.

Our mission in action

The 2023 We Rise Together Awards brought together the Duolingo English Test and international admissions leaders to celebrate and recognize the outstanding achievements of those who have significantly contributed to education mobility and positively impacted the lives of students.

This year's awardees exemplify the dedication and hard work that goes into making higher education more accessible for everyone. As we continue to support and collaborate with these inspiring individuals and institutions, we remain committed to our mission of breaking down barriers and fostering a more inclusive and equitable educational landscape for all.