This article is a submission from Santa Monica College
Santa Monica College (SMC) to Columbia University School of General Studies transfer student Hunter Doradea has been selected as a Future Nobel Laureate Scholar (FNLS). Doradea is among 11 scholars selected from across the world by EF Study Abroad and The Forum on Education Abroad, in partnership with the Nobel Prize Museum. He will join students from Rwanda, Peru, Nepal, Malaysia, Hungary, Sierra Leone, and Ecuador who will take part in a fully-funded experience including a project-based course, immersive field study, and sessions to learn from global thought leaders at the Nobel Week Dialogue, Dec. 5 – 12 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Doradea is the first student from SMC and Columbia University selected as a Future Nobel Laureate Scholar. Scholars were selected for innovative projects, and they will work in groups to ideate and pitch solutions for pressing global issues. Doradea was selected for a project he developed that uses artificial intelligence to help war-torn countries build and preserve their infrastructure. “A lot of the time, infrastructure falls apart because the people there don’t really have the training to maintain and operate it,” he said, noting that his AI project incorporates avatars of engineers, professors and humanitarian workers to serve as virtual teachers.
The work was inspired by Doradea’s mother, who, while still a teen, escaped from the civil war in her homeland of El Salvador, and his grandfather, who was murdered there many years before he was born. His AI project is called Modesto, which was his grandfather’s name. “My grandfather wanted above all else to give my mother an education—but, sadly, that wasn’t possible,” he said.
Doradea’s mother has just one personal item from her past—a photo of her as a young girl. He plans on taking it to Sweden. “For me, that photo isn’t just a reminder of her past; it’s a symbol of resilience, hope, and the sacrifices that made my journey possible.”
“Hunter Doradea is an extraordinary Santa Monica College success story!” said SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery. “He embodies the potential and promise of community college transfer students. We are truly proud of his accomplishments and are proud and excited to share in his journey—his work is going to transform the world!”
Future Nobel Laureate Scholarship Program Instructor David Wick stated that Doradea stood out among semi-finalists for the FNLS program because of his curiosity and interest in the lived experiences of others. “That, combined with the vision he has for increasing educational equity by leveraging AI tools, led to his selection to the program,” said Wick. “During our online class, I appreciate the sensitivity Hunter brings to interactions with others. Specifically, Hunter has shared how the denial of educational opportunities for his mother and others in El Salvador harmed her and so many others in her community and fueled his passion.”A team of four academic authorities developed a curriculum for future Nobel laureates which is designed to help Future Nobel Laureate Scholars design solutions to equity and justice issues that apply varied sources of knowledge; practice inquiry, critical thinking, and problem-solving; model curiosity and empathy in interpersonal relationships, problem-solving, and more.
“We at Columbia University are so proud of Hunter’s achievements,” said Lisa Rosen-Metsch, Dean of the Columbia School of General Studies and Professor of Sociomedical Sciences. “Hunter is an exceptionally creative and erudite student with a highly innovative and impactful project focused on AI and educational inequities. I have no doubt that Hunter will go on to make extraordinary contributions to society through his public service and focus on advances in technology and public policy.”
Rosen-Metsch added that Doradea’s project “is impressive and heartwarming as he seeks to make a better world as inspired by his beloved mother’s experiences. I don’t think the Future Nobel Laureate team could have made a better choice than Hunter.”
When Doradea enrolled at SMC, he was not aware of its transfer reputation—the college is the top transfer college to the Ivy League institution west of the Mississippi. “The counselors and professors at SMC were great at helping me get ready for transferring,” he said. “They really aided in helping plan my schedule and picking the classes that would best prepare me.”And he has been thriving at Columbia. While continuing his majors in film and computer science, he has also started on Columbia’s pre-law track. Doradea has a long-term goal of running for a seat in Congress. Through the Columbia Political Union, he has already gained experience as an advocate. “We went to Congress to lobby for different bills, and I was in charge of promoting the Pay Teachers Act,” Doradea explained. The bill aims to ensure that all public school teachers earn a livable wage. He also helps support class logistics for former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo’s course at Columbia, “Inside the Situation Room,” which examines how foreign policy decisions are made.To learn more about the Future Nobel Laureate Scholars program, visit efstudyabroad.com.
