Abem Fekade-Tessema
B.A., cum laude, Business Economics (Major) & International Studies (Minor), 2022
J.D., N.Y.U. School of Law,
expected 2026
“I aspire to make noticeable impacts which enhance the local and broader communities which I come to occupy in the future.”
Service & Work:
Senior Class Representative, Student Government of Seattle University (SGSU), 2021–2022
Junior Class Representative (SGSU), 2020–Present
Undergraduate Representative, Presidential Search Committee, Seattle University
Competitive Sports Manager (UREC), 2018–Present
Sophomore Class Representative (SGSU), 2019–2020
Summertime Volunteer, Ethiopian Community Center of Seattle Hope for children of Ethiopia orphanage
Awards & Honors:
The Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen Award, 2022
Seattle University Mission Award: Leadership, 2020–2021
UREC Official of the Year, 2018–2019
President’s List, Fall 2020, Winter 2021, Spring 2021, Spring 2022
Dean’s List, Fall 2020, Winter 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2022, Winter 2022, Spring 2022
Ignatian Leader
National Black Law Students Association Pre-Law Diversity Scholarship
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP Pre-Law Fellow, 2021–Present
President’s List, Spring Quarter 2020, Winter & Spring Quarters 2021
Dean’s List, Fall, Winter, & Spring Quarters 2019-2020, Fall, Winter, & Spring Quarters 2020–2021
UREC Official of the Year, Seattle University, 2020
Tri-Alpha Honor Society
Omicron Delta Epsilon International Honor Society in Economics
Costco Scholars, 2018–2020
Arrupe Scholarship, 2018–2020
Presentations & Publications:
The Mass Incarceration of African Americans in the Land of the Free, Abem Fekade-Tessema, Seattle University, August 2020.
Abem’s Story
I still remember coming into Seattle University as a freshman and being so excited for what was to come. Never could I have imagined being here in this moment now, after having met so many wonderful people and making so many wonderful memories. As ironic as it is, the pandemic served to one of the most important developmental experiences in my life. I was brought into the Alfie family right as we were sent home and the world slowed down which was the perfect time to learn about civility, self-care and love in addition to meeting new people with such great personalities and so much drive. Now, I am graduating alongside them and will be getting a BA in Business Economics with a minor in International Studies. My next step is to attend law school after taking a year in between now and then to study, work and recover. I feel that I've accomplished a lot in my time at Seattle University, and I'm sad that the experience is almost over. However, I'm motivated by my peers and everyone else here today to continue to work hard and make them proud. From the support the Alfie Scholars have provided me, I've been able to stay at this University amidst the financial and other barriers I have faced, and I have also been allowed to thrive as a student but also as a human being.
Goals:
My goal is to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Economics to then attend law school and earn a Juris Doctorate. By doing this, I will equip myself with the necessary knowledge and background to nurture my capabilities as a mindful leader and open a path for myself into courtroom litigation, entrepreneurship and politics. I expect to maneuver through various career paths throughout my life, so I can continuously pursue my own intellectual curiosities and influence positive societal advancements.
On Civility:
Civility, as I define it, is the ability to examine the divides in society and calibrate them to align with a mission centered on our common humanity. In a world of lefts and rights, black and white, and rich and poor, we wear cloaks which bind our shared humanity and restrict our ability to collectively flourish. In order to overcome this, civil leaders must enter every situation with curiosity because when one first seeks to listen rather than speak, they can better approach the impartial truths which spark unity in our world, and therefore validate themselves as worthy to represent this mission devoted to our shared humanity.
