Meet the 2025 Harvey Lincoln Student Scholars

The Harvey Lincoln Student Scholarship recognizes students attending ATD Network colleges who are committed to furthering their education through significant educational, personal, and financial challenges. This year’s winners are not only exceptional students but also leaders in their communities who are fiercely committed to lifting as they climb.

We are excited to congratulate the award winners for 2025, DaShawn Rustin and Alessandra Simental. Each recipient will be awarded $3,000 in recognition of their achievements, leadership, and commitment to transforming their communities.

DaShawn Rustin

College of Southern Maryland

DaShawn was raised by a single mother who, despite facing financial challenges and housing insecurity, always prioritized the well-being and education of her children. DaShawn says her mother is her biggest inspiration: From her unwavering support to her perseverance in times of hardship, her mother’s example has shown DaShawn she can face any challenge that comes her way.

Academically driven from a young age, DaShawn started her higher education journey at Howard University. But when financial constraints forced her to leave the university after her first year, she entered a period of instability, moving from job to job while still trying to improve her skills and career prospects. After a six-year hiatus from higher education, she enrolled at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM).

“My journey has been long and challenging, but it has also been a testament to my resilience and determination to create a better future for myself through education.”
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At CSM, DaShawn has not only excelled academically, but also grown as a leader and an anchor to her campus community. She’s a student ambassador, vice president of the Student Government Association, and president of the Women of Excellence program, to name just a few of her roles. She’s passionate about creating inclusive spaces, particularly for people from underrepresented communities. Through the Women of Excellence program, she has organized professional development workshops and is working to establish mentorship programs that connect students with alumni in their chosen fields.

DaShawn’s own career goals are in the media industry — she aims to operate in spaces where she can advocate for marginalized voices. She has earned an honors in communication at CSM, which she says helped show her the field’s potential to address social issues, amplify marginalized voices, and create impactful narratives for positive change.

“I have witnessed firsthand how a strong community can foster personal growth, resilience, and positive change.”
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Alessandra Simental

Odessa College (Texas)

Alessandra, a first-generation college student, is set to earn her bachelor’s degree this spring at eighteen years old. Her college journey started before she graduated high school: She participated in the Odessa Career and Technical Early College High School (OCTECHS) early college program, earning an Associate of Applied Science in Business Leadership at the same time as her high school diploma.

Now she’s a few months away from earning a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree in business leadership and management, with a focus on entrepreneurship. Her academic journey hasn’t always been smooth, but along the way she has learned to see obstacles as opportunities for growth.

“Mistakes don’t define us — how we handle them does.”
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Alessandra is passionate about using her voice to represent a larger community of women — particularly Latinas like herself. She has helped fellow students find platforms to share their stories, worked as the vice president of public relations and fellowship in the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, and is deeply active in her faith community. She also worked with Cycle Solutions, a program that provides free menstrual products in accessible locations around campus.

In 2024, Alessandra received the Positively OC President Scholarship, a program established to spread positivity throughout the Odessa College community. She shares some of her own positivity through her job in the recruitment department, where she connects prospective students with an institution that she knows has the potential to transform lives. As she prepares to complete her degree, she hopes to continue growing as a leader and increase her own capacity to change lives and build stronger communities where everyone can thrive.

“Todo lo que necesitas es ganas, y con eso, todo se puede: All you need is the will, and with that, anything is possible.”
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